New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-11
4 P|7I1BLE MAJORITY.

u
It is the old story: the Democratic party is
lla,ing baby again. With some 235 members
| of the House il is complaining that the eighty
eight Republicans will not let them be good.
but arc alphabetically and wickcdly refusing 10
do what ought to be done, while a majority of
| the Democrats continue TO trick and scheme for
| the favor of silver fanatics. The fact seems TO
be that. except the few who have always
| favored free coinage the Republican members
are disposed 10 vote as quickly as the Demo
cratic majority will permit TO stop silver rur-
chaseS and coinage. But if that were not the
fact what u contemplate thing it is for the
en- irmouS Democratic majority to crawl behind
the small minority for excuse. What Is a
panty fit for except public scorn. if il cannot do
ANYTHING decent when it has nearly thrcc-quar-
| tels of the votes unless the manhood and brave
uprightness of a minority will lift it ont of the
| mrc? There had better be IN end OF such
babyiSh complaints. for their continuance.
Temps Republican, to leave the Democrats to
DO what they can without help.
The obvious duty of conservative men OF all
parties is T. bring both houses 10 vote a.
| speedily Is possible on the repeal of the silver
purchase act. without conditions or palterng
compromises If the majority then refuses 10
vote for such straightforward settlement ot
the question. it must take the responsibility
upon itself and provide for the future aS best
il can. The talk Of compromising upon re-
yival of silver coinage. whether AT TWO or four
millions Der month. j. unworthy of men who
have either sincerity or knowledge. The law
rs it stands is safer than any coinage act
under which certificates redeemable only in >il-
YER would be cmpticd into the circulation bt
the millions ever month. No increase Of paper
circulation that is not rcdcemablc in gold can
take place under the present act. The PreSi-
dent and Secretary of the Treasury are both re-
quiied and clothed with ample power to main
| tain the parity Of gold and silver as long aS
possible \ return u silver coinage would onlg
render the difficulty much greater and the
future more uncertain.
Il is unworthy OF the United States. after the
treatment met at the Brussels Conference. 10
leave European Powers T. imagine am longer
that this Nation is going 10 commit financial
suicide for their benefit, OF course it would
give them all incalculah!c advantage for the
United states T. dcbase lis currency, lose lis
gold and subject all it, commerce and lis in
dustry 10 the uncertainties and fluctuations OF
! the market for silver bullion. As long aS other
Powers thnl, this may be- il is not strange that
they treat with lofty Indifference plans for
int rnatiora agreement. The able't and most
earnest If European bimetallists saw this long
ago. realized that il was the one inSupcrabe
barrier to their efforts and appealed TO this
country 10 stop all coinage and purchases Of
silver.
The obstacle here i that advocates of silver
coiragc are not truly bimctasis, but are either
silver m0n0melalliSt> or PAPER inilationi>tS.
The fiat moncv lunaticS want f. force the
Government into bankruptcy, that il may be
compelled to rely upon paper currency. silver
spectators and schcmcrS in great number care
only to force the white metal into general Use
As the legal tender and measure Of values in
this country. Ii gold goes abroad or out Of
use tina, suits them much the better. They
believe. not in Il double standard but III an
alternative standard always the cheaper and
worse Of the two metals. If the business world
wait, until some compromise can be fixed up
10 the satisfaction of these classes, it will wait
a long time
President elect Cleveland and his most in
hucn,'a friends are pressing Congress to act
at this session and the ablcst Republican lead
the prosperity Of the country may not be IN
| telruptcd. Business men Of all parties
watching with deep interest. and will not be
slow t. place the responsibility where it be
longs, if the country is condemned 10 eight
months or a year Of uncertainty and danger by
ia lure 10 act at this session.