The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-01-16
Free Coinage.

There can be no mistake about the silver
bill passed by the Senate ON Wednesday. 1t
was a free coinage bill, pure and simple.
All that was distasteful to the free silver men
was cut out Of the bill reported from the
finance committee. and then, as If to empha-
size their victory, the bill was put aside and
substitute reported by Senator Vest and
embodying the views of the silver Senators
in the plainest terms was passed by an over
whelming majority. Only three Democrats
made any resistance to the passage of the
bill. All the rest of the opposition came
from the Republicans. The bill now goes to
the House, where its fate is doubtful, though
the silver men. not without good reason, feel
confident of getting it through that body.
The passage of the bill, after all reflections
of compromise, shows that the silver men
are bound to have free coinage, and will be
content with nothing less 1t shows that
there is nothing to be gained by temporizing
with them longer. Matters are fast getting
into such condition that the members Of
the House as we'll as the Senators will have
to come out fiat footed ON one side or the
other of this question. But it will not end
there. If free coinage bill should pass
OObu uOuoCo anu Dc tolU6u ny lHb EbSlutut,
undoubtedly the silver quest on will become
the most prominent in the next Presidential
election. and the candidates of both PARTIES
will be compelled to take some position In
regard to 1t. The silver Democrats of the
West are in no mood to be trifled with. Mr..
Cleveland will have to say something more
definite than that he has somewhat modified
his views on silver, or that he thinks there
may be plausible, and perhaps sound, argu-
ments for free coinage His party by the
vote in the Senate on Wednesday is practi-
cally committed to free coinage, and the
chances of his nomination will henceforth
grow steadily less unless he finds it possible
to experience change of heart and be born
again on the silver question. Alongside of
his competitors, Mr.. Morrison Of Illinois and
Gov. Hill, Mr.. Cleveland must see that he is
at great disadvantage. His record has
been that of an uncompromising opponent
of free silver, which makes it exceedingly
awkward for him to change his mind. Hill.
however, has no record, neither has Morri-
son. The prominence of the silver ques-
ton bodies no good to the ex-President
The embarrassmentS of the question are
not however confined to the Democrats.
Republicans of the far west are pretty we'll
tinctured with the silver heresy, and of
course they will demand nominee who
will sympathize with their views. Their ap-
peal too will be backed by many votes
aud it will be no easy matter to resist it. But
1t ought to be resisted. The true policy of
the Republican party Is now to take de-
cided stand In opposition to free coinage.
They have gone far enough to show that they
are not inimicalt to silver and have no desire to
Danish it from the currency CT the country.
But the free coinage proposition is In its
practical effect proposition to make silver
the sole currency and to Danish gold.
Against that the Republicans should from
this time on Isternly set their faces. They
may be temporarily defeated. Senator
Edmunds's prediction that the country will
make the experiment of free coinage will
very likely be fulfilled. But unless the re-
suits of such experiments ia the past are
delusive free coinage will be followed by
such disarrangement of values and such
disturbance of business that the party and
the men who are responsible for it will be
swept out Of political existence. A great op-
portunlty Is open now to the men or the party
no have the courage to stand firm for honest
money.