The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1894-02-24
TIE SILVER QUESTION.

TEE SILVER QUESTION.
The San Francisco Chronicle, which
II . s.aunch advocate of free coinage,
NAV be considered the leader of those
who believe in that monetary policy
on the Pacific coast. In its issue Of
Feb. 10Th it has the following edito-
rial in reference to the pending silver
bill now before congress:
The debate in the house on the So
called seignioraae coinage bill has
served to awaken the country to the
fact that the silver question is still q
very live issue. If the gold monometal
lists, with President Cleveland as
their leader and champion, have
thought that the repeal of the silver
purchase act was to be the end Of the
agitation, even during this session of
congress, they have now discovered
that they were sgresiously mistaken.
Unless We misundsrstand the indlca-
tions from Washington, it will be
found when the vote is taken on the
pending bill that the silver cause has
become stronger in every way. Many
members who voted for the repeal bill
under the pressure Of the adninistra-
tion and of factitious public opinion,
worked up BY the gold bug press, are
now anxious to set themselves right
befors their constituents, from whom,
n may be presumed, they have since
heard. And there is prevailing be-
lief at Washington that when this bill
b out Of the way free-coinags act may
be brought forward and passed. Cleve-
land would, Of course, veto it, and be
nay veto the ssignisrage bill, as they
hrm It But silver has had its way
Il congress in times past, notwith-
aanding executive opposition"
It may be true that those who be-
Aeved in the unlimited coinage of sill
var considered the Sherman act 3
aIsp in that direction; but it was not
Hssed BY the Republican congress
With any such object in view. When
y was repealed at the recent special
Assien, it was done so at the urgent
Dquest Of the leading men of both
yartles in tho country. This saved the
drain Of gold from the treasury to .
certain extent, but did net fulfill the
expectations of Mr.. Cleveland or Of
ths monometallisss In the Democratic
pArty.
The effort now being made by Mr..
Bland may be successful In the house;
but the bill will very likely be de-
tated in the senate. From its incsp-
asa the Republican party has been in
hvor of sound, stable currency, and
sopossd to all kinds of imitation,
whether in the shape Of issuing
'frsenbacks" or in unlimited coinage
Of deprecated silver: 1t cannot pur-
ne aav other policy and be consistent
With its past history.
As stated BY the CAromiele the re-
psal Of the silver purchase clause, Of
he Sherman act did not end the sgi-
sAtion Sf this question; aad it may Be
expected to occupy prominent place
ID politics in future campa'gna Itis
snly another phase Of the old "gresn-
lack" craze. nearly twenty years ago.
After the panic Of 1873, and the dis
rassful tunes that followed, the peo-
de imagined that An extra issue Of |
DAPsr money would be remedy for
~ fearful business depression. A
pArty that had dscrsed . change IN the
slbnonic policy Of the nation was in
auguratsd last March, and the safer
en- from the hard times that eense-
spently resulted, in their desperation.
le1ksd to silver a. possible means Of
relief. However fallacious this idea
nay be, until business resumes its old
channels Of prosperity, or practical
test of the matter is made, there will
be large number Of people who will
cling to it with the tenacaty Of the
drawing man 10 the straw.