New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-10
A BETTER " TIME TO ACT"

Our neghbor across the street undoubtedly
means we'll but somehow has an unfortunate
habit of waking up little late. In lis leading
Article yesterday, headed "Time TO Act, The
Times" presented with great earnc>tneSS-n0i
entirely free from the usual balland socket
gesture with its off hind leg toward the Rcpub-
lican pargy-thc necessity for rouSlng people TO
sense of the danger we are in on account OF
the action of the House on Monday with refer
ence 70 the Silver bill Two things it says have
been made clear by that action Zone is
NOTICE the mildncSS and genicncSS with which
it il stated" that of the 80 Democratic mem
bers of the House there are barely Seventy-iiyc
who arc prepared now 70 vote against free coin
age" That il a mathematical. calm. passion
less statement "AnOther iS"-notice the tIan>i-
ton the rolling of the whites of the eyes At
one end and the blll-and- socket joint at the
othcr-"tha Of the lightweight Republicans
there are not a dozen with mannesS and de-
cency enough TO resist mischieyOus action on this
subject" That is a statement which contains
warmth and vinegar and politics 1.-THE Times
is evidently not unprejudced. A third thing
made clear is that the whole strength of the
organization Of the IIousc-the Speaker and the
committees that he has Sclcctcd-will be actively
or pas,ivey at the disposal Of the frce-Sycs
men,"
In the light OF these disclosures our con'cmpo-
rary rises to say, with quite unnecessary but
characteristic kick at the only party opposed 20
the pending bill, that it is &" time 10 acs' II
calls on the business men 9f New-York to or
ganize throughout the country "a direct ox-
preston of public opinion that may bring the
members Of the House 70 their SrnScS' Re
pubicans should be convinced that il is rot
manly nor decent to stand idly by and sec their
opponents make blundcr without trying -
save them from it, and Democrats should be con
WINGED that-what? that free silver is false po-
litical economy, dNhoneS; and rIinous finance ?
Not at all but that any action by this Congress
disclosing the attitude Of the party on the quo,-
ton would return the party t. obscurity for an
other generation. 1t must at lcIs be said that
" The Times" knows the essential characteristics
Of both parties. 1t appeals 10 the manliuess and
dccency Of one and the dishoneS, greed for power
Of the other 1t dscriminates wisely.
But why this suddenneSs? Why is there such
urgency for action? There is 10 danger a.
The Tines itself says, that the Silver bill will
become a law The prcsencc in the White House
of a gentleman whom THE Times did every
thing in its power to defeat insurcs "Thc Times"
against the madness of the Congress it ran lis
legs off to elect II is not then the immediate
danger that exercises our contemporary. "What
we have to dread" it says, " is a National cam
paign on the issue Of free coinage" A dolcful
picture is presented of the situation thai would
follow:
II the Silver bin passes the House by the 1st II
April. hhall have some seven or eight months in
which It Will be the factor In the politics Of the
United States. than half year OF the con
Stunning anxiety, doubt. disturbance and excitement
During that period the financial affairs Oaly Of the
Government but Of the whole people Will be en-
velOpcd IN harassing uncertainty. Enerprls: viii
be checked, capital will be alarmed the demand io
labor viii bc reduced TO the lowest paint, consumption
will be lesscncd trade both domestic and foreign. will
be restricted. No measure the loss thus in
iccd, and for the great of The people 1t will 10
II loss that never be made up The wages un
earned in those eight months viii never be earned
The profits that might be made, especially In the rvta
trade will be made II will be for the country
Ike long period of exhaus,ng sickness, with No.
security Of recovery at ito close.
All this being granted what would be the |
situation if the Mugwump confidence game of
had succeeded or should succeed |
even now, and no vote be taken? The fact
would remain that the Democratic party is "A |
frce-silycr party, and that it has only held back |
from committing itself on the question in order |
TO hold the MugwumpS and trick the yoters. |
The danger would be more imminent the finan-,
cal disturbance greater and more widely ex-
tended. We differ decidedly with our conicnpO-
nry. The thing to be dreaded at this time is a !
in which the Democratic party and |
the Mugwump Contingent can be able upon any
preieXt to say that free coinage is not an issue.
All that Republicans ask is fair sandup fight. /
in the open, without any subtcrfugcs, lodges or
cvasons, upon silver coinage and tariff both.
Our contemporary anxiety is not unnatural.
For this Congress- which it is begging Rcpub-
leans 10 deliver it FROM is Of its own choosing
il stood on its head for joy when the one-hun-
majority came in; and until the
election Of Speaker exploded the logic Of the
,itu1tion' il never ceased TO congratulate the
country upon the choice Of 50 able and eniight
nned body of statesmen to do il, lawmaking.
1t does not think so now, quite so much or quite
20 hard. II has, on the contrary, become some
what nervous about it, and thinks il is - time 10
act" 4; time for the business men to take hold
and organize and do something or other. But
Il strikes us that our contemporary has walked
I'D, either little too late-after it has made