New-York tribune., 1885-02-10
TILE BLIND QUESTION.

If moonshine could be minted, Mr.. Bland
would be a statesman. AS it cannot, in the
present state of the arts, the country Is imam
cally in danger. Democratic doctors, after
solemn consultation, conclude that it is most
important to get the silver question out of
the way before Mr.. Cleveland comes in" 1t
would be well to get the question out OF the
way at any time, before or after. But there
are two obstacles. The first is the question
itself, and the second is Bland.
If the question rested with the Senate, bet
ter bill than the one Mr.. Morrill, has reported
could probably be passed. But there is not
only the difficulty of getting Senators to agree,
but also the fact that members from the various
States, who would like to be Senators, have the
last word In the matter. When any bill on this
subject goes to the House, Mr.. Carlisle sends it
to Mr.. Blands committee. The disposition OF
that committee to favor unlimited silver coin
age was shown at the last session. If there
were o majority against him, moreover. Mr.
Bland would be poor chairman If he could
not kill q month in getting his committee to-
gether, and another month in getting the floor,
and still another in debate. Once in Mr.
BANDS hands, the bill can be reached only by
some peremptory order of the House, which
would imply censurc of one of its committees,
and on account of Senate BILL and bill
which, if dragged out of committee, will com
pei men to take sides on a difficult and
vexatiOus question. Moreover, after v0t-
ing down all propositions to suspend the
coinage, this committee has adjourned sine
die. The chance of reaching a favorable
decision on the silver question, there
fore, within the three weeks which remain, is
not as good as some would like to have it.
With some kind of money-it makes little
difference what-silver bullion costing
$2,O00,O0 each month is purchased. The
money paid for it goes back into the Treasury
in payment of taxes, if anything but gold,
because the amount of other kinds of
money held in circulation does not increase.
Going into the Treasury in place of gold, this
other kind of money lessons to that amount the
gold receipts. The final result is the same.
therefore, as if gold coin had been taken out
of the Treasury to pay for the silver bullion.
In buying $24,00O,00O worth yearly, the
Treasury must either have a revenue to that ex-
tent greater than other expenditures, or it must
exhaust its gold reserve. Now the imports
have greatly diminished, and consequently the
revenue. If they do not revive, the mex eleven
months may see 500, 100000 taken out of
gold reserve which Is already far too small
The possibilities which that involves are such
and so serious that capital does not like to ven-
ture upon new risks, in trade or industry until
the silver question has ceased to be a source of
| danger.
If the Democrats wish to deal with this qucs-
| ton in such way as to make the coming adj
ministratiOn successful, one of the first things
| to do is to make Mr.. Bland Minister to Pata-
gonia, or some other country where his talents
would be of use. In the House they have a
tendency to increase the chances Of Republi
can success in the ele ctiOns of 1886.