New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-30
SENATOR'S SHERMAN md GORM1N.

Tn the closing debate on silver in the Senate,
two notable speeches set forth very ehecuvey
the Dosition of the two great parties. Senator
Sherman spoke with great power, the more be-
cause it was his intolerably scornful arraisn-
ment Of the Democrats which forced them 10
do something, and when thirtynne Of them
had signed dishonorable compromise IL was
Senator Sherman who promptly declared that
not one Republican vote would be cast 1or IT,
According to Democratic statements. his en-
phatic announcement of that fact TO fresldeh'
Cleveland brought about the declaration by the
President which killed the compromise Sen
ator German, the recognized leader OF the DEM
ocrats in the Senate and chairman or the tx
ecutve Committee which framed this compro-
mise. replied with his well-known ability ana
adroitness. but only made it more clear that
the Democratic party had almost UNANIMOUSLY
determined to force its own President 10 ADAM
don the measure to which he was publicly COM
mitted and Mr.. German directly charged that
only Senator Sherman with the RepuDiican
votes prevented the success OF that effort Sen
ator German does not pay any attention 10 the
fact that the President would have been hu-
INFLATED by his own party. but he charges that
IL
have carried through a compromise had not
Senator Sherman held the key OF the sltuatioh'
and forced upon the Democrats the bill pro-
posed by their own President.
The question will be asked again, how far
Secretary Carlisle represented the PRESIDENT III
negotiating with Mr.. Germans commit'ee'
Members of that committee, prominent ana
wclknown Democrats, declare with emphasis
that the Secretary caused them TO understand
that the compromise proposed would be ac-
ceptable 10 him and to the President. The sud
den change Of attitude, if this be so. recalls
that memorable performance regarding III"
payment Of new Treasury notes In silver winch
started the panic Of 1893. Secretary carlisle
gave out Thursday night, April ~, 4 written
statement which the world understood as
strong argument for paying the Treasury notes
in silver On the night OF April - the fresi-
dent gave ont q statement denying that pay
mont of such notes in silver had "at any time
been determined upon or contemplated by the
Secretary of the Treasury or any other men,
Der OF the present Administration" 1t was
then Judged by most people that Mr.. Carlisle
had been allowed to 60 far enough to feel the
public pulse, and that public hostility to the
step in view had then brought ont an emphatic
contradiction from the President. If the Sec
rotary was also permitted TO go far enough
with the compromisers to elicit the determine
ton Of the Republicans in Congress and the
tone Of public opinion. and the President then
rocevcd such information that he decided that
tho COMPROMISE must be beaten, the declaration
of Senator German holding Senator Sherman
and the Republicans entirely responsible for
the result may be understood.
In his speech Mr. Sherman also sets forth
very strongly the necessities of the Treasury,
and his reason for feeling that provision Tor
issue of bonds should have been part OF the
bill. 1t was answered by Mr.. German that the
Republicans left bankrupt Treasury to the
Democrats But it is not the fact that the
Treasury reserve was reduced below $1OO,OOO,-
600 until some time after President Clevcland's
inauguration Further it is the fact that the
profound distr1ist Of a change OF National pol
lev, which the conduct Of the Democrats in the
Senate has so fully justified was the direct
cause of those exports of gold which began In
November after the election and quickly be-
came so large that S36O00OOO in gold went out
between the Democratic victory in November
and the Inauguration Of the President. This
outgo Of gold cut down the Treasury reserve
from SPA, 100000 10 SI0G,OOO.0O0. The Treas
ury was not bankrupt in Republican hands,
and would not have become bankrupt had
there been no change Of National policy. II it
has become bankrupt at ALL in Mr.. Germans
sense that is one Of the consequences of the
great change which has found later results IN
thc closing Of half the manufacturing works in
great industries