| Show am BARTINE AND SIIATCR The following communication from Mr H F Bartine to a prominent gentleman gen-tleman of this city in reference to the conference of the Bimetallic Union lately held in Washington D C was handed us to use in the columns of The Herald if we thought proper and most assredly we think proper to use it as it will be interesting reading to the people of the west upon the paramount para-mount Issue of the coming political campaign CHICAGO Feb 9 1896 My Dear Mr It thus been some time since I wrote you This has been owing to a variety of reasons the principal ones being that I was hoping until the last moment mo-ment that you would attend the conference confer-ence when we could discuss matters at length and press of work In order or-der to get away I had to prepare considerable con-siderable matter in advance You of course know all about the work of the conference It is not the actual formation of a new party but it certainly means one If both of the old parties fall us My judgment is that there is absolutely no hope from the Republican party this year There is some hope from the Democratic The silver sentiment in the latter is stronger strong-er < than in the former It is possible tat it may control the convention This however is not likely with the administration and the money power united against silver Success in the regular organizations is very doubtful but the independent sentiment is strengthening fast Hatchs speech was very significant Bryan was here Friday We had a long conference He does not want to break away before the convention but he says the restoration restor-ation of silver overshadows in importance impor-tance every other question That bimetallism bi-metallism Is Democratic gospel and if the party is dragged from its moorings by the administration and Wall street Us owes it no allegiance I think the prevailing sentiment in the south is to work within the party lines until the convention is held Then if the principles of Jefferson and Jackson are abandoned there will be a strong revolt re-volt All of the better elements of the Populist party are in favor of standing stand-ing on the money issue alone Therefore There-fore the chance for a strong combination combina-tion of silver forces is exceedingly good Just how it will take place it is too early to predict Possibly the silver Democrats may name a satisfactory ticket and the others endorse it Or each body may hold a convention declare de-clare its principles and all unite in naming the candidates The suggestion sugges-tion has been made that the silver Democrats might name the president and the silver men proper and Populists Popu-lists name the vice president My judgment is that if the silver wing of the Democracy name a ticket silver men all over the country should and will stand in and support it H F BARTINE Reference in the foregoing letter to the attitude of the two great political parties par-ties on the question of silver justifies reference to the position The Herald has hitherto assumed on that issues of issues which from now on until it is settled right will continue to confront the American people As stated by Mr Bartine as his judgment we have held there is absolutely no hope for silver in the Republican party We have insisted that there is i more hope for favorable legislation for silver In the Democratic party in I i fact about the only hope for favorable legislative action for silver in our judgment I judg-ment lies with that party Mr Bartine I admits that there is some hope of action ac-tion from the Democratic party and admits that it is possible that the silver sil-ver sentiment may control the Democratic Dem-ocratic convention though he regards it as a thing not likely to happen with the administration and the money power pow-er united against slIver Bryan is not in favor of breaking away from the Democratic party before the convention We are glad to hear that statement and hope by the time that the convention meets lIe will have so far modified his views that he will not break with Democracy even though that convention in Chicago splits in two over the silver issue Bimetallism Bimetal-lism is Democratic gospel truer words were never spoken Let Democrats then cling to that truth and with equal tenacity to every other tenet ten-et of the Democratic faith no more consenting to give up other principles prin-ciples of Democracy than we would give up bimetallism but keeping the faith whole and entire Let but Democrats turn away from the siren songs of those who would woo them into third parties and fix theirresolution firm enough and it Is our fixed conviction that such is the sentiment for silver in the Democratic party that the Democrats can make that Chicago conventionstand for the Democratic gospel of bimetallism for the money of the constitution gold and silver and place upon the single gold standard men the odium of heresy Then if others that Mr Bartine refers to as friendly to silver those woo regard it as the paramount issue and who have no other deep set political convictions con-victions desire to Join with Democrats in the campaign to secure constitutional moneybe it so they < shall be welcome But the silver Democrats being be-ing by long odds the largest body believing in the restoration of silver to that honored station In our monetary system that it occupiedrbe fore Republican legislation degraded it let them form the party around which other elements may gather to restore silver to its place ETe ihinlj the silver fluestion const < < > < tutes an Issue that the Democratic party should seize upon as the opportunity oppor-tunity of an age and with oldtime Democratic courage and firmness carry it to a successful consummation This > Democrats can do and it is our faith that ultimately they will do it |
