Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-30
Did Ohio Set the pacet

Did Ohio Set the Pscef
II seems to be Impossible TO get full
clear, and candid announcement OF the
| position OF the Republican party upon
the silver question. We took II Tor
granted that the GAINESVILLE convention IN
Ohio would make an utterance on tfis
question which would seek 10 deceive no
body. but would declare TO the world
that the Republicans Of Ohio, speaking
for the Republicans OF the whole Union
were in favor OF single standard Oh
values, and this standard to be the soid
standard. We thought the battle be-
tween the monometallists ana the Di-
metallIsts was about TO begin But noi
so. Instead of seeking 10 draw the lines
clearly between the bmetalsts and the
monometallists, Mr.. sherman IN his
speech taking the chair. endeavored to
place the Republican party Of OHIO Just
where II stood In 1892. He even went so
far as TO say that overproduction OF silver
had unsettled the coinage ratio. and this
could not be adjusted without lnterna-
tional concert. lie not only declared for
blmetallism, but defined what ne meant
by bimetallsm. Indeed, some OF his ut
terances read as II he had mounted sena-
tor Hilrs platform. We quote Mr.. Sher-
man as follows:
IL believe that the policy Of the United
States, adopted in 1888. Of coming frac-
tlonal silver coins in limited quantities
from silver bullion purchased at the mar
ket price, and making them legal
tender for small sums. Is the only way
TO preserve the parity Of gold and silver
coins at a fixed ratio. This Is properly
called bimetalic money.
Il hope and believe that the common
interests of commercial nations VIII lead
them through an international conmls-
sion 10 either adopt new Tauo pased
on the market value Of the metals OF
to coin and maintain them as we DO at
their present ratio
This is properly called blmetalilc
money" says Mr.. Sherman. And the
GAINESVILLE convention put a silver plank
in its platform, which reads as foiloWs;
Honest money, consisting OF gold, Sill
yer, and paper. every dollar as good as
any other dollar, and all backed by the
national faith and honor
1--WE favor bimetallsm. and demand the
use OF both gold and silver as standard
money. either I'm accordance with rato
TO be fixed by an international agreement
AZ that can be obtained, or under sgch
restrictions and such provisions TO be de-
determined by legislation as will secure
the maintenance Of the parity OF value OF
the two metals, so that the purchasing
and debt-paying power Of the dollar.
whether OF silver. gold, or paper snail
at all times be equal
There It is again: 1--WE favor bimetal-
lism," declare the Republicans Of Ohio
though If there is a Western State which
could safely come out against bimetallism
II is Ohio.
Now, read again the silver plank OF the
Republican National Convention OF 1892
and you will see that the Ohio Republi-
cans stand to-day just where they stood
in 1892. We quote that silver plank as fol-
lows:
"sILVER-Th American people, from
tradition and interest favor bimetalllsm'
and the Republican party demands the
use of both gold and silver as standard
money, with such restrictions and under
such provisions, to be determined b. le-
gisatiOn. as will secure the maintenance
of the parity of values Of the two metals,
SO that the purchasing and debt-paylns
power of the dollar whether OF silver
gold, or paper, shall be at all times equal
The interests of the producers OF the
country its farmers and its wOrkingmeh'
demand that every dollar, paper or coin,
issued by the government shall be as
good as any other We commend the
wise and patriotic steps already taken
by our government TO secure an interna-
tional conference to adopt such measures
as will insure a parity Of value between
gold and silver for use as money through
out the world.
II thus appears that the Republicans OF
the whole country came out in 1892 more
plainly for an International bimetallic
conference than the Ohio Republicans
came out in 1895 for such conference.
What is the difference between john.
Sherman and the Ohio Republicans, on
the one hand. and Senator Hill on the
other hand? How could Mr. Hin make
q palmer declaration for an international
timetable conference than the Republi-
can party Of the Union made in 1892?
Read:
I'VE commend the wise and patriotic
steps already taken by our government
10 secure an international conference 10
adopt such measures as Will insure
parity Of value between gold and silver
for use as money throughout the Worlu.
This International conference OF lSJ2 was
TO provide for silver and gold TO be used
as money throughout the world" And
I'm 1896 there can be no such lodging OF
the issues which the people will be called
upon to meet If we read the signs Of the
tEnes Alright. the two parties will settle
this silver question in 1896 The peoples
tod l.4f
time, and they will demand of their ma
tional conventions explicit statements on
the silver problem.