The state herald., 1904-09-23
They Nominated Candidates
Who Voted for Free Silver.
PEOPLE CAN FORGIVE ER7D7
Which Is Now Prac ticaIly Admitted,
but VIII Not Trust the Party with
Power Because Of tie
Elundcr.

When an individual makes and rc't-
crates startling statements which later
on are proved to he absolutely false.
his further ntterances on any subject
whatsoever are liable not to be taken
seriously, and this is putting the case
mildly. Even though the statements
were uttered in honest belief as to their
accuracy, the fact that they were later
on proven to be wrong, furnished evil
dence OF mental capacity to make fur
ther gross blunders from time to time
In this respect the record of the Dem
ocratic party on the silver issue has for
that party the same sinister siyniicuncs
that falslhcations from an individual,
who is found out, would have for that
individual.
We may all he willing to charitably
admit that in its advocacy OF th- great
free silver error in 1896 and 1900 the
Democratic party was honestly wrong.
There is no patriotic American who
would like to think, hint or suggest.
that Bryan was not actunted by hon
est and sincere belief In his cause when
he uttered his famous Gross OF Gold"
and Grown of Thorns" speech In 1896,
nor Is there any American with opti-
ism OF the leading public men Of tho
United States who would want to think
for moment that Alton B. Parker, tho
candidate of a great political party for
President OF the United States, voted
against his honest convictions as to what
was for the good of his country when
he voted for free silver In 1896, ard
then again voted for free silver in 1900.
Cannot Bs TRUSTEE.
But while the American people will
never impute dishonorabls motives to
the leaders OF the silver cause In 1906
and 1900, yet nevertheless it will hesi-
tate In the future to place implicit trust
in those who sought to lead them into
disastrous error in those years. Had
the majority OF the voters OF the coun-
try In 1896 and 1900 not been OF bet
ter judgment than Judge Parker was
during those two years the United States
would have had the silver standard; all
the currency OF the country would have
been debased TO the bullion value OF sill
yer; just debts would have been scaled
off over fifty per cent. the laborer.
whom the Bible says Is "worthy of his
hire" would have been paid his wages
In cheap dollars OF not half the value %
the honest dollars based on the gold
standard; the country would have suf-
fered unparalleled hard times; its credit
would have sunk as low as that Of Tur-
key. Venezuela, and of other nations
which repudiate their just obligations.
1t was for such calamity az this that
the Democratic free silver error stood
In 1896 and again in 1900, and Parker
and Davis both times stood with this
IN a FnN
| along. and voted for II.
Now the error is practically admitted.
Both Parker and Davis, while refusing
to say that they now believe In the gold
standard, nevertheless say that II Is
"irreyocnbly established by law"-that
/ Is when on December lS, 1890. the gold
standard was established by n vote of
iI9 Republican yeas and only II Dem
ocratic yeas, against I42 Democratic
nays and no Republican nays, In the
House of Representatives. and by vote
OF a Republican and . Gold Democratic
yeas against % Democratic and ouly one
Republican nay In the Senate IT WAS
so WELL ESTABLISHED THAT
PARKER AND DAVIS NOW CON
SLIDER IT "IItRE, OCABLY EsrAB-
LlSuED."
"silcnce Is Confession"
The American people will be willing
90 forgive the Democratic record on the
silver question. They will not demand
humliating verbal confessions from
Democratic leaders Of the fact that they
were terribly wrong In 1896 and 100.
As Daniel Webster once saii-"silenes
IL confession the fact that tho
Democrats now want silence on tho
paramount" issue Of 1896 and the "tsn-
tnmount" issue OF 1900 is sufficient con-
fession Of past error
But while the American people In re-
eelving Democracy's silent confession u
past error. can forgive. yet II cannot for
get. IL will not be In haste 10 put lnto
the white House the representative Of =
party whose free silver principles
put In jeopardy the business stability ot
the country IT WILL not VOTE 10
HONOR NTH THE HIGHEST
OFFICE IN THE LAND A CANDi-
DATE WHO IN 1899 AND AGAIN
IN 1900 VOTED FOR A POLICY
THAT WOULD HAVE FINANCIAL
LY DISfiONORED THIS COUNTRY
/ AND MADE TT LOWER THAN Tuft-
KEY AND VENEZUELA IN INTER
NATioSAL OPINION AS 10 iTS