The Silver party in the United States is advancing fast
to power. It is believed that they will have a majority of 100 in the Democratic Convention at Chicago, that they will reject. Mr. Cleveland, and that they will accept a candidate pledged not to veto plans for the free coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to 1. The Republican party is less committed to silver, but it will, it is believed, in the Convention at St. Louis, nominate Mr. McKinley, who is, of course, pledged to a high tariff, and who some years ago avowed himself an advocate of silver currency. It seems certain that the West, with its large popular majority, is determined to try a silver experiment. An English correspondent in whose judgment we can confide, and who is travelling in the West, tells us that the bitterness is indescribable. The people really believe that the " gold-bugs" of the Eastern States, backed by England, are intent on making all debtors pay their debts twice in appreciated currency, and threaten to use force rather than submit. They will not secede, of course, but it is quite possible that the election of any President who is not a " silver-man" would be followed by serious rioting if not by resistance to the central Government. But for the terrible financial consequences it might be better to let them try their experiment, and learn once for all that if a debt can be paid in sugar or salt at will, the cheaper of those two articles will drive the dearer out. The Senate has actually passed a Bill prohibiting the Executive from issuing more gold bonds whatever the necessity, that is, compelling it to pay its obligations either in silver or paper. The Represen- tatives will, of course, reject the Bill, but it is a loud advertisement that the Senate is for silver.
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