New-York tribune., 1891-02-15
MR. CLETELIND'S SEETICE.


Again il is demonstrated that Americans like
rho courage which does moi fear the people.
Mr.. Cleveland is receiving great credit Tor ms
lottcr dcnouncing free coinage OF silver - Il
dapccrous and reckless experiment. and much
of that credit he deserves. II is true far greater
credit ba, been earned and gained by the Re
puLlican leaders who have resisted this perm so
,tou,lv. but in these days it i much to find
Democrat who fairly deserves 10 share the honor
which they deserve Undoubtedly MIR. Clcyc-
lands letter was deliberately planned. long con
.dored. and intended IL u maStcr->irokc IN poh-
tics OF thi, there is abundant evidence III me
admissions of his friends that hosts OF telcgiainN
from leader, of his party begged ana even pie
onSlv implorcd him 10 refrain from Nnch Gee
laration. Il was after much secret consultation
and debate that this step was taken ana u was
obviously taken because it was 'hIe"dIy cfl-
culaicd ,hat the silver craze had begun 20 Wane
and that the people would in the ead sustain a
bold and unninching resistance.
Mr. Cleveland was tardy in his courage. The
hour Of peril had passed. The unbcndins firm
nos, OF the Republican majority in both houses
of Congress. the mcompromi'lng opposition "i
President Harrison and his whole AdmniNtla-
ton. and particularly the last words oi his late
Secretary Of the Treasury. had impressed pubic
opinion 50 powerfully that there was no longer
danger Of action AT this session. Even AZ the
next session >hrcWd observers had discovered.
the Erect COINAGE bill had but small chance o!
nassinc over the veto Of President llarnS0n.
While Democrats who were prepared TO oppose
il were net numerous they were able, iar-Scclng
and determined not t. have their party com
mi;tcd to fatal policy. Such results had al
ready been secured by Republican courage and
fidelity before Mr. Cleveland renured to speak.
On numerous occasions within the last few
months while Tie peril in Congress was Creates
he had been expressing hi, opinions to the poo
pie by letters or by speeches, but until now has
carefully avoided any utterancc about the silver
question. Hi, eloquent passage Of silence bad 50
impressed his party friends that most Of them
expected him to yield assent to the tricky policy
Of barter with the silver fanatics It is only
| after such impressive silence that he has con-
cludod to lump off the fence and on The right
side. He does 50 because he sees that Repub-
lican fidelity has already made il the winning
] side.
Yet Nr. Ccycland'S letter gives satisfaction
to thousands and has unquestonably strength
cned hipl. because il is esteemed an act Of rare
courage thus 70 defy the opinion overwhelmingly
prevalent in his own party. And it is but right
that he should have full credit for that courage,
and for all the service he has thus rendered to
the cause of honest money. He did the right
thing. and il required more pluck in him because
If the amazing folly of his party in committing
itself to a course full Of peril to the country in
the hope Of winning few votes. For the mo-
ment Mr. Cleveland j. decorated with the abuse
of the Democratic demagogucS who would have
sold Nations prosperity for few paltry Offices.
They had not the sense 10 see that the silver
craze would cost their party in the end moro
votes than il could gain But Mr. Cleveland
! had for he was in hourly and close intercourse
! with men who are strong in banks and in
finance who know Wall Street thoroughly. and
feel the pulse OF moneved institutions throughout
the country. His associations made it easy for
! Mr.. Cleveland to disregard the opinion of his
party in other States and the assurance that no
/ Democratic Convention would attempt to get
along without the vote of Newlork gave him
| a right 10 dictat3.
Nlr CevelandS friends say that he has made
himself the only possible candidate Of his party,
and more than half imply that he wrote his
letter for that reason. The public does not
| care what his motives were. and will not grudge
him the credit of joining the faithful Repub-
| cans who have made his courage safe and
profitable and have saved the Nation from Dem
ocratc rccklessness and dishonesty. He and his
followers weigh more than the silver men, who
! have sold themselves for nothing. They will