The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-09-04

OF the fact that . large majority Of
the plain people OF the United States
favor the free coinage OF silver at the
existing ratio, at least to the extent of
the product OF the American mines, there
is no longer room for doubt. An agree
ment having been reached on this point
the next thing to consider is the means
for causing their wishes to be enacted
into law.
Our system OF government is such
that IL i'm necessary when the people de-
sire Legislation in any particular line, to
look to some political party for its enact
menE
Under these circumstances II ia i'm
portant that the people should determine
now. which OF the great political organ
iza1lons 10 most likely TO carry out their
wishes as regards silver and as it Is the
question Of supreme Importance and viii
remain so until it is settled, it would
seem that all other considerations should
be set aside for the present To this end
let US look at the position Of the various
parties toward silver.
The Democratic party is 50 thoroughly
and hopelessly committed to the single
gold standard that it could not escape
from lite position If it desired to do So
President Cleveland, the recognized
leader Of the party has been an agrees
sive enemy of Silver since his first en-
trance into public life Whatever else
may be said OF him, he cannot be ac-
cused OF Inconsistency on the silver ques-
tiOn. He has never lost an opportunity
TO exhibit his opposition 70 the use of
the white metal In the currency Of the
country. When be was frat elected
president he did not even walt for his
Inauguration, TO define his position, but
wrote letter in advance and gave it out
for publication, In which he showed his
snmity TO silver in unmistakable terms
In his letter Of acceptance Ia 1892 he
Again took the same ground and his
party endorsed il by their votes &C the
polls ana by repeating the Sherman law
a. the earliest opportunity. Il is plain
to 30 seen that there Is no hope for silver
through the Dem ocratic party.
The Populist party never was the
friend of silver. It is opposed to all me-
tallic money and favors an issue Of paper
money, based on the faith and credit Of
the nation alone, which shall be declared
receivable for all dues public and private,
No good Populist will deny this. The
free silver coinage clause was placed Ia
the Omaha platform for the express pur-
pOso of winning to the party the votes Of
Repu blicans and Democrats who were
friendly to silver and saw little hope for
it at that time in their own parties, and it
was successful to = considerable extent,
placing Ia the Populist column Colorado,
Nevada and other silver producing states
As long as the Populists are 10 a minority
in congress they will doubtless vote with
the party that favors silver coinage 1t the
existing ratio, but il they should get
control of the government. both gold and
silver would be driven from the cur
rency OF the country just a. quickly as
they could do It. They all understand
this and that their advocacy OF silver is
merely vote catcher.
There remains then but one party that
can or will come TO the rescue OF silver,
and that IL the Republican party. Il may
be little slow to recognize the popular
will as was evidenced In Kansas this year.
The Republicans elected to the next
congress will vote for the coinage Of sill
yer at the OLD ratio; the next Republi-
can candidate for the presidency Will be
friend Of silver and will run on a silver
coinage platform. Let the friends OF
silver rally to the support OF the only
party that can or will give them what
they want Let them get in line now
this year. A two-thirds majority in con-
Rress can enact silver legislation regard
less of Mr.. Clevsland's veto It is not
necessary to wait for change Of admin
istration. The Republican party Is the
true friend of silver.