St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-07-22
COKE CRIES OUT
For Free Silver Coinage and Tariff
Reform by the Next Congress-,


Reform by the Next Congress.
New YORK, July 2l.-Replying to
certain questions regarding the Sher-
man law and the extra session of con-
greSs prOpounded by the World to Hon.
Richard Coke, that gentleman, under
date of Waco, Tex, July II, has written
as follows:
lin my judgment much of the de-
preston results from the fact that the
people have at general elections, when
the subject was the absorbing one Of
the canvass, demanded q thorough and
radical reform of the tariff, leaving
manufacturers, producers of raw ma
terial and consumers alike in a condi-
ton of expectancy of this reform at the
earliest possible day. All industries of
the country under this condition
are carried on in a hand-to-mouth
way. simply meeting immediate
and pressing requirements, produce
ing very largely the stagnatl0n Of
trade which now exists; hence [ believe
that the tariff question should be taken
up at the earliest possible moment, and
dealt with as eXpeditiousIy as it is prac-
ticable, and the reform demanded by
the people thoroughly made. L think
the highest duty of congress when it
meets is to commence at once and per-
feet this work. | can see no reason why
a tariff bill and all the financial legisla-
ton needed may not commence and
progress together as soon as congress
meets. Failure to take up the tariff
question at the extra session of con-
gresS would, in my Judgment, have an
exceedingly bad influence on the coun-
try, and especially on the Democratic
party. For congress to be called to-
gether and do nothing with the tariff,
upon which the people have repeatedly
spoken with no uncertain sound, would
leave an extremely bad impression of
the good faith of the Democratic party
i'll the promises made in its platform.
Now, about the financial question.
[ don't believe that simple repeal Of
the Sherman law will give relief. If we
can get free and unlimited coinage OF
silver l believe the financial question
will be settled permanently, and. in my
Judgment. it will never be until that re-
suit is reached. [ fear this is not prac-
tlcable, but as the unconditional repeal
of the Sherman bill would be equivalent
to total decentralization of silver. sure
to follow, in my opinion, and being UNI
alterably opposed to this result, l can
see no relief in dealing with it unless it
is replaced by some act which shall
fully and unequivocally recognize the
determination on the country to
adhere to bi-metallic currency.
sherman no
act. under which not less than 1000, 900
nor more than 100000 standard silver
dollars were coined monthly, should be
revived. To repeal the Sherman act
without enacting something at least as
good as the Bland act could leave no
other conclusion but that the country
had deliberately abandoned the PROM
iseS of the Democratic platform and
determined to place itself upon the sin
gle gold standard. To avoid any dam
ger of this l cannot support any act
repeating the Sherman law which does
not emDOdy the substitute referred to,
so that when the Sherman bill goes ont
of effect the substitute shall take effect
at once.
TO sum up. believe that as soon as
the two houses of congress are organ
lied they should go to work to redeem
the promises of the platform with re-
spect to the establishment Of metallic
currency, expressing my opinion on the
subject to be that the free coinage of
silver on the same plane with gold
would be the proper mode of doing this,
feeling satisfied that an act for this
purpose could be but guarded so as 10
produce and maintain parity between
gold and silver coin. and at the same
time to go vigorously to work on tariff
bill which shall redeem in good faith
the pledges of the Democratic party to
the country in the vital matter of re-
ductiOn of taxation. Neither one of
these issues can he postponed. the latter
no more than the former; l, therefore,
cannot concur in the suggestion fot
congress to meet and adjourn aftc,
taking action npon the financial oucs
ton. leaving the tariff for future legis
lation.