New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-14
FREE COINAGE BEATEN.

The defeat of the Free Coinage bill in the
House. thanks to the Republican members, Is
complete. 1t is a curious fact that some OF the
Democrats, who would not have dared to vote
against free silver coinage directly. were able
10 muster pluck to vote against the motion to
take ND the BILL so that those Republicans prob
ably turned the scale who decided TO kill the
bill at the first chance if they could, and not
to wait for the final vote. II was the best
opportunity to put an end for this year 10 all
anxiety in business quarters about TINS DANGER
Gus measure and the Republican minority
served the country rather than party as II
usually does. and rightly.
Every one knows that the Democratic vote
against taking up the bill was not cast ex-
clusivelv. nor even mainly, by Democrats who
are opposed to silver coinage. Much the larg-
cst mart of it came from Democratic Repre-
sentativcs who mean TO vote Tor Tree coinage
whenever they think they can afford 10 90 so,
but who do not dare now. with PreSidcntlal
election close at hand, t. face the consequences
Ct such a vote After the November election
more than half of the Democrats who fol
lowed ey-Spcaker Reed Yesterday can be OK
pccted to vote for any Free Coinage bill. no
matter now extreme Oh dpN''' INV =" N''T
cf less than twenty of them would have raSSed
the Stewart bill yesterday.
An obvious purpose of the Democratic MI
nority was TO get the silver question ont OF the
Presidential canvass. But they are wasting
time If there were nothing else to make the
oucstion prominent. the Alliance agitators Ger
tanlv would compelling Democratic candidates
in Western and Southern states publicly TO
nlcdgc themselves for free silver IN order 10
avoid loss Of votes. But these things cannot
be done i'm corner. and the East will know
what tho West and South arc doing. Pledges
and speeches made in the regions where silver
fanaticism prevails will be quoted and VIII
have their rightful influence upon public opn-
ion. and upon the confidence of men in the
Democratic party in the Eastern states.
No vote in the House this year could be eX-
nected to show the full strength of free com
age among the Democrats. Scores OF Demo
cratic Representatives who would vote for the
measure ar any other time have felt compelled
70 vote against such bill this year. on the
Ground that its passage would hurt the party
in the Presidential election. In the language
Of Senator Vest. they want the Democratic
nartv to get full power first, and 1t VIII then
settle the silver question in lis own way.
These men want delay. but they would vote
for free coinage next winter or at any future
time. If these. with the small minority of
Democrats who really oppose free coinage, pre-
vent the massage of a bill this summer with
the aid of Republicans. they hope to get strong
enough TO pass Free Coinage bill hereafter.
and they do not believe that Democratic Pres
4. L;p,colf AGAINST tho declared
wishes of his party.
Hence the question cannot be taken ont OF
the canvass no matter what leaders at W ash
ington NAV desire. The whole business world
sees that the overwhelming majority OF Demo
Gratis stand ready to enact free coinage rs soon
as they can without sacrificing the Presidential
election If the party can get power, 1t Will
not hesitate to do what Democratic masses OF
the West and South paSsionatcly demand ~
will bring to bear upon any President elected
by Democratic votes kind OF coercion which
no such President has ever resisted, namely
the dictates of party caucus, with an appeal
to save the party from overthrow III the states
where the silver craze prevails.
In the light of this and previous votes. one
thing seems to be plain. The men who desire
a sound currency in this country cannot afford
20 put the Democratic party into power. What
its preiudiccs and tendencies are they must
now know What restraining force there may
be. at any time, with that party in control OF
the Government, no man can safely calculate.
There is but one safe thing to do, and that is
to intrust the Government to the only party
which has upheld and still upholds honest
money, by the election of the Republican Ma
tional candidates and Republican Congress.