The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1892-04-30
THE SILVER FIGHT.
ITS STATUS FULLY EXPLAINED BY
SENATOR TELLER.

for Gold Bugs to Answer.
Senator Teller has addressed the fol-
loving letter to a friend in Denver:
UNITED STATES SENATE,
WAsurNGToN, d. C., April o.
DEAR SIR: [ am in receipt of your
very kind letter of the 29th ult. I am
grateful for your expressions Of approval
of our course on the silver question. I
notice that some Of the newspapers have
criticised our action in not bringing the
question Of free coinage before the SEN
ate while the question was before the
house. The friends Of silver without
division determined it was better to await
the action Of the house on the Bland bill.
We knew we We're stronger in the senate
if the bill passed the house than we were
before its passage; besides it was though
TO be the best policy to concentrate our
efforts for the time on the house bill.
But | suppose if we had taken up the
bill in the senate we would have been
criticised for SO doing, and | have no
doubt we would have been charged with
the failure Of the house bill as we'll as
oui wv Ii. L w lltt IIlGullbii lHIS DttluSt
| think the senators who without regard
to party affiliations have stood for silver
against a hostile administration, willing
to incur the displeasure Of the executive,
need any defense before the country.
II is only another phase Of the obsta-
cles we have to encounter in our efforts
to secure free coinage. We have had 4
very active and able lobby. with all the
powers Of wealth and political influence
against US, and 50 it does not surprise US
to see certain parties at home organizing
q fire in the rear under the pretense Of
zeal for silver, When ii fact the move
ment is one Of hostility to the senators
from Colorado only. If the senators
from Colorado can be dsparaged in the
eyes Of the people Of Colorado and else
where upon such charges, it would ap-
pear that there is not much to encourage
the state on their part.
The Globe-Democrat, a pronounced
opponent of silver has been quite active
in declaring that, Notwithstanding the
views of the senators from Colorado on
Mr.. llarrison,s financial policy, Colorado
would send a Harrison delegation to
Minneapolis as rebuke to the senators
from that state, and it appears that the
parties especially criticising the action
Of senators in this matter are depended
on to do that work.
If the Republicans Of Colorado are
anxious to see Harrison renominated, /
hope Il delegation will be sent With in
structions to that effect, and il that is
done, it appears to me that the repre-
sentatives in congress, nominated at our
next convention, should be men who are
in full accord with Mr. Harrison in his
views as to free coinage, and that as soon
us it can be done the senators should be
Harrison their support on the silver
question. II We properly represent the
state on the silver question, the delega-
ton that goes to Minneapolis with Mr..
Harrison as its first choice will not. The
number Of delegates we have in the na
tional convention is so small that oul
influence will not be great, but whatever
it may be it ought to be cast in favor OF
the material and political interests Of the
state, and it doesn't appear to me that
Mr.. IIarrison's denomination is in the
interest Of either.
have no doubt about the ultimate
triumph Of silver and its full recognition
as a money metal, not only in this coun-
trv but throughout the world. Although
the powerful influence just now brought
against us in this country has been sur
prsing to many OF our friends and some
what aemoraliZing to others, | am not
and have not been surprised. | have
understood for years the great power that
would be brought to bear on this ques-
ton when it should appear that free
coinage was likely to be an established
fact. 1t is apparent that free coinage has
gained many supporters III this country
as we'll as in Europe within the last six
wears. The financial disturbance in
Europe within the last two years has
created a strong party even in England
and Germany in favor OF the bi-metallic
system, which, of course, means ulti-
mately free coinage Of silver on equal
terms with gold. I may say all Europe
is looking to the United States to take
action in this matter, and the friends OF
bi-metallism everywhere have hoped we
would establish free coinage. OF course
those of us who understood the attitude
Of the president on this subject had nc
hope for a free coinage bill becoming n
law, but we did hope to pass it through
both branches Of congress as encourage.
ment to the friends of silver, not only
in the United States, but throuy uyhout the
world. But the powerful influence OF
Wall street, the eXigencies of a political
campaign and the active and determined
hostility Of the president has been toe
much for the friends of silver to over
come.