Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-02
His Utteranoes on the Subject of
Silver and the Tariff.
SIGNIFICANCE ATTACHED TO THEM
In View of His Supposed Aspira-
tons for the Presidency.
COMMENTS OF POLITICIANS

The utterance Of eX-Speaker Reed on
silver and the tariff coming way back from
London is regarded by politicians who are
particularly interested in national affairs as
one Of the most significant outgivings which
have recently attracted attention. The
politician may attach too much Importance
TO this interview and put upon 1t an inter-
pretation not intended by Mr. Reed. How
fver this may be, the interview is liable to
bear fruit Mr.. Reed is not the first promi-
lent republican who has recently associ-
lied the silver and tariff questions with the
)uggestion that the two should be settled
lcgether- Mr.. Lodge, in his speech on the
karin bill. conveyed about the same idea,
and Mr.. Cameron. In a speech, which has
attracted more attention among Senators
than with the public. advocated free silver
and protection as indiviSibly associated.
Senator Pettigrew had previously argued on
the same line.
The trend of thought here for some time
and the manner in which republicans re-
ceived the suggestion Of increased silver
currency as feature Of reciprocal trade
gives significance to the proposition which
may not be appreciated fully outside of Do
Htical circles. Everything that Reed says
or does is regarded as the utterance or ac-
ton OF an aspirant to the presidency, and
Is commented upon with that in view.
Direct Bearing the Presidency.
This particular utterance. however, is re-
bition for the future than anything else
with which his name has recently been
ISOLATED Reed unquestionably has his eye
on the presidential nomination. 1t Is doubt
ful whether IN giving an interview to a
foreign journal he considered its bearing on
his political future. He hit, however, upon
a subject which is regarded by the leading
men Of both parties in Congress as one of
the most vitality important to the next cam
palgn for the presidency.
Even not considering the division In the
democratic party over the silver question
and the prospects that that party has be-
fore IL between the conservative and the
free silver element at it's next national con-
yention, the republicans themselves have
had an experience during the present tariff
contest which convinceS the politicians,
though ii may not be so clear to the busi-
ness men of the country, that some step
must be taken to placate the western
pubhcans II the party is to be held to-
gether in its entirety. The republicans can
never concede as much to the silver people
as the democrats are about to be compelled
TO. and. indeed. no such concessions are
demanded OF them by the western element
OF the party. A conservative recognition
OF that element is, it has become apparent,
Necessary.
The lack of sympathy on the part of the
silver republicans in the Senate with their
party associates of the east has been shown
throughout the tariff fight, and they have
said. In so many words, emphasizing ii by
their actions, that in the general scheme of
protection they intend to demand the same
recognition of their industry of mining
which the party gives to the manufacturing
Industries of the east Whether there IS any
fosic or consistency in this proposition does
not AFFECT the question The western silver
men are holding constantly before the yves
OF the representatives of the east the threat.
Implied or direct. that they will take no
more interest in the welfare of the toilers
IN the factory than the eastern men are
willing to show for the toilers in the west
ern mines.
A Serious Menace.
The fact that Stewart has already desert
ed the republican party may not count for
much. but the menace of others is more
serious The indifference with which Tel
Ter. Dubois and nearly all the men from
the new states and the old silver states
have watched the democratic assault upon
the tarin has occdSioned considerable
alarm They have not actually given aid
and comfort to the democrats, but they
nave held of from their own party and
persisted in asSOciating the silver with the
tarln, SO as to hold out always the sug-
gestton that there is an association between
the two KINDS Of protection, and that they
must consider their own local interests as
superior to the local interests of the New
England ard the middle states. They have
been holding out the suggestion that some
thing must be done for them or that they
Will lose interest IN the eastern wing of
the party.
To an eastern man. ambitious for the pres
idency, II Is very important that this indif-
which Is perplexing some of the strongest
men In the party is how to hold the party
loSetner without any great sacrifice of the
sound financial policy as the east under
stands It 1t is appreciated by all the lead
ing republicans outside OF the little band OF
suverlteS that the republican party can
never be and should never be led to espouse
tle cause OF free silver under present condi-
sions or adopt any other wild infiationist
ioea- 1t Is anticipated. with good reason,
tIat the democrats will. at their next ma
IL
silver the leading issue. As IL stands now
the difference of opinion on the tariff oues-
tlon Is the only thing that keeps the silver
TepuohcarS and the democrats apart The
politics Of the democrats In adoptine the
prnclple or protection Though iIlogically
apphed1 In their tariff bill is to obscure
tnis difference as much as possible and in
a measure they have succeeded "
II is calculated by those men who make
tne 1ree coinage Of silver an article OF faith
% oeas with tariff bill passed and disposed
" curing this Congress, especially a bill
tnat does not repudiate protection. that
quesuon VIII be dead issue in 1906 and
that all who agree on silver can come to-
getner on a free coinage platform, regard
less OF their opinions on other ouestions
hno tner previous party afnliation
Farsighted View of the Case.
1t may be questioned whether Mr.. Reed
had this situation in mind when giving ont
MS interview, but he is credited with this
farsighted view of the case and with a
purpose TO checkmate any effort to divide
the republican party ON sectional lines. and
70 place himself in advance of all competi-
tors for the presiden tial nomination There
Is no danger of any ones suspecting Reed
OF abandoning the well established finan-
cial policy Of his party
ne Is not silver man and there Is no
Sanser or his becoming one, but IL Is held
Dy pohticians that If he can consistently.
Win MS principle. present a plan looking
70 the remonetizatiOn of silver. 1t Will be a
Dig stride for him toward the presidential
termination. The Interpretation which is
put upon his utterances is indicated by the
pronptness wiki which all the strong Reed
men In Congress hasten TO approve what he
mas SAID and to attach to his utterances
great significance. There Is a very strong
element in both Houses of Congress at the
mead OF which stands Reed. who believe
that the most brilliant stroke that could
De made by the republican party at this
.Ime would be to anticipate the democrats
IN the settlement Of the silver question in
q way to give TO silver its proper place in
our currency. Reed has been giving the
question most profound study. and IL is
pretty generally conceded that he is a man
or great Intellectual capacity.