The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-12-02
THE CONVERSION OF CARLISLE.

The conversion of Secretary of the
Treasury Carlisle to the gold standard
was effected within about fifteen years.
1t is not known precisely at what date the
germ Of the gold disease was injected into
Carlisle's system, but there were no signs
of its ravages until after the election of
Mr. Cleveland in 1892. In 1873 Mr.. Car
Isle was a Democr attic leader in the
House and one of the foremost advocates
of the Bland silver RECOMMENDATION act
which passed both houses. was vetoed by
President Hayes and was passed over the
veto. AT that time Mr.. Carlisle thought
there never could be too much gold and
silver. He had also vivid conception of
the alleged conspiracy which is charged
with the demonstration of silver in 1873.
To quote Mr.. CaIlisle's own words:
Mankind will be fortunate. indeed, il the
annual production Of gold aud silver coin shall
keep pace with the annual increase of popula-
ton, commerce and Industry. According TO
my views of the subject. the conspiracy which
seems TO have been formed here and in Europe
TO destroy by legislation and Otherwise from
thTee-seyenJhs TO One-half the metallic money
OF the world is the most gigantic crime of this
or any other age. The contamination of such
a scheme would ultimately entail more misery
upon the human race than all the wars, pesti.
lences and famines that ever occurred In the
history Of the world. The absolute and instan-
taneous destruction of half the entire movable
property Of the world including houses, ships,
railroads and other appliances for carrying on
commerce, while It would be felt more sensibly
at the moment, would not produce anything
like the prolonged distress and DISCRIMINATION
of society that must inevitably result from the
permanent humiliation of one-nalf the metallic
money OF the world.
There was no known change in Mr.. Car
isles views on the silver question until
he came under the hypnotic influence of
Mr.. Cleveland in the winter of 1892 49,
1t is worthy of mention, by the way, that
while Mr.. Cleveland had not been sus-
pected of possessing hypnotic power pre-
vous to his second election there were not
able instances of its exercise during the sue
ceeding winter. Carlisle was, perhaps,
the most conspicuous subject. Every one
knows that Mr.. Cleveland did not discover
Carlisle. The Kentuckian had made him.
self name before the New Yorker was
known out of his native village. The fact
that so able and INDEPENDENT man as
MIR. Carlisle was believed to be could in a
few months be brought under the influ-
ence of Mr.. Cleveland can only be ac-
counted for on the assumption of pecu-
liar power possessed by Mr.. Cleveland
after he was elected second time. That
the reader may realize the complete ab-
sorption of Mr.. Carlisle by Mr.. Cevel and
the following extract from Mr.. Carlisle's
late banquet speech is offered:
Gold is the only International money and all
trade balances are settled in gold. or, which is
the same thing. on gold sis. all other forms
of currency being adjusted to that standard
1t is useless for the advocates OF different
system to insist that this ought not to be so il
is so, and we cannot change the fact. But The
gold eagle and double eagle are not accepted
at particular valuation in these settlements
simply because the United States of America
has declared by law that they shall be legal
tender at their nominal value, but solely be-
cause the bullion contained In them, if un-
coined, would be worth everywhere the same
amount.
twas in the same banquet speech that
Mr. Carlisle declared that he had never
been able to understand what is meant by
double standard or a double measure of
values, and had never found any one who
could enlighten him in that respect. But
If the Carlisle of 1893 had appealed to the
Carlisle of 1878 he would have found the
much desired information.