New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-08-14
4 DOUBTFUL OCTLOOh.

The silver men at Washington have thrown
down the gauntlet. The formal appeal issued
nv their Executive Committee, the speech OF
Mr. Bland and the uttcranccs of some silver
Senators. are significant. In substance they
tell the Democratic party that 1t Will not be
nermitted to PROSTATE the silver-produclng
States. and then use their votes 10 PROSTATE
the industries of manufacturing States. II the
Democratic party supposcs that it can first put
the country on an exclusively gold basis,
and then reconstruct It's tariff to secure
still lower prices and still lower wages for
labor Mr.. Bland thinks 1t Is mistaken
Nothing done would be a victory for the silver
men Their powers of obstruction have not
been tested as yet. 1t would not be the
s,rangest thing in the world if the Democratic
marty should find itself in such a condition that
united action on the tariff would be impossible
Leaders on both sides appear ready to
make action on every other question
subordinate to action regarding SINer'
The Presidents friends admit that the
repeal of the sherman act without com
promse is doubtful in the senate when
means that it is opposed by large majority
of the Democrats. If about ten out OF 1orty
Republicans favor free coinage or colnpro-
misc there must be more than thirty Demo-
crafts or nearly three-quarters Of the Demo
cratic Senators who take the same position.
r,.o, in the House there is said 10 be some
doubt whether one of the proposals for coinage
on a new ratio may not succeed. But II 80
= uust have the votes of about two-thirdS OF
the Democrats. With an overwhelming ma
iolitv of his own party stubbornlN ana even
angrilv resisting his wishes on the money queN-
tion which all agree must be settled before
.nv other can be seriously considered, the
p, sdent will have to depend upon Republican
aid for ANYTHING he may accomplish.
The challenge of the silver men ana iheif
M ,sionate appeal to their supporters exhibit d
determination not to submit TO any compromise
which offers "A mere addition u paper clrcula-
ZION. As was anticipated they are now urging
| that evanston Of bank circulation would ne
nrive them of the argument that the currency
is PAINFULLY contracted and they reason that
nancr imitation would drive away the gold re-
serve and leave no metallic basis Wh3icNcl,
unless silver is employed On the other hand
the argument against coinage on new RATIO
is vecy str NJ, particularly for IN Sc VINO p'''cN'
,ba, large use of silver in this country would
lift the price Of bullion. Put the ratio al ~
IA they say. and coinage would almost I'M
mediatcly be arrested by the fact that bullion
would bring Il higher price than com. Nel'her
" relief" nor defeat of the dreadful conSpliacleN
of the rold bugs would be possible these
men reason. without adherence to the ancient
| and sacred dollar Of the fathers
| CompIomSers have harder task than at first
they supposed They may have power enough
| in Congress to prevent the passage OF IA naked
| repcal BILL and yet be cntlrc! unable 10 get
| their force together upon any definite plan OF
| settlement Many of the silver men. II Is cvl-
| dent. cannot be counted upon IL vote for any
plan of compromise. Pant of the state bank
| advocates will vote against naked repeal 81
| the Sherman law, but they feel that the VIII
| spoil their own chances if they vote for coinage
| on a new ratio The new ratio men. like thc>c
| who want free coinage on the old ratio. may be
| quite unable TO agree that bank circulation
| should be increased without limit. 1hcr" Is
! some possibility thai the wranglcS Of factions
NAV last through IA whole session without de-
vcloping positive majority for any measure.
Democratic Congresses i'll the past have been
| chiefly distinguished BY their ability 10 do
| nothing except waste money. and if this should
also prove a do nothing Congress. the people
would ask themselves what they had gained bv
the vote, for IA change which have already
produced such disastrous consequence