New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-22
SILVER PLANS.

Two propostions are the outcome OF the re-
cent consultation of silver agitatols. one Is W
limit coinage to the production OF uniteo States
mines. The other is to provide thai iree COM
age of silver may be discontinued at the opuoh
Of the Secretary of the Treasury whenever
uranium on gold appears, and until the premium
bas ceased to be paid. These schemes are
framed. il NAV be noticed with an obvious IN
tent to get President Harrison's approval II pos
sible. Experience has brought even the silver
fanatics to realize that the Presidents position
ia manageable So long as he stands against
the unlimited coinage OF silver no sucn measure
can pass That Is for them an important s'ep
toward comprehension of the facts
But if the President can be persuaded tna'
either of the above proposals is safe, that IL IL
not a treacherons ambush crowded with all Vne
danger and destruction that free coinage ltseii
could bring. he has not the clearness OF unuer-
standing for which the people of the East nave
given him credit 1t is probable that they
understand him rightly The second OF these
clans is IN shut the stabe-door after the horse
hoe heen stolen. The first Is to set a guard
With y gun before the front door of the stable
ond then 70 leave two back doors open and I'M
guarded. ...,,, &,
"A prohibitory tariff on silver imported Is
the guard proposed for the front door AL New
York. in that case, people would not in'Por.
silver But there would be nothing to prevent
sbinments from Europe to Canada or Mexico
Tboso two hack doors. each more than thou
sand miles wide, the Nation has no power 10
close. Silver bullion could be shlPeu W "nS
nnrt Of Canada by railroad, and no customs
officer could ever detect the movement Oh IL
across the imaginary Northwestern border nor
nrevent its transfer across the ST. Lawrence III
heats Mexican silver would inevitably ne
smugpled in regularly in spite OF all precau-
sons and nobody on either side OF the border
could foil whether the metal had come from
Mexican mines or from Europe.
The nrovision that coinage should cease when-
ever there is a premium on gold ignores 'he
fact that after gold has been driven out OF CIT
cnlation. and into boards or out OF the country
tho mischief has been done. A mere cessation
of silver coinage then would not help. Conn.,
dance in the absolute equality in value and
nnrcbasino mower of all the kinds of money the
Government puts out is now the only safeguard
against complete collapse of the monetary @S-
tom That confidence would he destroyed De-
fore premium on gold could arise once de-
stroyed it could not be repaired.
The underlying purpose OF both these plans
is 70 seduce Republicans from their hdehty 10
tba settlement which was enacted last year by
Ronublicar votes and approved by the Presl-
dent Not the least reason has yet been gwen
for dnnartinp from the settlement to which the
SILVER men then assented and which does IN
fact nroy;do monetary use for all the silver that
is produced from the mines Of this country.
Politically speaking, departure from that plan
would be grave blunder. The Democratic
marty is in a fair way to lose the votes OF GER
tain most important States on this issue. Esop $
foxes had the good sense to reject the solemn
and plaintive advice Of the tailless fox to join
him in setting the fashion. and it is safe to as
sumo that Republicans will not be found IN the
humor to initiate Democratic blunders on the
| silver question.