New-York tribune., 1891-02-18
DENYING FREEDOM or OPINION


Men who boycott generally know that they
have a bad case. II there were n chance 70
convince a man by reasoning no ore Of common
sense would try TO convince him with n club.
But the silver fanatics in the Colorado LcgiS-
lature have framed resolution. now pending
there. to refuse all appropriations to the Worlds
Fair at Chicago because merchants Of the Chi
| cago Board of Trade signed memorials against
unlimited coinage of silver. As if this Were
not crazy enough. the resolution threatens the
refusal Of Colorado producers to exhibit at the
Worlds Fair, and an orgarzcd withdrawal OF
all trade from Chicago merchants. One can
hardly help thinking Of the threat by the in
| mates Of a Massachusetts poorhouse that they
would scccdo from the town. But this childish
| folly nevertheless has its serious side.
These people have been hoping for years that
Intervention by the United States Government
would make silver mining more profitable. They
were frantic with joy when the Bland bill
passed but have seen the price Of silver drop
| frightfully under its operation They demand
ed the issue of small silver notes a few years
ago. but the price of silver went lower yet Last
year they demanded more, and Congress pro-
vidcd that practically the whole Of the silver
produced in this country should he taken by the
Treasury and notes issued against it, Bullion
rose for a short time but has now fallen again
and the fanatics appear desperate. As the
quoted resolution shows and the acts of Colorado
Senator'S some people in that region seem to
have lost all sense of right or of Obligation on
any other subject under the sun. and have be-
come silver mOnomaniacs. Arc they to be pited?
Obviously, but they take the wrong way to get
anything done in this country. Boycotting is
utterly hostile to the split of American insti-
tutonS, AMI 50 offensive and odious that it al
most invariably rouscs in behalf Of the person
or principle thus aSsailed an irreSistibly power
full public indignation.
The men Of silver States must remember that
they have not bit more right to their opinion
than the free citizens Of Chicago, Of New-York
or of any other part Of the country have to their
opinions. The very cornerstone Of our free
institutions is the recognition Of this right, not
of one man but of all men, to form their own
opinions freely On matters concerning the gen
era welfare. Our Government rests upon the
free and unbought decision Of American cti-
zcns. lie is completely unfit for a share in that
government who cannot see that il is shameful
and hostile to free institutions to deprive any
citizen Of his right OF free judgment. The
Democratic partsans, whose madness had for
It's only excuse their frantic greed for Office pro-
posed to boycott the Worlds Fair because H.
nois Senators voted as their constituents
wished them to vote, for free and honest cleo
TONS The silver madness would boycott not
only the Fair, but Chicago merchants Also be-
cause they believe free coinage Of silver would
inure the country, and SO believing use their
influence as good citizens for the public wei
fare These are not the methods of men who
have good cause. The appeal from reason 10
coercion is q confession of weakness or of guilt.
When the silver men get cool enough to think
they will perceive that neither threats nor force,
neither barterng with Democrats nor al attempt
TO coerce the House and the President, has
helped their case and it will surely not be
hclned by boycotting the Worlds Fair, or the