The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-09-04

siLNEn ~ nm Icotks
II Mckinley is elected in Ohio it will be
due TO two causes First and foremost. to tho
corruption money ofthe protected monopolists,
and next to the free silver plank Of the Demo-
cratic platform.
As to the first Of these causes it cannot be
denied that 1t is exceedingly formidable. The
monopolists feel that their very existence is
at stake. for they know that should Nc
kinlev fail. the cause of high protection for
projections sake is irrevocably lost. They
VIII, therefore, pour ont money like water 10
save their champion. and the Democrats of
the Buckeye State will find themselves OPP
posed by the concentrated capital of the
North and East. In these degenerate
days, when tho worship of money
is so universal and every one is ready to
crook the pregnant hinges Of the knee be-
fore the golden calf, this is an obstacle 10
Democratic success which nothing but the
strongest devotion TO principle can over
come
AS to the second Of the causes Of probable
Republican success in Ohio-the free silver
plank of the Democratic platform-the Nc
kinleyites find themselves in q strange posi-
ton. Their standard bearer was nominated
because he was the avowed and acknowledged
father and patron Of monopoly. and yet 50
evidently unpopular is the present tariff even
in McKinley's State that he and his friends
are seeking to obscure that issue by loudly
ringing the changes on free silver. If they
succeed in bringing this prominently TO the
front and win. the Republicans Of the coun-
try will make a desperate effort TO force the
fighting on that line in the presidential con-
test of 1892
But our friends, the enemy, will find it
very uphill work to accomplish this In the
first place. the people are determined TO have
reform of the tariff and will not permit their
minds to be diverted from this purpose By
any side issue The causes which led 10 the
political cyclone of 1890 still exist. and Will
exist one year hence. and until the public
realizes its wishes in this respect it Will never
be satisfied.
Then, again. the silver question cannot be
made a National issue from the fact that both
parties are divided on it. free silver plank
in the platform Of either party will drive of
as many adherents from that party in tho
East as will be gained in the West and there
fore both parties must either have free sill
yer plank or an anti-silver plank OF a COM
promise between the two must be adopted
In.either event silver cannot be made a polit-
cal issue
Our present Democratic House. however
can, if they will, remove all possibility Of
silver figuring in the presidential campaign at
all, for they can without any difficulty, settle
the question permanently. IL does not APP
pear TO have ever entered into tho minds of
the most ardent advocates of silver that the
mass of those who clamor for free coinage do
not care a straw about the amount of silver in
the dollar. All the most ultra average silver
tie desires is the dollar, and he does not dis
turb himself over whether it has
enough grains of metal in it to be
equal, or even superior, TO gold or not.
Let Congress then take the ratio If
silver TO gold for. say, the past twenty years
and strike!the average as legitimateratio for
the present time. Then let them adopt that
ratio as the basis of the silver dollar and re-
quire that the bullion value Of the silver shall
be intrinsically equal TO that of the gold dol
lar, so that the two may be mutually inter
changeable. This will finally solve the prob
lem. The free-silver men can then have
their silver in unlimited quantity; the sound
currency men will have a sound dollar; the
bimetallist will have his gold and silver
money; the S7OO,OOO,O 900 Of gold now in the
country will remain in circulation and every
body, except the silyer-mine owners. who
want the Government to make every eighty
cents Of their product legal tender for one
hundred cents will be satisfied.