Los Angeles herald., 1890-12-19
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1890.
REPUBLICANS AND SILVER.

For the thousandth time the Republi
can party has made plain showing of
its hand on the silver question. 1t Is
the same animus that comes to the sur
face on all occasions, and it is one posi-
lively hostile to the white metal. Not
that all the members of the party stand
in this attitude, but the exceptions SIM
ply prove the rule. There are distin-
guished statesmen on the Republican
side of the senate whose services to the
cause of silver are among the most en-
thusiastic and effective rendered by any.
They are led by John p. Jones, of Ne
yada, one of the best informed economists
of the age, who is intimately acquainted
with the conditions OF the west and the
needs of the people of that great section
of the country. He is followed by little
coterie of really able men, all as warm
friends of the white metal as there are in
the world. But what does the combined
effort of them all effect in their party?'
just enough to prevent silver from being
thoroughly and perpetually denied any
place in the coinage system of the
country. They simply serve to echo the
cries of the people OF the country in the
ears of the politicians who may be
reached by the dread OF loss of power
when purer and higher reasons fail to
produce an impression. But in all cases
the best result is compromise on silver
which still degrades the metal from its po-
sition OF nobility alongside of gold, and
makes it a pariah in the economics of
the financial world.
The last exhibition of the subsection
of men like Senator Jones. with his clear
intellect, warm, popular impulses and
patriotic principles, to the selfish mas
terry of men like the frigid old money
grabber, who sits for Ohio, and which
emphasizes the fact that silver never
will get fair treatment at the bands OF
the Republican party, is found in the
conclusions reached on Wednesday at
the caucus OF the senators OF that
party in Washington. One point in tn e
compromised was compromise, as
usual-will sufficiently demonstrate the
truth of our position. 1t is the recon-
mendation that free coinage bill be
passed as soon as silver shall reach
par value with gold in the ratio OF one
to Is, and maintain that parity for one
year. 1t is simply the old advice OF the
foolishly-fond old woman to whom a
son was born at late period of life-do
not go near the water until you learn to
swim. Pass free coinage bill, and
that one without limitation, and fine
silver will at once jump to $l.29 per
ounce, and remain there until the
crack of doom, if the law is not repealed
or changed. 1t is not, of course, neces-
sary, or of any use, to reason thus with
the enemies of silver. They perfectly
understand this logic, but it is not for
the interest of their masters to be
honest in their arguments, or true
to their real convictions. 1t is to the
interest of coupon clippers and note
shavers to keep silver in its degraded
position. The nope of these compromis
ers is that for the time being they may
again pull the wool over the eyes OF the
people and prolong the time in which
they may go on in their schemes of
robbery. One false hope is put forward
after another, 80 as to give more time to
oppress the poor.
There is always an end to these
schemes. After hope deferred makes the
heart sufficiently sick the people will put
their own interest before party politics,
and then some one will be put in power
who will see that the country gets
enough money. Let but the politician
know that the people are not in a
humor to be longer made fools of, but
that the day for compromises is passed,
and then there will be great change OF
heart developed on this silver business.
This will all come about 1892.