Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-02-18
THE SILVER QUESTION.

The silver. Men in Congress Protest that re
ference 10 the Matter in the Presidents
inaugural Message Would be Premature
and iIi-AcYised.
The recent visit of Chairman William
II. Barnum and RepreScntatye-elcct
Scott. of the Erie district, Pa. to the
capital. with the alleged purpose of Sc
curing legislation providing for the suS-
pension of silver coinage, has excited
a great deal of adverse criticism among
the silyer-mcn in Congress. 1t
was reported that these gentle
mcn- gave out that they were act
ing for Mr.. Cleveland, who desiredto en-
body ia his inaugural message recon-
mendation that it be left discretionary
with the President to suspend, in whole
OF in part, the coinage Of standard silver
dollars during the present year. BE
that as it may, the visit OF MesSrS.
BaInum and Scott has borne fruit in
an amendment offered by Senator Nor
gan to the anti-silyer-coinagc bill yes
tcIday. which strikes out the present
provision for the suspension of silver
coinage. and authorizes the President
on and after the list of April next, and
in any succeeding month until the lSt
Of April. 1856. to direct the Secretary
Of the Treasury to suspend in whole or
in part the purchase Of silver bullion
for the coinage of standard dollars.
The silycr-mcn-and they comprise
decided majority of the Democratic
senator's and representatives consider
the movement extremely ill-adyised, and
have taken active steps to convince the
PreSident-eleot of that fact. Repre-
sentative Reagan. of Texas, IN order TO
head of the Barnum-ScOtt scheme, has
prepared a memorial to Mr., Cleveland.
iii which the latter is requested 10 re-
frain from adyerting to the silver qucs-
ton in his inaugural address, and the
suggestion is made that the President
elect wait until he has had an oppOr-
tunity to confer with Democratic mem
bcrs before committing his adminlstra
ton to policy which may divide the
party and wreck his administration at
the very start.
4 reporter Of the Post talked with
numerous Democratic congressman last
evening in regard TO the matter. and
found that there was very general
concurrence Of opinion against the adj
Instability of the step said to he con-
tcinplatcd by Mr.. Cleveland. Judge
Reagan said that the memorial referred
to had been signed by upwards Of
a hundred Democratic Senators aud
Representatives. II was not the de
sign of those signing the paper
to dictate policy TO Mr.. CleNe-
land, but they thought ii was an
act of iricudlmcsS to show him that ifhe
took decisive action IN the direction
outlined in his inaugural on the silver
question. he would cmbaTraSS both the
party and his Administration. the
people Of the West and South believed
in maintaining the silver circulation.
and thousands of voters would be alien
ated from The party II the president
should make an assault upon the
silver law. While there might be
room for doubt as to the best course to
pursue. 1t was better 20 make haste
slowly. and for Mr.. Cleveland to
wait until Congress rcaSsembled next
iaN before taking new departure. BY
that time the situation may be less
complicated, new facts and information
may bc accessible, and after conSulta-
ton with Congress plan may be
mapped out which will preserve the
party harmony and bring about that
which is best for the country. Other
congressman expressed similar views.
II is understood that the memorial to
Mr.. Cleveland was forwarded last eve
ming WoShj"gtoH Post Of yeSferdoy.