The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-08-29
THE SILVER CAUSE.

The majority in the House of Represen-
tatives in favor of the repeal of the SHEER
MAN law is greater than was anticipated.
Not over forty was claimed by many
sanguine goldites. The announcement
that tie WILSON bill was passed by 239
against no, majority OF 129, will as
tonish even the most sanguine of its sup
porters.
1t will also strengthen the supporters OF
repeal in the Senate. Probably the VooR-
HE'S bill will be passed in the upper
House by small majority, and it
Will take the place Of the WILSON bill
when it goes to the House. There is a
bare possibility that the Senate will con-
sent to neither. But even in that event
under present conditions.
The repeal of the SHERMAN law without
substitute or compromise can scarcely Re
understood by many people in the West,
whose idea OF bimetallism is that it signi-
fies unlimited coinage of gold and silver.
Belief In the use of both metals as money
is not synonymous with endorsement OF
free coinage. France is bimetalllc
country, but it has ceased the coinage of
silver for many years. 1t has more silver
per capita in circulation than that in this
country, but free coinage does not prevail
there as supposed by many silver advo-
Gates.
There are many members of Con-
gress who believe that both gold
and silver should be the money
of this country. Yet they do not
believe that silver should be coined to an
unlimited amount. Nor do they think
that the government should buy silver
bullion and store it up as it has been
bought under the SHERMAN law, any
more than it should buy copper or lead.
They voted with the goldites for the re-
peal of the purchasing clause. They are
not, therefore. enemies of silver, except
in the sense that they are not in favor of
protecting it as a commodity or coming
it in unlimited quantities.
We are not explaining their position to
defend their views, because, as we have
frequently announced, we believe in the
restoration of silver to the posi-
ton it occupied as money previous
to 1873. We merely desire that
our readers shall understand the situation.
Both the great parties of the country
are pledged to bimetallism. Neither of
them is pledged to the unlimited coinage
OF silver. Some members OF each party
interpret the financial plank of their plat
form to mean that, but others claim that
it is not fairly open to so broad direct
Specification. Be that as it may, both
gold and silver are declared to be the
money OF the United States and gold
policy alone would be subversive to the
doctrines of either party.
The repeal of the SHERMAN law uncon-
ditionally does not mean gold alone for
American money. Nor does it signify
the death OF the silver cause. Something
will have to be done by way of legislation
for silver, and whatever that may be, it
will be beneficial in some degree to the
silver interest. Legislation may be had
at the regular session, but that is doubt
full. Probably, after the repeal of the
SHERMAN law has demonstrated that
financial troubles were not due, except in
a small degree, 20 that measure, mighty
change will come in favor of silver coin
age.
There will be an eager locking now for
the action Of the Senate. However, that
can only delay matters. The retention
of the SHERMAN law is not what the sill
yer men want. Under it silver declined
in the market to its lowest figure. When
it is swept away silver cannot be in a
worse condition than while it prevailed.
But nevertheless, 1t was held as lever
TO bring about better legislation, and the
entire west will be disappointed and
downcast If nothing is done which will
resuscitate its fallen industry.