New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-29
THE TOTE on FREE COINfGE.

The vote In the Senate on free coinage deli
nltclv settles the attitude Of parties on the great
controversy which has kept the country in tur-
moil since the transfer of political power to III"
new Administration and Congress last March.
II has been known MI the time that large
ma lorty Of Republicans would oppose free coin
age and there WIS never IN apprehension OF
that revolutionary change until the transfer OF
bower The friends ~ the President claimed
that h. would be- able 10 control his party, or at
least ma iorty Of It's members. so that no Tree
coinage bill could be passed. 1t * now cstab-
lishcd by the votes Of Senators themselves.
after months of effort by the President and the
Cabinet. and after most extraordinary pressure
has been cXcrtcd for months by business or
canizations throughout The country that there
is still clear majority Of the Democrats de-
tcrmu-l 10 go on record in favor of the free
coinage Of silver. Including pairs. the Demo
Gratis recorded themselves twenty three for free
coinage and twcnty-onc for some other settle
mcnt vet undetermined 4 clear majority Of
the Presidents party votes against him.
This does not disclose the worst. II Is well
known that among the twcnty-One Democrats
who voted this time against free coinage i'll
answer to the urgent appeals of the President
and the whole commercial world there were
several who had voted for free coinage before,
and seven Of these " ere mentioned in the dis
cussion in the Senate. TO some Of these men
the assurance has been given that other iinan-
cial legislation will be- favored or permitted, in
harmony with their known opinions. while
others have been won 10y favors Of the Admin
istrltion or have secured important places by
reason of their pledges OF support. What lcgis-
Iation i'm the direction Of cheap money or soft
money will satisfy these men does not yet APP
pear. Senator Voorhees, placed 80 much stress
on the State bank scheme, which Il ma jority of
the Democrats in the House also strongly
favored in their action on Friday that IL is
probable this has been indicated as one OF the
measures which the Administration would not
opposc But free coinage Of silver If not the
worst ut least the most generally apprehcndcd
consequence Of Democratic success has been
defeated only by the opposition OF nearly three
quarters Of the Republicans. 1t Is probable
that IL there could have been obtained votes
enough TO pass II, some Of the Democratic Sen
ators who voted against it on Friday but had
pledged themselves to the compromise measure
OF last week would have repud!ated the Admin
istration and voted as they did before
II is n distinct relief TO the country that n
clear majority Of the Senate is now committed
against this measure. When the majority in
the House placed itself in the same position i'm
mediate improvement In business began, not
because the repeal of the silver purchasing act
was then assured or was expected to come with
ont delay or modification. but because the dan
ger which the commercial world has considered
greatest. and which has been more generally
apprchcnded than any other was definitely re-
moved MS far as 1t could be- by the action Of
one house. With the Senate committed the
same way. the reasons for greater confidence
I'm business are distinctly strengthened
II IL not 10 be forgotten that other questions
vet remain, regarding which the action of the
President and Of Congress cannot be predicted
with safety 1t cannot yet be said what either
house will do about coming the seignioragR Or