The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-23
WHAT WILL HE DO WITH 1T.

The most interesting question of the hour
is. what will the President do with the
Bland bill for coming the seigniorage? Will
he sign it, veto it, or allow it to become a
law without his signature? The fact that
there is any doubt on the subject shows a
growing distrust of the sincerity of Mr..
Clevelands political professions. There was
a time in his career when no person would
have doubted FOR a moment what his action
In reference to such a bill would be. At
have vetoed 1t as soon after it reached him
as he could seize pen and formulate his
reasons. At that time people said of Mr..
Cleveland, "he may be mistaken in his 20
litical convictions, but he is honest and he
is sound on all phases of the money ques-
ton" He was on record as opposed to any
increase Of silver coinage at the existing
ratio. and the people believed he meant what
he said Even his latest public utterances
have the ring of honest money. In his mes
sage to Congress at its special session last
year he said: 1.-THE people of the United
States are entitled to sound and stable
currency and to money recognized as such
on every exchange and in every market
of the world" Again, in the same message
he said: Whatever else the people have a
right to expect from Congress, they may
certainly demand that legislation con-
demned by the ordeal OF three years dis
astrous experience shall be removed from
the statute books" These sentences re-
ferred to the repeal of the Sherman law,
which Mr.. Cleveland used executive power
and patronage to the utmost limit to accom-
plish. Yet the Bland seigniorage bill is more
the Sherman law.
Still later, in his annual message of De
cember last, Mr.. Cleveland said that after
sufficient time had elapsed the repeal of the
Sherman law would probably disclose a
safe path leading to a permanently sound
currency" Mr.. BANDS seigniorage bill
does not open any such path. In the same
message he said:
III the pursuit VI lnlS ODleCI III
ly sound currency we should resolutely turn
away from alluring and temporary expedi
entS. determined to be content with moth
ing less than a lasting and comprehensive
financial plan In these circumstances am
convln ced that a reasonable delay in dealing
with the subject, instead of being injurious,
will increase the probability of wise action.
The Bland seigniorage bill is the worst
kind of temporary expedient and a most
vicious departure from a lasting and COM
prehensive financial plan.
1t is evident, therefore, that all of Mr.. Cleve-
lands public utterances pledge him to a veto
of the bill, and the fact that any doubt ex-
lists as to what he will do shows that the
people are losing faith in his honesty and
sincerity. There are plenty of Democrats
who If they were in Mr.. Cleveland's place,
might sign the bill with entire consistency,
but he cannot do so without a complete
reputation of all his utterances on the
money question. Those who are urging him
to sign the bill do so on the ground of good
| politics." "the salvation of the party" etc.
| If he yields to these arguments 1t will show
he has thrown principle TO the winds and
| Joined the ranks Of the cheap-money howl
1 ers