Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-19
FRIDAY. FEBRUARY 10. 1892
. Silver Si(ie-TracKed.

We have received copy OF pamphtet
entitled 1.-THE Democratic Party and the
Silver Question: Shall it stand for the
rights OF the whole people or become the
servant Of the silver ring? Response OF
Mr.. MICHAEL d. HAsrER. of the Fifteenth
Ohio Congressional District. at the Re-
form Club dinner in New York on JAN
nary 16. 1902" Mr. HALTER is well posted,
but Of course his speech is q mere rehash
of the old arguments familiar to all who
have studied the subject within the last
Fifty wears. He considers the dollar OF
the dsddies a fraud. and ought to set
down its advocates as lunatics or cheats.
II is worthy Of note that he compares the
Democratic party TO the Church, and says
that upon 40 important question as the
currency the views of that party should
be as decided as are those of the Church
upon original sin, regeneration, or bap-
tism.
Accompanying Mr.. HABrEB's speech is
circular which declares that 1t Will be
would be- suicidal for the Democratic
party to pass free-coinage bill through
the House of Representatives this sea
SOM SESSION.. He argues that with free
silver in our Platform and a free silver
bill passing the House of Representatives,
we could not carry New Hampshire, Mas
sschusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut,
New York. New Jersey, Wisconsin, Illinois.
or Iowa. Mr.. HARTER might have added
that the Democrats will carry but few OF
these States in any event. Connecticut.
New York, and New jersey are the only
ones upon which as at present advised we
would counsel the Democratic party 70
relv.
MIR. HAsrEg made his speech under the
shadow of Wall street. and not until about
n month ago. lie knew that his monomet-
allist audience would approve of his mo-
nometallist utterances. And yet we must
claim that he was behind the DISPATCH,
which as soon as the results of the last
November elections were known an
nounced that the Democratic party would
probably be forced to leave out OF its ma
tional creed any declaration in favor OF the
free coinage of silver. We added that we
we're as Jealous in the cause OF bimetallism
az we had ever been. But We could not
help seeing that the monometallists were
determined to rule or ruin. and as
the south could not AFFORD to insist
upon its views. we felt that it must
Yielded to unjust dictation and compul-
ac1 rather than run the risk OF
passing silver bill. and thus ena-
bling the Republicans. assisted by Mug
wumps, TO elect the next President
and House OF Representatives, and so
place the Republican party In position
to make the force bill law of the land
and worse law than any law OF even re-
construction days. The situation has not
changed since the Sd of November last.
The anti-silver men still hold themselves
ready to slay the Democratic party rather
than allow silver to be coined free OF
charge. In black letters 1t is announced in
Mr.. HARrKn's circular that it would be
suicidal" for the Democrats to pass
free-coinage bill through the House OF
Representatives this session. Suicidal ="
IA word which means self-killing. 1t
tells US that monometallist Democrats
would kill their party rather than per-
NIT Congress to pass free-coinaRe bill.
60. as we have many time said within
the last three months, we SEQ mo tho
roughfare" open ahead of the Democrats
except the one indicated. The Democrats
seem to be shut up to one policy. They
appear to have no choice. They must let
the free coinage of silver play second id-
die to the schemes of the Wall-streeters.
They must do the best they can, however.
We have read MIR. BLAND's noble utter
ances in the cause OF the people. and seen
how the Committee on Coinage, Weights.
and Measures has promised to stand by
him. But in the rear of ell these things
We have seen and felt an influence more
powerful than that Of Mr.. BLAND and his
committee. and have not dared to hope for
the free coinage Of silver, or for univd-
cal currency--at least for the present.