New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-21
A UORD TO SENATOR JONES.

Senator John p. Jones. Of Nevada is a
gentleman for whom TIE TRInUNE has hish
respect, notwithstanding 1t differs with MIN
widely on the financial question which Is he
prominent topic of discussion everywhere to-
day Whatever we may think OF his reason
ing or his logic. there is no doubt oil MS SIN
ccritv. and what is much more. no cause Tor
offence in the method of his presentation OF
the argument or his behavior toward those
who do not agree with him. Ills relations to
the subject of finance are peculiar. lie mas
large interests in the silver mining industry,
and naturally enough his views oi the p no
ing ouestion are more or less colOrcd thereby.
Rut he has so much good sense, and is 50 much
4 man of affairs. that he docs not ordinarily
hermit himself to be carried off his feet. or
lose his head by considering his own interests
or those of his constituents to the exclusion
of everything else Unlike most of the adVo-
Gates OF free silver coinage. he has IN most oi
his public uttcranccS maintained certain d"-
gree Of cllmness. and exhibited 4 caih0llcty
of view that have at least won HIM Trends ana
ouitc likely i'm some cases brought converts 10
his cause. However much we may dispute
his premises or differ from his conclusions, we
willingly recognize that he has made Yer!
earnest and thorough study OF the subject. and
has brought To that study a mind oi great
clearness ard uncommon power. The cause
OF free coinage has no ADLER champion. no moro
plausible rcasoncr, no more winning advocate.
Whether he wins the assent of his audience
or not he has net heretofore male the mistake
Of aronsing antagoniSm by wild and unSup-
l.. L., IL
gard we may say. and think that every
one who has followed the controversy in rs
details will agree with us. that he is unique.
He has never INDUCED in threats: never talked
blood. either TO horses brides or from the roof
Of the mouth to the edge Of timber chin.
In this state Of things ii is hardly necessary
10 say that we have read with regret a reported
interview with Senator Jones in which he j.
represented as taking the position that the
friends Of silver coinage in the Senate will feel
warranted in pursuing policy of obstruction
and delay at the coming extra session OF Con-
eress, which under existing rules will prevent
absolutely any action whatever on this very
important question. If correctly reported we
understand his attitude To be favorable 10 the
proposition made by the radical free silver
men to resort to the extreme measure OF pre-
venting vote by talking against time and
by other dilatory proceedings rarely resortcd
to. The meaning of this is simply that the
majority Of the American Senate shall not be
permitted to exercise the functions and dis
charge the responsibilities which the people
of all the States have intrIstcd to them. To
q degree it is revolutionary proceeding 4
revolutionary proceeding which free people
will not long tolerate; and which will in the
end bring upon the heads Of those who initiate
it a rebuke full of meaning and force.
great deal of empty talk has been wasted in
denuncation of the Congress over which
Speaker Reed presided because it did not per
nit itself to be governed by a minority, or 10
be swayed from the performance Of duties
which had been assigned it by the people,
nv datory tactics or measures OF obstruction
The course of events and the good sense of the
people have already in a great measure vindi-
Gated that Congress for the maStcriul manner
in which it did its work. Whatever else may
be said of it, it will always hold pre-cminence
as n Congress in which the majority did the
work the people elected it to do. Ii is not this
wear that the precedent can be reversed and
an obstructive minority win popular approval
Senator Jones will make the mistake of his
poltica life if he participates i'll or gives
countenance to any such proposition rs the
free silver men arc making to defeat action
by the Senate upon question which the ma
iority of the people consider at this moment
of the utmost importance Already the wild
threats of the Governor of Colorado and other
poltica leaders in the new States have aroused
profound feeling among not only the capital
lists. who have been the heaviest sufferers from
the present disturbed conditions, but among
the great mass of the people. who are begin
ming 10 be affected. What everybody sees is
that the representatives OF the slver-producing
States. which are but a small minority of the
whole people arc at odds with the whole world
upon a question of finance in which the silver
producers have an obvious selfish interest.
1t is seen that they are hot and violent and
that instead of appealing to reason or listening
to it they seem bent only on having their own
way and forcing the whole world to their own
notions. And whatever happens one thing i,
quite certain, that the whole world will not
submit to be bulled or threatened. So we
say to Senator Jones in particular, because he
seems most amcnable to reason of all the free