The herald., 1893-08-13
A BRAVE BEGINNING OF AN AMERICAN
POLICY.


ages that no one knows what a day maj
conceal in it's womb. The "cloud, M
larger than mans hand, may yet
shortly overspread the whole heavens >
Often how surprisingly rapid is the rate
at which highly Sensational event ol
national, and even of international in.
terest evolves itself.
The events which are developing at
Washington just now are sensational in
the highest degree. A great crisis is
new disclosing itself there. and it looks
as if it will embody q thorough resurrec-
ton of undivided American manhood, as
we'll as of the American nationality. The
silver issue involves far more than q
question of standards, important and
even fateful as that undoubtedly is. In
it is wrapped up the two propositions.
| a. Is the west to be the bond slave of
the east; and ~ Are the United States
to hang lackeys at the beck and call Of
England?
The fight began in earnest yesterday
in the house, and there is every indica-
ton that it will be protracted and Bit
ter, but the signs are already apparent
that the silverites will come out the
victors. There are able leaders on both
sides, but the silver forces, or the party
Of the people, are led by the true and
tried Bland, who, ever since the fight
for the right began years ago, has been
in the forefront Of the fray, and has
signalized himself as the able and inde-
fstigable champion Of the masses as
against the classes. In the course of his
speech Friday Mr.. Bland acquitted
himself of one of those electrical pas
sages that will sink deep into the hearts
OF the people, and frequently find their
way into history-passages containing
sentiments that remind one OF John
Hampden or Patrick Henry by their
downright popular inspiration. Ad-
dressing his opponents Mr.. Bland said:
"We do not intend that any political
''party shall survive that will lay Q con-
'fiscating hand upon America in the in
"terest of England and Europe, and
"demonetize silver in this country; and,
my friends of the eastern Democracy,
1--WE bid you farewell when you do it,"
These be brave words, and spoken in
the very nick Of time. They summarize
the situation in a nutshell. Hitherto
the east has had everything it's own way
in politics and England in finance. 1t
is high time that this anomalous state of
things should cease. The knell has
rung on subserviency of all kinds, poll
tical and national.
Why should the great west and south,
which have created nineteen.twentieth
OF the wealth OF the United States, be
dependent on little strip Of territory
on the Atlantic seaboard for its policy
Why should it submit to being robbed
by lot of middlemen who fulfill no
other function than that of Shylocks,
and who, by making money scarce to
rybody but themselves, keep the
western producer in state of perpetual
bondage? The westerner has stood q
great deal in the past, and, in truth. is
quite patient creature, but why should
he voluntarily submit to condition of
things that will leave him as little inter-
est in his crops as the dumb horses that
draw his gang ploughs? The marvel is
is that he has not kicked long ago.
With silver absolutely demonetzed by
the unconditional repeal of the Sher-
man act, the California farmer will see
the price Of his wheat go down to 25
cents a bushel, his barley to fifteen
cents, and so on through tie whole
chapter. Where is the manliness or
common sense in playing such sub.
missive role. The west and south have
created the condition of prosperity for
the east. and small wonder that re-
sounding cheers greeted Mr.. BANDS
spirited proclamation of changed de-
termination upon the part of the real
creators of our national wealth. ~
But if Mr.. Bland WAS greeted enthusi.
asticslly when he told eastern Demo-
Gratis that western and southern Demo.
Gratis had rights which they were bound
to respect, the applause was even more
deafening when he demanded that the
United States, in considering measures
relating to the affairs of our people,
should cut themselves absolutely off
from any reference to England. 1t Is
the case OF old Priam over again. "What
am l to Hecuba, or Hecuba to me ?"
When did England consult the United
States as to the course she intended to
pursue on any matter, finance or other?
Ifanybody knows case in point it is high
time that he should advise the world of
it. The United States are not children
in leading strings that they should ask
advice from anybody as to what they
should do with their own. Let them
fearlessly adopt free coinage, and inside
of elk months silver will be selling at
$l.20 an ounce. Let us, under the lead.
ership of Bland and his gallant assoc
ates, take the bit in our mouths, and
soon such degree of prosperity will be
known in this country as was never
heard of before.
We have heard great hullabaloo
about the terrible amounts of silver
which will be sent over here if we adopt
free coinage. Well. who is going to send
it here? Certainly not England. She
has been buying it of US heavily during
the past forty years. Surely not the
Mediterranean counties of Europe, for