The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-06-23
CARLISLE AND SILVER.

monetization of silver in 1873, that it
was the greatest political crime ever
committed.
The editor of this paper shares this
opinion, as does every man in Montana
and elsewhere who is familiar with the
subject. 1t was a great crime for the
reason that it nullified the constitution
of the United States and made vassals of
80 per cent of the population.
While it is not the wish or intention
of The TRIBUNE to be extreme or intern
perate even on this most vital question.
we submit that what has been said in
these columns regarding the late utter
ances of Secretary Carlisle are amply
justified by the facts, and that it is time
for somebody, no matter how obscure or
limited his sphere, to utter the facts in
no uncertain language. This The TRIB-
UNE has done, and it maintains that the
Helena Independent, which has seen fit
to question the justice Of its comment,
is simply talking through its hat.
1t is charitable, doubtless, for the In
dependent to assume that The T%RIBUNE's
comparison OF Mr.. Carlisle's acts to those
of JEFF. Davis was made in "a moment of
wild insanity" but facts are more potent
than innuendo, and the facts are these:
The Sherman law as interpreted by some
of the most able senators and statesmen
of the country did not contemplate
either hat the silver bullion the pur-
chase of which it provided for, should
remain inert in the treasury vaults, or
become a tax on the gold supply. Its
explicit intention was that the silver SC
purchased should be coined and put in
circulation or notes issued against it
which were to be redeemed in silver
coin.
The failure of the Harrison administra-
ton to carry out the law simply showed
that it was dominated by theWall street
influence, and the ante-election ut
terances of Secretary Carlisle, as we'll as
the distinct assertion Of the democratic
platform, led the country to believe that
silver would at least receive as fair treat.
ment from the Cleveland administration
as the Sherman act would permit. The
failure of the preceding administration
an administration that was the motor
ious tool of the gold standard clique
to enforce the Sherman act, or to per-
NIT any measure that looked to the
financial relief of the country, brought
the business world of the United States
to the verge of panic by an unmerciful
contraction of the currency, and by aid
ing and abetting every false ulno that
was set aiioat by the enemies OF the
white metal. If the government would
not uphold the law what could be OK
pected from those whose interest it was
to overthrow it:
Then began the Cleveland admins
~tration, and the howl for a repeal of the
Sherman act became more vociferous
than ever. The gold ring knew that Mr..
Cleveland had had little or no oppor-
tunity to study the popular side of the
question, and hat he was predisposed
to their side. But Carlisle's %utterances,
quoted so patty by the Independent,
led the country to think that in Carl
isle at least we should have a man
friendly to the cause of the people, who
would be sure to give the most favorable
construction to the silver legislation
which he would be called on to render
effective.
Here we come to the ground Of THE
TRIBUNE's attack, and before proceeding
let us examine the first paragraph of the
independents criticism. 1t says: 1.-The
Great Falls TRIBUNE quite oversteps the
line Of temperate discussion when it
p~rophesys that Secretary Carlisle Twill
be denounced for an act Of treason only
equaled by that of jeff Davis" This
alleged treason, according to TIL TRIB-
UNE, is newly discovered enmity to silver
on the part Of the secretary, in his view
that, if bonds were issued, it would be to
obtain gold to pay for silver bullion
II the Independent will take the
trouble to glance at the article again
it will discover that the alleged treason
is not ascribed to the secretary's riew, as
here assertad, but to his cOurse in deal
ing with the silver question.
Now what was his course? 1t was
precisely the same as that of the Harri-
son administration. He took his orders
from Wall street from men who had al
ready received theirs from London, and
continued to make the Sherman act a
dead letter and to move heaven and
earth for its repeal. Ia this consists the
treason of which we complain-treason
to the struggling communities of a great
nation, to the men who bear the burdens
OF a debtor class that the creditor class
may exist in luxury.
Carlisle had it within his power to
carry out the provisions Of the Sherman
act by rcdecming all silver notes that
Wern otfnrel in 81 liver roip ipetead IF