Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-08-01
What VIII Congress DoP

What viii Congress Do?
One week from to-day Congress will
assemble in extra session. and its members
will begin TO propose schemes for the con-
sideration Of that body, or at any rate 10
throw out hints as TO what they think
ought 20 be done TO put an end to the
financial troubles which beset the coun-
try. and TO the panic which has either re-
suited from those troubles or caused them.
We forbore 10 discuss IN our last issue
the propositions contained in Major
DooLrY's open letter TO President CLEyE-
L,Sp. We have never believed that the
Chicago convention Of 1892 really held oil
the opinions which were there set forth as
the opinions Of the Democratic party OF
the United States. Mr.. CLEyELAND's nomi-
nation tor President was the one thing for
which that convention assembled. and for
his nomination. until II was made, the
members worked day and night. The
immense and overpoworing pro-CLEyE-
LAND sentiment Of the country was
reduced TO action in that body. His
unhouuded popularity OVERRIDE tariffs,
election laws. protection, reciprocity, free
trade iuternsl-reyenue taxes, free coinage,
and all other considerations. 1t broke the
bands 0f the instructions wherewith his
own State had attempted TO bind the hands
81 hor delegates. 1t was irresistible. IL in
aicated that the voice Of the people was 10
b. heard and that with or without rea-
son, foolishly or wisely. CLEVELAND was
IKE idol of the populace. The clamor for
4 he
convention was ominous not only Of the
defeat Of all his competitors. but of the
t,ie-trscking OF all the issues which ought
- have been passed upon Intelligently by
she grand Democratic national conclave
OF 1892.
And so we 10 not profess 20 know what
the Democratic members OF Congress IN
tend 10 do. What does the Chicago plat
form REQUIRE them to do touching free
silver coinage? The recent fall IN the
price of silver resulting FROM the closing
of the minis Of India TO the free coinage OF
silver on private account has changed
1.-THE situation " so much that the free
s'lverites now have hardly the courage to
advocate bimetslism III any form. But
what was the condition Of things three
months ago? What did the Chicago plat
form teach last year as to silver? How
were ITS declarations interpreted Why.
The free silverites construed them as ia
voring the free coinage of silver whilst the
opponents Of free-silyer coinage construed
them as opposing that measure. In New
England. New York. Pennsylvania Mary
land, aud other States the Democrats
ranged themselves on the side Of oppOsi-
ton 70 free coinage. whilst IN the North
west. in the Pacific slope. and generally IN
the southern States, the Democrats ranged
themselves on the side of the blmetalhsts.
How, then. is the Chicago platform to
be carried out by that Congress soon 10
assemble? Governor VANCE. Mr.. BLAND
Of Missouri. Speaker CRISP. and all other
such men may be set down as having
opinions Of their own which they feel that
they cannot surrender even at the bidding
of the President. VIII the President un-
dertake to ooerce the Democrats in Con-
gress into the adoption of his views No.
The time for Congress TO meet is almost
upon Us now. and yet there is no rumor
10 deprive Mr. BLAND of the craftsmanship
of the Committee on Coinage. Weights,
and Measures, or any other Democratic
member OF the prominence TO which his
long service or abilities entitle him.
Ii would seem TO be reasonable. there
fore, TO conclude that If the President has
rot yet made known that IL is his purpose
70 Use the power of the administration in
favor Of the schemes of the monometal-
lists. he does not intend 20 try to make
q party question out of the proposition 10
repeal the SHERMAN silver law. 1t IS in
deed possible that majority OF the Demo-
cratic senators will vote against repeal,
and thus throw the responsibility of the
repeal ofthst law upon the Republican We
say such result ls possible. but we In
cline TO the expectation that though both
parties i'll the Senate will divide on the
question. some Democrats voting for and
some against repeal. and some Republi-
cans voting against and some for repeal.
yet the repeal Will be accomplished.
Something must be done. The people de-
mand q victim. aud the SHERMAN silver
law is to be that victim. The tub must be
thrown 10 the whale.
And If the Democrats in Congress can
not be kept together on the silver question,
because they DO not consider themselves
as bound by the Chicago platform or else
how to any particular course on that
question. on what question will they all
ngreeS In word. how are the commit
taaa ~ the Housa ~ Renresentatiyes 10 ba
consntutedf Are they TO be appointed in
the interest of free trader Are they to be
appointed in the interest OF reciprocity
is the Committee on Ways and Means to
be appointed in the interest OF tariff re-
form or 10 the interest OF monometallism2
With tins last significant interrogatory We
close this article.