Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-09-21
The Situation in Washington.

The articles which the New York press
bddrcss to the members Of Congress on
1hc subject OF the bill to repeal the Sher-
man silver law are all based upon the
assumption that the end Of the controversy
mas been reached. that there is nothing
profitable left 10 be said on the subject;
That all the Republicans and some OF
the Democrats are ready and anxious
without more ado 10 pass that bill.
Such articles benefit nobody. They are
pcnued 10y men not only Of limited hori-
IONS, but of limited experience and
limited information on the important
questions which they discuss as II all
wisdom would die with them. Put one
of these metropolitan provincial editors
Tor provincial they are-in the seat occu-
pied by John W. Daniel in the United
States Senate, and turn the Lame Lion
of I.ynchbuTg' loose upon him on the
silver question, and the New Yorker
would come out of the combat utterly
uiscomhttcd Ills seat would be vacant.
ma he himself would say with Falstaff,
Had | known he was so cunning OF
/ had fought with him." VIII 1t be said
that the metropolitan editor would be
placed at a disadvantage in an oratorical
encounter? The New Yorker would fare
mo better In using the pen, for the speech
which Mr.. Daniel delivered In the United
States Senate last Thursday was not
only spoken. but was written out In fun.
arnfz Wit
t1Ances OF style and argued out TO such
conclusions as would in contest with
the pen. have caused a glorious victory
10 have been Mr.. Daniels even in an
oratorical contest.
And II II be said that Mr.. Daniels
great speech was made upon the wrong
hide OF the questions involved in the
Biiver problem, the reply is that so much
the greater was the victory OF the Vir-
glnian. II under such circumstances he
made a speech such as no other senator
was capable OF making. what would he
not have accomplished II he had opened
his batteries upon the silverltes?
But let us return TO our subJect-the
present situation Of affairs in Washing
ton. IL is wrong to assume that the sill
yer men are wholly responsible for tho
delay to pass the bill repeating the Sher-
man silver law. There are monometallist
senators who are by no means sure that
the repeal OF the law will effect the OBJ
sects which II is expected to accomplish.
There are. on the other hand BIZ
mctallists who are by no means sure
that the repeal OF that law will not effect
the objects which Il Is expected 70 &C.
pomplsh.
There are Democrats and there are Re-
tublicans who cannot understand how
the law providing for the purchase OF
nfty-four millions OF dollars worth of
silver annually could operate to reduce
the price OF silver TO the very low point
10 which II has fallen, and yet Its repeal
operate 10 raise that price Why should
the annual emptying OF fifty-four mil
Hons OF dollars worth OF silver upon the
market cause the price TO rise? And II
IL shall not have that effect, but will run
Gown the price OF the white metal. then
TIE biA TO repeal the Sherman silver law
NIL have proved n failure. and Con-
Eress viii have been reminded that II
Is not able 10 reverse the order OF
nature.
These reflections cannot but occur TO
anybody who keeps up with the course
D; events in Washington city, and reads
between the lines In the Congressional
'tocord the thousand and one consldera-
lions which disturb the breasts Of the
benators and lead them 10 be willing 10 |
wait for something to turn up"
The logic OF the situation is that Con- |
krcss should. for the reasons which we |
have herein limited at, make haste 10 |
pass the bill TO repeal the Sherman |
silver bin. 80 that II Il should astonish |
the world by its operation Congress could |
1T once repeal the repeater" This hint |
ought TO serve 10 quiet the apprehensions |
Of the friends OF the white metal. who |
ought OF ali men to expect the repeal bill |
20 prove their theories of finance 70 DO |
will founded. Why delay the passage Of |
. BIN which the monomets declare viii |
condsmn itself by its operation7 Ono or |
VIM II afraid 70 put his theory 10 the |
~ Of experience. especially when Con- !