The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-05

To Test the AuttSnver Sentiment.
Senator Hill has announced that he will
/ Tomorrow make a motion to take up the
bill reported by the finance committee OF
/ the Senate 70 stop the purchase of silver on
Jan. next. The vote o. this motion will
show pretty clearly how the senators stand
on the silver question.
/ The republican press is trying TO make It
/ appear that the silver purchase act would
/ be repealed at once If the democrats did not
s,snd in the way The New York Tribune,
/ for iusJauce, says that the republicans are
/ practically for stopping the silver purchases,
4 but the democrats are so largely opposed to
that course that no direct vote is expected"
1t will he seen on Monday, when Senator
Hi!ps motion comes up, whether this state
mens Of the Tribune is correct or not.
There is a pretty general belief that 1t is
not. A poll Of the Senate was made day
or two ago, and IL was found that ma
jority OF the republicans were against the
repeal Of the silver purchase act, not be-
cause they do not believe il ought 70 be re-
pealed, but because they desire that the
silver question shall go over to the next
congress. They think it will embarrass
Mr.. Clevelaad's administration. They are
playing the game Of politics. They would
rather pursue a course likely TO cause their
political opponents trouble than to do what
they know to be for the best interests of
the country.
The Democratic party spledged to repeal
the silver purchase act. The national demo-
cratic platform condemns it In the strongest
terms. The act was an issue in the last
campaign. and the people by an overwhelm-
ing majority sustained the democratic posi-
ton in regard to it. How then can demo-
cratic congressman hesitate to vote for its
repeal when the opportunity to do 80 is
presentedl
The silver policy OF the government is
the one thing that prevents the country
from entering upon an era Of unexampled
prosperity. The lack of confidence in the
currency prevents investments in enter
prises Of any considerable magnitude. In
vestors are afraid that they may not be able
to realize more than 60 cents on the dollar
for securities that are now offered at 100
cents on the dollar. There is quite general
demand in financial centers that contracts
shall be made on a gold basis. II there
were confidence that future contracts would
be paid in money worth 100 cents on dol
lar there would be a marked increase In
activity in all kinds of business. The doubt
as to what the character Of the currency is
to be makes business men hesitate about
embsrking in undertakings requiring large
outlays
Senator Teller, in his remarks in the
Senate on Friday, declared that the alleged
effort of Mr., Cleveland to have this con-
gress repeal the silver purchase not is In
decent He thought Mr.. Cleveland should
wait until inaugurated before attempting
to influence congress in respect to any
matter. But why should not the President
elect urge the members of his party in con-
gress to pursue a course he believes to be
demanded by the best interests Of the
country! Instead Of being condemned he
should be commended for seeking to have a
pledge of the Democratic party carried out
"A pledge in behalf Of sound currency.