The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1893-02-10
A DIRECT TEsI.
The Democrats Wholly aResponsI0ie IN
the Silver Matter.

senator Sherman has taken away the
last slender hope of the democrats in
the senate and elsewhere of shifting
upon his shoulders and upon the repub-
licans as a party in congress the re-
sronsibillty for nCn-actiOn or delay in
the matter OF repeating the silver pur-
chase. For some time previously there
had been an evident effort in progress
to make Senator Sherman, as chair
man of the senate finance committee.
responsible for the failure of the
senate to move actively for repeal
The senator's action silences COM
plants on that score. Senator Car
Isle, who is expected to be secretary
of the treasury under Mr.. Cleveland,
has lately made some remarks intended
as a sort of reply to Senate Sher-
mans statement that the silver danger
would be promptly removed if as many
as ten democratic senators could be
founG to vote for repeal He seems
willing to give the impression that
larger number of democrats will re-
spect Mr.. Cleveland's alleged request
for some action. Yet close eXamina-
tion of his statements fails to show
that he has ventured distinctly to con-
trovert the declaration of Mr.. Sher-
man. For when he speaks with conf
denee Of a larger vote 1t is not for n
simple repeal, but for some "conserva-
tive measure" which may be found sat
isfactOry TO democratic senators.
1t is only too well known what these
senators have considered a conservative
A
voted for unlimited coinage of silver.
and doubtless believed they were
quite conservative in so doing. With
Mr.. Bland in the house, they may be
willing TO vote FOR repeal of the pur-
chase act if silver coinage At the rate
of four million dollars per month is
substituted. But this is not what the
American delegates at the Brussels
conference warned European powers
to expect. Neither is it what the busi-
ness world. without distinction of
party, earnestly desires. Rarely have
business men been so nearly unani-
nous IN any matter as they now are
in urging the straightforward and IN
conditional repeal of the silver pur-
chase provision. They feel that. in the
language of Mr.. Carlisle himself not
many days age. this country has all the
silver II can stand at present, and that
the time has come to make foreign
powers understand the determination
of the United States not to carry their
burdens and difficulties for them any
longer, nor to shelter them any longer
from the consequences of silver de-
monetizatiOn.
Mr.. Carlisle expresses the belief that
a considerable change has occurred in
the minds of many democratic sena-
tors. and it would be strange indeed if
some of them were not Influenced by
the same considerations which operate
so powerfully with business men of all
parties But there is very direct way
to test the matter Let republican
senators insist upon direct vote, as
early as possible, upon the bill just re-
ported to repeal the silver purchase
clause of the Sherman act. without
any compromising provision for coin
age If Mr.. Sherman is right few of
the republican senators are unwilling,
IN the present emergency, to support
such bill "a the one reported by HIM
The test should be made without delay,
and if Senator Carlisle is also right III
his Judgment of his associates, the busi- |
ness world win have reason to thanl; !
this congress for Il wise and really con- |
servative measure which may prove of
great Importance.
No conceivable partisan advantage !
can be gained by refusing or neglect |
ing to 90 what practical business men OF !
all parties consider essential to the safe !
ty of industries ard commerce, and to /
the prosperity of the country. Senator's |
who believe with Mr.. Sherman that |
the repeal IS needful, and that grave
dangers may be involved by deferring |
it another year. will surely be unable |
to satisfy their constituents or their |
own cousciences, if they seek to ''put |
the democrats into hole by exposing |
the country TO risk or evil. The grand |
record of the republican party has
been made by honest and fearless dis |
charge Of duty, in full faith that the |
people will in the end do justice to |
those who serve them faithfully. 1t is 1
much too late for repub blican statesmen !
to be swayed by the notion that parti- !
san advantage can be gained by refus-
ing or neglecting any duty. When the
silver purchase law was framed it was |
abundantIy justified as the only COM !
promise then possible by which the |
dangers of continued coinage could be |
averted. II offered test of the abili- !
ty of the United States alone to con- |
troll the silver markets of the world. /
The test has been made, and it is now /
plain that safety lies only in compell- |
ing other nations to take their share of /,
the taSk.-N. y. Tribune.