South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1892-02-26

ONE l-sUE ONE LEADER IN 1902
The majority and minority reports
from the Houee committee upon
the subject of free silver coinage
end the petition being circulated
by Repre- entatives Hoar, of Mas.
sachu e''s, and Hsricr, of Ohio,
sor u democratic caucus OF Sena.
tors aud representatives upon the
same question: with q view TO "a
poslponment of all legislative ac-
tioi. until after the presidential
election, are the latest Illustrations
0f the fact that the democratic
party, like the republican party, is
hopelessly divided in opinion
upon the subject OF the cur.
rency and OF the folly of any at
tempt &c make free silver a party
issue in the coming elections. Tar.
i'll reform has alre. dy become a
party issue and the position OF the
two great parties has been diStinct-
ly defined. The difference be.
tween them ia es marked and as
wide as that between the McXin-
icy bill and the Mills bill. 1t is
as we'll defued as tire opposition
between the views of eX-President
Cleveland and President Harrison.
That issue has pone to the country
it has been carried to the polls,
aud upon it tue democratic party
tnumphanily carried the country
in 1890 and the present democrat
ic House was elected.
Free silver, on the contrary. has
/ ever been made party issue, it
has formed no part of the party
creed or platform, and upon it the
democratic party mas won no VIC
tories, and can win none of nation
oil significance or importance.
Committed to anv such foolish and
sue Dial policy. either by the dec.
Iarations of a patty pl torn or by
the votes and acts OF the present
party representatives IN Congress,
the democratic party would incur
certain and o> erwhelming defeat
IL every h ,stern and Middle State
aud lose the confidence and sup
port Of the beat men in the party
South and West. A party flag
with free silver inscribed upon it's
folds is one under " hich to invite
disaster aud defeat, not to march
To victory The question OF taxa
ton, of a reduction OF public our
dens, such - is involved in the
ist ne of tariff reform, is a simple
one and understood 10y the whole
people. The question OF lree.silver
coinage Is an economic problem
ibvolvitg a consideration OF tn OPP.
poting theories OF mOnonen tlism
and b.metaIIsm, OF single or a
double standard, and OF the rela-
tive value of and demand for gold
aud silver. 1t is problem IN re-
gard to which no agreement ha,
been reached or possibly can be
reached among meiDOeIs u 'hS
same political party at this time.
The present a. itaiion OF the
question in Congress 10 with no
honest purpose Il may be doubt
ed if il has had ito origin with the
sincere but mistaken advocates OF
M. limited free silver, who really
believe thatin the Legislation which
they desire will be found panAcea
for all the people'sllls--that more
silver means more money, and that
more money means a more equal
distribution Of m the pockets oil
the people. Such theorists there
undoubtedly are, both IN Congress
aud out Of it, ard we have no right
TO impugn the sincerity OF their
OPINIONS or the honesty OF thelr
motives. But The present silver
agitation IN Congress wears sus-
picious complexion Nobody ex'
rrrfe tkot ia tho urppout pOBltiOu