The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-08-19
Washington Letter.
From our Special Correspondent.

I
Washington Letter.
From our Special Correspondent
WASHINGTON, d. c., August IL, 1893
| The all-absorbing topic at the Capital city, a.
elsewhere at the present date, is the silver
question, which has been presented in the
President S message AS the sole emergency
demanding the immediate assembly of the
| legislative branch of the Government.
The President has been criticised to somt
extent for dealing exclusively with the silver
question in his message. and thus emphasZ
ing il as the chief, If not the only malady thai
threatens the life of the body polite. The
effect of this, it is said, is to belittle and ig-
more the great tariff question. SO emphaticaliy
dealt with in the Chicago platform, and by
MIR. Cleveland himself in u former message.
But it is recognized by all that Mr.. Cleve-
land has his own characteristic way of deal.
| ing with all questions, and his unseliish and
patriotic motives are conceded by all fair
minded people, regardless of their disap.
prevail OF his methods
The Presidents policy on the silver ques
ton, rs clearly outlined in his message, is the
unconditional repeal of the purchasing clause
of the Sherman law, thus RENTING the
finances of the country back 10 the single
gold standard, where it stood prior to the en-
actment OF the Bland silver bill in 1878, but
without the large AUXILIARY circulation Of
treasury notes then outstanding. This will
be recognized by all who are familiar with
the recent history of the silver question in
Congress. and throughout the southern and
western sections of the country, us heroic
remedy; but it may be that the present ext
gencies of the country are such as to demand
just such remedy to avert the financial ills
that are said to be threatened.
But when the attitude heretofore assumed
by the representatives of the South and West
in Congress upon the silver question is taken
INFO Observation-Disclosures opposed,
as it has been, TO the policy now maintained
by the President-some of the difficulties OF
the situation are made apparent. The clear
language of the Chicago platform, guarantee
ing without equivocation the principle OF BIZ
metalism in finance, does not tend to relieve
the situation.
But the demonstration of silver in India,
which has taken place since the Chicago Con-
vention spoke; and great decline in the
value of the white metal, which followed
quickly upon that event, has served to FUR
Their complicate tine situation; and the difh-
Guilty of fixing and maintaining any ratio OF
value between silver and gold, upon which
the two metals may still be coined and the
parity of value between them maintained, is
generally recognized AS having been thereby
greatly enhanced.
All admit that the Sherman law-and es.
pecially the bullion purchase clause, which
is its characteristic features IL bad and
mischievous measure, born of party necessity
and political insincerity on the part of the
Republicans, and enacted into law by that
party without the aid of Democratic votes,
and that it ought to be repealed. But the
great questions that present themselves, are,
first, whether the present exigencies of the
financial situation are such as to absolutely
demand the unconditional repeal of the
Sherman law, without any substitute guard
ing against the contraction likely to follow
that event; and, second, if the financial
safety of the country should demand such
heroic treatment, whether the many friends
of silver as a money metal in Congress can
be induced to take that patriotic view OF the
situation and sacrifice their firm and honest
conviction against contraction OF value and
the enhancement of the obligations of exist.
ing debts, on the altar Of public good and
general welfare.
While there are many who believe that the
exigences of the present financial situation
have been greatly exaggerated by the large
and Influential moneyed classes, whose in.
terests incline them to recommendation, yet
there is general disposition among the lead
ing Democratic minds in Congress that the
unconditional repeal of the Sherman law. as
recommended by the President and the post
ponement of further silver legislation 10 the
future, is the safest and best course to pursue.
The practical Accomplishment of this pol
icy in the present Congress is the great
problem Its solution, it is generally adj
mtied, will require much of diplomacy and
Cancellation than Mr.. Cleveland is accns
toned to resort to. The President is accus
toned to carry his position by storm rather
than by strategy. In this emergency 1t de-
wolves upon the Secretary of the Treasury
and friends of the administration in Congress
to bridge over the wide chasm Of discorJant
opinion and work for out happy solution OF
the difficult problems the situation presents.
Upon Senator German, the duly consti-
tuted leader of the Democratic majority in
the Senate, it is said that the solution Of
these weighty problems will more largely
rest than upon any other man IN Congress,
since it appears that the silver question will
after all, be settled by the Senate.
The Baltimore Sun, which has up to this
time been so unfortunately blind as not see
anything to admire in Mr.. German, has in a
recent issue been very liberal in its adulatior
and high commentator of the Senator, who,
it says as though the discovery had just
dawned upon it, is universally recognized
among the Democratic sages and Republican
opponents as well as the leader of the Demo
cratic majority. 1t insists that Mr.. Gormar
holds the key of the situation and predicts
that he will will WELD his power from the
standpoint of high patriotism.
IL must be a sad reflection to the Sun
while so pointedly testifying TO Mr.. German
bioh standing in the resDect and confidence
| of his fellow members of the highest paria
mentary body in the world, to consider tina
all this great honor has been acquired BY
Maryand's distinguished Senator, not only
unaided by that luminous journal, but II
spite of its untring efforts to defeat him.
Mr. German owes his distinguished posi-
| ton as the leader of the Senate to his com
manding ability, sagacity and courage, anc
he maintains it by according to all his com
| peers the right to entertain aud advocate
their honest opinions and convictions upor
all questions. He will never undertake u
play the roll of dictator, as the Sun woult
| have him do. Just now he is apparent,
following Polloniuss advice, and his owl
custom in great emergencies, and giving
every man his ear, but few his voice. Tit
apparently neutral position he is maintaining
will the better enable him to pursue his polio,
! of Cancellation, mutual concession and prac
| teal results. All the Senator many admir-
ers, in and ont Of Maryland, entertain NJ
doubt that in this great emergency, as in al
previous ones during his legislative career
| his constituency will have reason to be prou'
of the part he viii play.
Roberts and Reven.
From, The Annanols Republican