Los Angeles herald., 1890-06-09
THE SILVER STRUGGLE.

The bullion redemption feature of the
silver bill as it finally passed the house
seems to have been retained, thus leav-
ing the matter in very Objectionable
shape to the true friends of silver. 1t is
strange that the people should be obliged
to watch their representatives like hawks
in the several stages of the passage of
measure of most exigent popular
need. The question arises, How does it
come that in the most popular branch of
the national legislature in the body that
comes directly from the people and
ought to represent their aspirations
the gold bugs of Wall street should have
such a great infuence?" 1t would be
naturally supposed that their weight
would rather lie in the conservative
senate. The only inference permissible
to man of common sense in this cor
rupt day and generation is that the
gold-bugs have employed a heavy
lobby to influence the house. There is
nothing strained in such view of the
matter, because it is an indisputable fact
that the bill which brought about the
demonetization of silver was forced into
the revised statutes of the United
States through the employment of coin,
and coin which was contributed in equal
measure from Change in London and
Wall street in New York. The danger
of miscarriage of sound silver bill
which, under present conditions, should
provide for the purchase of $4,500,000 of
silver bullion monthly, upon which sill
yer certificates of legal-tender quality
should be issued, with the alternative
privilege to coin standard dollars to that
amount, is unquestionably great, and
the inexperienced observer would
scarcely know where to lay the blame.
The passage of bill with the general
features named, and its signing by the
president, means an abundant currency,
stimulated industries, an enhanced price
for all the products OF our soil, univer-
sal prosperity and the emancipation Of
the debtor classes Free coinage of sill
yer is of course what is needed, but as it
seems to be clear that such measure
will be vetoed by the president, and is
doubtful of passage in either house, it
will probably have to be passed by for
the present session. A sentiment is,
however, gathering amongst the people
that will shortly be irresistible,
which will take entire possession
of the fifty-second congress, and
which will be re-echoed in such
authoritative volume from all sides that
it will coerce recognition. Some of our
esteemed Republican contemporaries
say that Congressman Bland, the illus
trious author OF the Bland silver bill,
and other Democrats, are insisting upon
free coinage of silver in order to defeat
any legislation on this supreme issue,
with the view Of claiming credit with
the people for Republican failure to
handle the subject in Il statesmanlike
manner. Such assumptions are worthy
OF pinhead craftsmanship and Jour
nalism. Mr.. Bland and his Democratic
associates are very busily engaged just
now in preventing the overturning of the
whole silver fabric by Wall street. They
are determined that, in any event, the
people shall not, at least, loose the bene-
fits of the Bland bill, under which the
secretary of the treasury can purchase
and coin $4,O00,000 worth OF silver
monthly. Why doesn't he do it? Why
has the administration made no res
ponse to the great silver convention held
at st. Louis?
The reason is simple-the administra-
tion is deadly in its hostility to silver.