The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-09-19

democratic state central committee Of
4 Georgia. iu the course OF an interesting
interview published in the Atlanta Con-
stituti1n says. Congress Is democratic
/ I'm both branches and should faithfully
comply with the promises of the party.
/ If il viii enact into law the democratic
platform, carry out its provisions Just as
/ they were interpreted 20 the people dur
/ iu- the campaign, the party viii remain
/ 10 power for a generation. The party
must be honest with the people In order
/ % sustain itself. Neither Wall street nor
. LON bard street should be allowed to en-
/ force an Interpretation of our platform
different from that which was placed
upon it during the canvass. that the coin
age Of silver should be free, and on the
faith of which the vote of the people
was cast"
1t seems to US that Mr.. Atkinson makes
the same mistake that some of the demo-
Gratis in congress are making who are in
sisting upon legislation that will give the
country free coinage of silver and who
declare that the national democratic plat
form promises free silver coinage. The
mistake is in not pointing out how free
silver coinage is TO be attained without
violating the spirit and pledge of the
party platform; namely that silver dol
lar shall have the same power TO pay
debts, and in the markets of the world,
as a gold dollar
Mr.. Atkinson does not say whether
he wants silver coined at the
ratio of 16 to or at some
other ratio. AS he insists upon the
fulfillment of the promises of the demo-.
cratic platform, and therefore wants an
honest silver dollar it is fair to assume
that he doesn't favor the free coinage of
silver at the ratio of l6 TO 1. If he
does favor that ratio it would
be interesting to have his
reasons for thinking a silver dollar and
a gold dollar will circulate on parity at
that ratio. If he could give convincing
rea sons he would be able to do much
more than any one else has succeeded in
doing
The inference from what Mr.. Atkinson
says, however, is that he doesn't insist
upon free silver coinage at the present
ratio. If not what ratio does he suggest
Many Of the silverites in the House voted
for ratio of 20 to l. But would that
ratio give us an honest silver dollar2 1t
certainly would. not. All experience
teaches that it would not, and as Mr. At
kinson stands upon the platform, and
therefore insists upon an honest silver
dollar, he cannot favor a ratio Of 2O-to one.
But if he would have any greater ratio
aratio that would give an honest dollar
he must part company with the silver
leaders, because they will not agree to
a greater ratio.
1t seems TO US, therefore, that Mr. At
kinson does not remove any of the Difficult
ties in the way ofthe settlement of thesil-
yer question, and it is clear that if con
gress repeats the Sherman silver law IN
conditionally none of the promises
of the national democratic plat
form will be violated. With
the promises of the stump speakers made
during the national campaign last year
the Democratic party has nothing what
ever to do. The Democratic party stands
for honest money regardless of the inter-
probation that certain democrats may
have put upon the national democratic
platform.
After all is not the position taken by
the President the only correct one-the
only one in harmony with the party plat
form7 The platform says the Sherman
silver law must be repealed. MIR Cleveland
has asked congress to repeal it. The
platform does not make repeal dependent
upon other legislation in behalf of silver
Why not then repeal the Sherman silver
law Internationally, and afterwards con
slider the question of the free coinage of
silver} 1t is evident that it is going to
take time to settle the silver question so
that the coinage of silver viii be free and
silver currency will circulate on parity
with gold currency. But if the Sherman
silver law is not repealed soon the money
panic will return and the financial disas-
tiers will be more numerous in all proba-
bility than they were few weeks ago
There is only one way out of the present
financial trouble and that the President
has pointed out. Its acceptance means a
return to prosperous times. Its rejection
means troublous times.