The herald., 1894-09-14
A CLEARLY CUT ISSUE.

worthy Of the serious consideration of
all Americans, and especially OF those
with whom he has affiliated politically
in the past. No one can dispute the
pre-emiuencs OF John P. Jones in the
Republican party. He was, after Roscoe
Oonkling, perhaps the closest friend of
General Grant and carried ss much
weight with that statesman as any man
in his party. With his brother senators
no one was personally more influential.
As Senator Dubois said to an inter-
viewer, the other day, he was one OF the
"strong men" in the Republican party.
The loss OF such states man, so virile
and versatile, would be great one to
any organization.
In his now famous letter Senator
Jones dsvotes a portion of its space to
showing the insincsrity OF the Republi-
can attitude on the silver question. He
says truly that in the memorable fight
over the white metal in the special ses-
sion silver could only muster, in both
houses OF congress, six Republican
votes, five in the house OF representa-
tives and one in the senate. This is, in
deed, a pitisble showing. He msrci-
lessly points out the hypocrisy OF the
Republicans in their platforms in which
a hollow pretense is made OF devotion to
silver, while an explicit declaration is
always avoided. Nowhere can be found
in any Republican state convention,
with the possible exception OF Califor-
mia, o square and unmistakable declara-
tion which means free coinage and the
rehabilitation of silver on the old con-
stitutionsl basis of 16 to l..
1t is true that Senator Jones censures
without reserve the course of the Dem.
ocratic party ON the white metal. He
claims that the equal lapse OF both par.
ties to do their duty in the premi ses
himself with the Populists, who are en-
thusiastic everywhere in demanding the
restoration of silver to its old status.
In this connection he assumes that all
great reforms are brought about through
the agency of new parties, and cites the
opportune appearance on the stage OF
the Republican party ss an instrument
to carry ont the determined anti-slavery
spirit of the nation. This is doubtful
parallel, for the Populists can scarcely
be locked upon as new party in the
sense which the Republican party could
claim to be when it made it's advent in
Pittsburg in 1856. The ''grsnd old
party" lighted like the herald Mer-
curry on a kissing hill, and
stood outlined with sensational prom
inence. The Populists have been
beaten 90 often, and their gubernatorial
representatives have been OF such a pc
culisr character, as witness Waite, Lew
elling and Pennoyer, that the majority
OF all parties is disposed to look upon
them with extreme distrust. Anything
of novelty that may at any time have
attached itself to this organization has
long ago worn itself out. But it is quite
argument, that with continued infdel-
ity ON the part of both the old great ma
tional parties to this overshadowing in
terest, q new party may spring up that
will embrace in its ranks q majority of
the voters of the United States. To
most people it would seem that the
chances OF SUCCESS would be much great
er through the adoption of the silver
propaganda by one or the other of the
old national parties.
The Nevada senator 10 particular
ly severe in his handling of
the pretense that the United
States, acting alone. cannot remonetize
silver. He cannot see that we are bound
to defer to Europe. The assumption that
We are is another way of saying that we
cannot do 90 without frat obtaining the
permission of England, for that country,
and the so-called Liberal party at that,
with Gladstone at its head. is the lion
that stands in the path of the rehabilta-
tion OF silver. This was the cunning
evasion employed by President Har.
rison to tide over the presidential elec.
ton OF 1892. This shallow device can no
longer bamboozle any one. 1t has served
its purpose only too well and must soon
be consigned to the political lumber
room.
There is something pitiabls in the at
titude which q great nation like the
United States has been made to occupy.
The conviction is forced upon one that
we have not 90 much real influence in
the affairs OF the world as when we
were confederation of three millions of
people fighting for freedom against the
mightiest nation on earth, and
winning the fight in splendid style.
Shortly after knocking out Great Britain
in the revolutionary war. we were
not afraid to tell France that we would
stand no nonsense from her. Rather
than submit to any dictatorial nonsense
from England we plunged a second time
into war with that country when we had
not a tenth OF our present population,
and wero again victorious. Now, with
sixry-ive to seventy millions of people,
the great republic of the world seems to
be afraid to call her soul her own and is
servilely responsive to the mandates and
initiative of England in matters that
concern her own currency. With near
ly the whole world ready to follow our
lead. we seem to be utterly unable to