The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-05-22
IT'S Days SEEN 10 re xuMrr ED

ITS Days SEEN 10 re NUMrE ED
We cen candidly scy that we believe
the mania for free silver 0or it is truly
q man,M has run It's course and IS on
the decline. The best evidence that we
have seen Of this is the free-si.vcr rcsolu-
tons which the Missouri State Demo-
cratic Convention adopted. II must be
borne In mind that Missouri is the home
of the great apostle of free oliver. Mr.
Bland; that II has heretofore been the
most open and fragrant claimant Of free
silver Of any State in the Union outside
of the silver States. and that Mr.. Bland
was member of the recent convention.
was present at its sittlngs, ard used
every influence he could command to
make the convention commit itself to
the widest vagaries of which he has
been possessed.
IL adopted free-silver resolutions, II is
true. but of what kind? The resolu-
lions call for free timetable coinage Of
both gold and silver. and the restoration
of the bimetallic standard as it existed
under our laws for over eighty years"
If this We're all that they said. Mr.
Bland might fairly claim that the Demo
cratic Convention Of Missouri had made
as big fool of itself as he ever desired
IL should in his widest dreams of folly
But IL added these words: should It
become necessary In order to keep The
two metals in circulation, 10 readjust the
ratio. II should be determined whether
gold has risen or silver has fallen, and
whether there should be change Of the
gold dollar or OF the silver dollar, or Of
both. Both should be coined
at such ratio as win maintain the two
metals in circulation"
Here then. we submit. is a surrender
OF the whole case. Whoever before heard
free silverite admit there could be any
change in the ratio? Their whole claim
has been that four hundred aud twelve
and half grains Of silver. nine-tonths
fine. were as valuable rs twenty-five
and eight-tenths grains OF gold. nine
tenths fine. and that this would manfestly
appear 10 be true If the government would
only coin up all the silver into 4l2 IL
grain dollars that men would bring to IT,
Here. however. Is a concession that pos
sibly this may not be true Here is a con-
cess.on that II il possibly necessary 10
"readjust the ratio" and put more than
l2i-2 grains of silver into the dollar in
order TO make II as valuable as 25 $40
grains OF gold. And not only so. but there
Is a concession also that the old claim
that gold has appreciated while silver
has remained steady may possibly be an
error. wherefore IL Is TO be INQUIRED OF
whether possibly silver has not deprecated
Instead OF sold approaching.
These are astonIshirg concessions from
any free-silver convention. but esnee,al,,
from the Missouri convention. where Mfr
Bland was actually on the ground TO guide
It's deliberations and shape its course.
We may rest assured that MIR. Bland
never framed or advised these resolutions
he belongs 10 the class which "neyer
says die" when Ii gets hold Of ANYTHING
as foolish as free silver" 1t was not In
obedience TO Mr.. BANDS wishes or al
vice that the convention adopted these
resolutions. 1t was in spite OF them, which
makes US say again that the free silver"
mania seems 10 have pretty nearly run
its course.
And It can be truly said that It is the
'apsurdest mania that ever gol posses
sion OF great body OF men. The same
nan who believe in free silver VIII