The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-02-17
INC PeopIe Know the Truth.


The republicans, populists and some Of
the democrats in congress are condemning
the administration in the strongest Ian
guage they can use for the contract it has
made with the acknowledgment syndi-
cate. In a speech in the Senate yesterday,
Senator Lodge Of Massachusetts, declared
the contract 10 be the blacklist ever made
by the government Of the United States. -
Neither Senator Lodge nor any other
member Of congress will be able
to convince the people that con-
gress-democrats and republicans alike
is not responsible for that con-
tract. For many weeks the Presi-
dent has been trying to get congress to
provide, by legislation, the necessary re-
lief for the treasury. He has pointed out
that If something were not done all the
gold in the treasury would be drawn out
and the government would not be able to
pay gold on demand, and therefore would
not be able to carry out the governments
policy Of maintaining the parity Of gold
and silver. Notwithstanding these repeat
ed warnings congress did nothing. It re-
fused, on three different occasions, to pass
bills which were framed for the purpose Of
relieving the treasury Of its financial
troubles. The very men who are now de-
nouncing in picturesque language the con-
tract for gold that the administration
has made with Belmont and Morgan voted
against those measures. or took position
against them. and they did so without
offering anything in the place of them.
What was the administration to do under
the circumstances? Was it to do nothing
and permit gold to go to premium and
the country to go to silver standard?
What would many of those congressman
who are now condemning the administra-
ton have said If that course had been
pursued2 Would they not have been even
more loud-mouthed and demagogic in
their condemnation Of the administration
than they are now? They certainly would.
The country understands them thorough
ly. and has much less respect for them
than they pretend to have for the admin
istration.
1t is true that the rate Of interest that is
to be paid on the bonds that are to be ex-
changed for gold is high. but who offered
to take bonds bearing a less rate of in
terest? Did anybody? II the administra-
ton made bad bargain let it be shown
that a better could have been made If
that is shown, then there will be some
ground for condemning the administra-
ton. If it is not shown those who are
trying to bring the administration into
disrepute will find they are but lowering
themselves in the esteem of their constitu-
ents.
1t is a remarkable fact that in all parts
Of the country. north. south. east and
west, business men-men who understand
financial matters-support the administra-
ton in its efforts to maintain the nations
credit Those who are supposed to be
against the administration have little ac-
quaintance with financial questions. Con-
gress is permitting itself to be Influenced
by the latter class. DO senators and re-
representatives. think that class has the
greater number of votes?
1t now looks as if this congress would
have place in history as the weakest of
all the congresses. Even democrats in the
south do not hesitate to say they will re-
joice when it passes out of existence. They
say this knowing the next congress will
be republican, but they do not believe a
republican congress can be worse than
this.