Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1894-12-13
BLAND'S

It was said by some n who
did not have the proper appre-
citation of the Scotch, says the
atlanta Journal, that the only way
in which it is possible to get a
joke into a Scotchman's head is
by surgical operation. If this
unjust remark were changed SO
as to declare that the only way
to get a practical idea into the
Uranium of the Hon. Richard P.
Bland, of Missouri, is by Incl
sion and insertion, it would be
quite accurate. Experience is
conceded by most people to be
the best teacher, bat Mr. Bland
is far from realizing this fact.
During his twenty years service
in Congress he has ridden one
hobby, the free and unlimited
coinage of silver. In the Bland
ian philosophy an ample sup
ply of the white metal converted
into dollars at the ratio Of 16 to |
is a panacea for the ills of man
kind, and the guaranty of pros
perity. At the November cleo
ton the people of Mr.. Blands
district gave conclusive proof
that they have had enough Of
him, and chose another man to
represent them in Congress.
The lesson thus administered
does not appear to be intelli-
gible to the Statesman who
revels in the soubliquet of ''Sil-
e Dick" He has offered sew
eral explanations of his defeat.
all of which place the response
bility for it on somebody besides
himself. Bland hobs up in Con
gress as self contident and as
complacent as ever. He is on
his hobby again, riding 1t as
gaily as if he had received The
most superb vindication his dis
trict could give him
With almost incredible eff
frontery, he IS proclaiming that
the only thing that can save the
Democratic party is the imn1e-
diate passage of a free silver
bill. He has already begun to
nag the coinage committee Of
the House on this line, and there
is no prospect that he will cease
his opportunities until the clock
strikes twelve on the fourth of
next March and Bland retires to
the shades of private life.
The Macon Telegraph has this
excellent commentary on BANDS
antics:
HE does not realize that what
was possible in 1896 may be Wis
ionary in 1894. He refuses 10
realize that conditions have
changed during that long period
and is therefore no longer
worthy of trust as a legislator.
If Mr.. Bland and those who
have co-operated with him had
been willing to accept the facts
of the situation, instead Of de-
voting themselves to a single
purpose which was obnoxious to
a majority Of the people of the
country they might have done
much to prevent the evils of leg
islation or the currency question
from which the country suffers;
but because they could not get
wanted, they have refused to
consent to any other reform. It
is TO be hoped that the lessons
of the last elections will not be
lost upon others, as they were
upon Mr. Bland. If men so rad
ical control the policy of Con
gress, or even T a formidable
minority in it. they will be able
to prevent valuable legislation
and permit the present
wretched currency system to
remain intact. What is wanted
in congress is a disposition to
do the very best thing possible
under the circumstances. IF each
faction is determined that no
change shall be made except pre-
cisely the change which it de-
sires, then no change at all will
be made, and the people in New
York and abroad who want to put
their idle money in United States
bonds will continue to have an
opportunity to do SO about every
six months"
The great trouble about Bland
and impracticable politicians of
his class is that the Democratic
party has been held responsible
for their attempts to saddle the
country with dangerous currency
legislation. They are largely re-
sponsible for the recent over
whelming defeat of the Democ-
racy aud we hope that they will
hereafter be kept where they
cannot interfere with a sensible
Democratic policy OF throw a
dead weight on the party.