New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-04-10
SIGNIFICANT totes.

| The vote on silver coinage shows q great
change in the right direction. The extent ana
Importance of this change can hardly be
| appreciated without an analysis OF the vote.
| 1t is to be remembered that few years ago
| the Bland bill, providing for unlimited coinage
| of silver, passed the House by an overwhelm-
| ing majority, and the temper OF that body until
this year has ever since been in favor OF UNI
limited coinage. But the vote now shows that
almost the entire Democratic party in the
Eastern States with an influential minority at
the South and at the West, is prepared TO
Oppose the continuance of coinage. The vote
is in mapy respects highly significant. Indeed,
il suggests hope that later in the session, II
measure of reasonable compromise can be
devised, it may yet be passed in the very House
in which but few days ago the supporters OF
unlimited coinage boosted a clear majority.
1t is mistake to infer that the vote on the
amendment offered by MI. Dibble, of South
Carolina, fairly tested the strength of those
who are prepared to support suspension OF
coinage in some form. That amendment
provided for conditional suspension, and at
future date, with further negotiation, which
many believe it is not to the credit OF the
United States now to ask after repeated reDuifs
by foreign Powers. There are members who
believe that suspension al a future day would
be grave mistake, and others who believe that
a decision conditioned upon the failure OF
negotiation would operate strongly to defeat
the objects of that negotiation. The two votes
taken on Thursday showed that an important
Democratic element, represented by man OF
no less influence than the leader of the House,
Mr. Morrison, and probably strengthened by
the Speaker himself, though unprepared at this
time to support the conditional proposition
made by Mr.. Dibble, has become aware That tile
continuance of liver coinage involves peril to
the country and to the party in power. The
Democratic vote cast against free coinage OF
silver embraced the four Democratic members
from New-England, sixteen of the seventeen
Democratic members from New-York, Mr..
Adams being absent; two of the three Demo-
cratic members from New-Jersey, Mr. Pdcock
being absent; and seven of the eight Demo-
cratic members from Pennsy lvania, Mr.. Curtin
alone voting for unlimited coinage Ihu' the
members of that party from the Eastern States
are substantially unanimous In opposing Tree
coinage But from the South there were also
twenty nine votes on the same side; four out
of the five Democratic members from Mary
land, one being absent; four from Alabama
three each from Georgia and Kentucky; two
each from Virginia, Louisiana, Mississippi
North Carolina, Florida and South Carolina
and one each from the States of Texas, MIS-
souri, and West Virginia. 1t is significant fact
that of the ten Democratic members from
Kentucky, the Speaker did not vote, bat his
near friend and repIese NATIVE in the Coinage
Committee Mr.. McCreary, and two other
members voted to defeat the bill. From the
Northwest, also, eleven Democratic members,
headed by Mr.. Morrison, Of Illinois, voted on
the same side.
There is no logic in a continuance OF silver
coinaoe. now that more silver has already been
turned into standard dollars than the country
can need for many years to come, without I'M
limited coinage of silver The continuance OF
coinage can have but one Object, to force the
country to a silver basic, and 1t would surely
have that result if the operation OF the act
were not in effect defeated by the Administers
ton Hence those who now oppose the free
coinage of silver must logically come OF
necessity to the decision that coinage must be
suspended. They cannot justify before the
Deope the attitude of the Democratic party IN
retaining on it's statute books law which its
Administration carefully defeats. Before tie
session closes il will appear to Mr.. Carlisle and
Mr. Morrison, as it how appears to Mr.. Randall
and Mr. Scott, that the present attitude of the
party in power is fatal, not only to the Admin
istration but to the party itself. The party has
been iDtrusted by the people with the response
bilties of government. If it fails to guard the
country against the disasters which continued
coinage threatens, the party, and not the Pres
ident alone, will be held responsible by the
country,