Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1892-06-23
dlattklp Argns,
uolDsisoRo. N. G.. JUNE 80 1892.
w THE LINES.

Under this head the Louisville
Courier Journal reviews at length
and with much force and sagacity
the Republican national platform
promulgated at Minneapolis, which
as the Jomrmal says, is indeed a
queer piece of work. From the
first to the last word it is evasive
and insincere. To know exactly
what it means it is necessary to
read it between the lines. It will
be observed that the Mckinley
bill is nowhere Specifically mems
toned in the platform, although its
putative author was the President
of the convention. Tie omission
was 10 accident. It was remem-
bered that this bill had been con-
demned by the American people
by a majority of nearly a million
Of votes. 1t was not forgotten
that Republicans of eminence bad
denounced the bill as a violation
of the pledges made during the
canvass of 1888 The platform,
therefore, was content to approve
protection and reciprocity without
committing the party to details.
Between the lines of these declara-
tons and others of a general chars
acter we read that the Republicans
were afraid to indorse the McKin-
ley bill by name. They chose go
to frame the platform that it could
be construed as an Endorsement
where it is popular, and as not an
Endorsement where that construcs
ton promises a better harvest of
votes.
The assertion that the prices OF
manufactured articles are lower
now than before the passage Of the
tariff of 1890 is designed to make
consumers believe that the manu-
facturers were deceived when they
supposed that this legislation was
in their interest. Between the lines
we read that the platformSmakers
knew that the manufacturers were
too sagacious to believe this huns
bug, and hat they hoped that the
masses of the people were not. Il
the tariff of 1890 had caused the
decline OF the prices of manufac-
ured goods, the Manufacturers
would be clamoring for it's repeal.
The silver plank may mean anye
thing or nothing. according to the
construction. Between the lines
we read that the Republicans, in
spite of all they have said of Dem
o~cratic dissensions on this subject
are afraid to take any definite po'
sition with regard to the free ane
unlimited coinage of silver. They
say the American people favor
bi-metallism, without saying wheth
er they do or not. But what is bi
metallism Nobody knows bet
ter than the makers of this plat
form that bi-betallism is a much
abused word. The extreme silver
linen use it as synonymous will
their policy. The most bitter OF
ponents of free coinage, who hav'
reasons for wishing to call them
selves bi-metallists, employ It'll t
denote any use OF both metals a
money. On the other hand, thos
who call themselves monometallist
. insist that bi-metallism means tn
same as free and unlimited coinage
= Webster defines bi-metallism to b
II the legalized use of two metal
in the currency of a country at
j. fixed relative value. This, c
course, leaves open all questions G
ratio or restriction as to amount
The literary meaning of a wor
counts for little, however, in pc
litical discussions land bi-metallisr
e is used in the Republican platform
! as Talleyrand said language shout
y be used, for the purpose OF cor
1t cealing the thought. After all tn
m IL A. DA..l1