New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-27
SILCER Politics.

,rl,roo eilvor Scnotors are accused. in current
gossip. Of IN intention to set up ne" parry
Free silver and Protection. the story goes are
to be- It's only principles. Senator cameron, ol
PENNSYLVANIA. il accused Of Il Willingness to be
lis candidate but rs the only intelligent oDJec'
Of such party must be to defeat the party OF
Protection in Republican States. reasonable
doubt NAV be entertained whether any Rcpub
Ucau will consent tO act rs It's figurchead. JudS
nc from the late election. ii Is probable that the
pcoplc will be inclined to settle the tariff ques
lion in harmony with American interests at tn"
Presidential election. and viii pitilcsSly run
over any man or set Of men found in the way
Neither individual dcnials nor substantial rca-
sons prevent the circulation Of such reports
and il may he worth while 10 notice without
further DELAY he conditions which will probably
govern the actions Of men when they are asked
to make silver coinage the basis Of separate po
li,ica action Missouri has inst buried Mt
Bland in district strongly Democratic Min
nrsota has overturned the frcccoinagc people
by the largest vote ever cast In the State, and
Wisconsin and Iowa have done the same East
Of the Mississippi River scarcely single North
rrn member of Congress has been elected VINO
has ever favored free coinage !; Is iru" that
other issues prodominated. but those same other
is.ll,s would be- az least ~ likely to control the
result m the next Presidential election after
some years OF experience under the present
iarln FOR low wages
The naked truth is tia, The fire ~ frcrsver
enthusiasm. IKE any prairie ire. cannot 20
back over It's own track. and has been sweeping
westward rapidly within The Last four years
When the silver purchasing law ~ 1880 WAS
enacted ~ compromise not Few members
from states east ~ the Mississippi sincerely b."
llcv.d that such mn Increase In The purchases
of silver bv the United States would permanent
Is raise the value Of that metal Experience has
taught everybody that the production Increases
indefinitely whenever II X attempted 10 main
tain an artificial price. 81 that the end Is
greater depreciation of silver. Years have also
convinced multtudrS that 1t l. infinitely more
important To keep mp The volume of commercial
credits than to expand tn" coinage ana maj
fear ~ lowering III" currency 10 SILVER basiS
operates powerfully 10 cut down commercial
credits and thus Ia cllriail The volume ~ erec
tive purchasing power
Nv such experience aud reasoning mul,iluirs
who were formerly anxious FOR free coinag"
have been convinced that until 1t can b" reached
through international accord The step would be
in the highest degree dangerous TO Industries
and fn business A. the same time t"rribl"
experience has forced upon them the conviction
that departure from the American policy OF Pro-
lection carries with II greater aud more I'M
mediate disaster than they had ever imagined
and It has become their most absorbing
anxiety to arrest that departure and 10 return
T., the National policy which brought 10 the
known These changes of opinion have spread
so rapidly that all the Northern States
east Of the Mississippi. and States casting a
large proportion Of the votes west Of that river
are united in demanding above all other things
the restoration Of n sound protective tariff.
The STATES which appear to be- thus deter
mined have votes enough Ia elect the next Pres
idcnr. Any effort 10 splIi mp those votes on an
is,uc which they regard, at the best ~ Of In
fcrior consequence will inevitably be looked
upon rs u device for the benefit Of Democrats
and Free Traders No matter how innocent Of
such purpose the movers may be. no matter
bow arlcnily they may personally favor Proicc'
ton. they will he accounted ready 10 sacrifice
and defeat The cause Of Protection unless they
can force their own will upon an opposing ma
iorty For It Is clearly no longer the fact. what
eyer IL may have i''n III me past, mat Il ma
jorty OF the people favor unlimited coinage
without International agreement. Nor has the
lesson Of President Cleyeand's election, and The
consequently aboriivc international conference
on the silver question. been forgotten by ntclll-
gent men Most men perceive by this time that
the United States cannot afford to spend its
time and throw away its prosperity in playing
the catspaw to pull British chestnuts out of the
fire.