The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1891-12-05
THE ABANDONMENT OF SILVER.
Under the above caption the Inter

INV 10 1t lIIdt llit oIllN iItlllpti tllS
newspapers in this state that are cap
able of argument have ignored the let
ter which Senator Carlisle this week
sent to Congressman Warner advising
the election of Mills to the speakership
and the abandonment of the silver is
sue? Where do the Helena I%ndepend-
ent, Anaconda Standard and Missoula
uazette stand upon the proposition.
and whore. oh, where does our able
friend, Daniel Searles, of the Great Falls
Tribune, the only democrat in the state
who can write an Ineligible article on
silver-whcre does he stand? Let him
not in nsWer to this question call the
Inter Mountain a liar Or abuse the re-
publican party. but let him answer
truthfully and give the temperature of
his blood when he reads the following
part of Mr.. Carlisio's letter wherein the
silver issue is cast 10 the dogs.
Then follows that part Of Mr. Carlisle's
letter wherein the Inter Mountain
charges: '.thc silver issue is cast to the
dogs" In order that our Butte gold
bug contemporary may not rest under
the unjust charge of telling the truth
the excerpt from Mr.. Carlisle's letter as
reproduced by the Inter Mountain is
given:
Upon the tariff question we are practi-
cally united, while upon the silver ques-
ton and perhaps upon some others,
there are wide and honest differences of
opinion among members of our party
which can only be reconcIlcd by patient
deliberations Why shall we on the eve
Of Il great national contest. when victory
Is almost within our grasp. abandon or
ignore tn" vital issue upon which we are
united and waste strength in fruitless
controversy over questions which can
better br adjusted after it has been ]c-
tcrmincl what part Of the earning of the
people they shall be permitted to keep:
II there is Il man in this broad land
who, after reading the above, will solemn
~ declare that MIR. Carlisle advises
throwing the silver Issue to the dogs his
friends should immediately provide him
with a straight jacket. Mr.. Carlisle adj
visoa nothing ri jhe kind. What he does
advise is tLis. That the democratic
party hold the silver question in obey
anca and make lis fight on The tariff
question upon which il is practically
united. lie thinks the silver question
can better be adjusted after the people
learn what part Of their earnings they
shall be permitted to keep. IN other
words. he would settle the silver question
after the tariff question shall DO settled.
rs no concoiycs thc latter is the moro
important one at this iuncture.
The Inter Mountain very well under
stands why Mr.. Carlisle offered the adj
vice he did to Congressman Warner. He
knows as every one knows that as q
party the republicans are united in OPP
position to free coinage Of silver, 1t has
never formulated q state or national
platform in which free coinage Of silver
was supported. On the other hand
every state democratic platform which
has been adopted since the silver qucs-
ton became Il prominent issue has. with
the exception of those of New York and
Massachusetts, contained q free coinage
plank. These are indisputable facts.
Now right here comes Il question forced
upon democratic leaders by the logic of
events. Major Mckinley won his vic
tory not so much upon the tariff as upon
the silver issue.
In view of this fact and in view of the
further fact that many eastern demo
Gratis oppose free coinage at the present
time, and in view of the still further fact
that all democrats are united in opposi-
ton to the Mckinley tariff, the question.
as we have stated. is forced upon demo-
cratic leaders whether it is not the bet
ter policy to make next years fight upon
the tariff alone rather than harness it
with the silver issue. Mr.. Carlisle pre-
fcrs taking tariff straight, leaving silver
for the time being Just where the repuh-
lican party mas put it among articles of
commerce. IF the democratic party win
upon the tariff question it will be in a
position to rescue the white metal from
the degraded position it now occupies.
This, as we understand il. is the motive
which prompted Mr.. Carlisle to offer the
advice he did.
Neither the Inter Mountain nor any
other republican journal can Justly ac-
GUS. the democratic party with a desire
to abandon The silver issue. The vote Of
the party as represented in past con
crosses and their platforms as adopted
by state conventions d~isprove the charge.
The party stands today where it stood
when it passed the Bland bill, and where
il stood when battling for free coinage.
1t is the friend and only friend Of the
white metal. The Inter Mountain would
make it appear that the present attitude
of Mr.. Cleveland and Mr.. Carlisle toward
| silver is the attitude of the democratic
party toward the white metal. This silly
assumption may be met with the in
quiry: Arc the expressions of Senator
John Sherman, Secretary of the Treas