The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-03-26
FREE COINAGE AND ITS BtNEFlTS.

The greatest battle ever fought in this
or any other country in the world oyer
the question of silver coinage is in prog
ress at the capital Of the nation. Upon
the one side are arrayed the republican
party, the money plutocracy of the mid
die and the New England states and the
hired attorneys of Wall street. including
Tracy Of New York. Williams Of Massa-
chusctts and lIarter of Ohio. Upon the
other side stands the democracy of the
country. representing its farmers and its
laboring masses generally. The former,
the enemies of the white metal, have
fought the Bland bill with the obstinacy
ofithe ~lawyer.the arts of the politician and
the arguments of the dcmagogue. from
the moment it was introduced by its
champion until the present time. Its
friends and advocates. with that.couraee
and determination which characterize
brave and honest men. have steadily but
surely pressed the measure to that stage
where the vote must be taken which
will decide its fate. At this writing the
vote has not been taken but the bill
will pass the house and the battle be
transferred to the chamber of the seLatc.
With the aid of IA few western republi-
can senators the measure will pass that
body and go to the president for his veto
or approval.
1t is idle To- speculate upon president
liarrison's disposition Of the measure.
If he were true to the interests of the
people he would unhesitatingly aifiy his
signature to theabill and thus forever
settle the question Of free silver coinage
in the United States and. eliminate it
from the politics Of the country. Ii he
listen TO the appeals of the bond holders
and the money lenders of the New Eng
land states and the goldites of Wall
street. he will veto it and silver men
must wait until a democratic president
occupy the exccutive:chairv.of the nation
before they can hope for free coinage.
Thus the matter stands today.
The democratic party by the action Of
its representatives in congress and by its
platforms adopted in every state cOnven-
ton. with the exception of three or four.
stands irrcyocably pledged to the free
and unlimited coinage Of silver. while
the republican party by the action Of its
Representatives in the same body:and by
its state platfOrms,.stands opposed to the
free coinage of the metal. There are
personal exceptions in both parties. but
We are speaking:iof each a. a political
organization,
Representative .Abner Taylor Of Hi
nois voiced the sentiment of his party
m the silver question in his speech
the Bland bill IN the house last
Tuesday when ne said: Il represent the
)nly party that is opposed to this meas
ire the republican party" Mr.. Tay-
declaration of the leading republican i
organ in this state the Inter Mountain :
but it is an honest and truthful adj I
mission. and one which those cunversant [
With the attitude of the two parties upon t
he silver question will not deny. On '
he other haad, tn" d"mocraticIparty as v
/ whole is committed to the interest of G
Every free coinage bill intro |
in the house has been supported !
~ democratic members. and every other :
ill looking to the redemption Of the ,
metal from the degraded position into ,
which the republican party placed il in t
S73 has been favored 10y them. Let the =
oters OF Montana bcar this in mind. a
md they should Furthermore bear in
mind that il IA free coinage law ever be
nacted it will be enacted by democratic C.
and democratic influence. This is 4
S true as the gospel Of salvation. t
To-day silver is simply merchandise
Ike wheat and cotton. it's price in the {