Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-20
President cleveland.s public recognition

President Clevelands public recognition
Of the fact that there Is immediate neces-
eity for organization and action by the
friends OF sound money has done more to
direct attention to the battle of the theor-
lists now In progress than all the other COM
ments on that strife combined. The silver
movement has been a remarkable one, and
in view Of the probability that the next
presidential campaign will hinge mainly on
the great question Of national finance, there
is promise of its becoming much more
notable before the men Of the United States
give definite expression to their opinion on
a subject which Is now SO generally mis-
understood. 1t is not strange that the "sil-
yer" doctrine should have become popular
especially in those regions where strange
theories have been accustomed to wander
without let or hindrance. for the effort Of
the silver-tongued apostles has been to so
popularize their side Of the argument as to
compel the simple-minded to concurrence
With that vehemence which is such de-
sfrable characteristic IN the stump orator
the advocates Of free coinage have gone I'D
and down the land persistently and to-
considerable extent successfully. At this
time extraordinary exertion Ii being put
forth to place before the masses the spe-
cious statements skilfully framed by the
financially-lineaI descendants of those who
for long time disturbed this country by
their demands for fiat money. The only
difference between the free silver sophist
or today and the greenback shoutsr Of
generation ago Hes in the fact that the
greenbacker insisted that the government
could convert an almost valueless scrap Of
paper into an actual dollar. while the free
silver enthusiast declares that the govern
ment can do the same thing with fifty
cents worth of silver. To the extent ex-
pressed by the difference between the value
or the little strip of printed paper and of
the silver ore in dollar, the silver advo-
cate Is more honest than the greenbacker,
but he Is still considerably below par
Nevertheless he has persuaded an unques-
tionably large number Of voters that this
country is divided into two classes: the
bankers and the people; that the two are
necessarily antagonstic; that 1t Is the
bounden duty of the people to stoutly op-
pose any proposition that emanates from
the banking interests. and that advocacy
OF unlimited free coinage of silver on the
16 to l basis Is part of this duty. 1t
would seem that only those who have a
direct interest in the increased production
Of silver would be inclined to assent to
these statements, but there is no hiding the
fact that very great proportion of the
people in this country are inclined to be-
lieve those who preach free silver or who
proclaiming bimetall;sm do so only for the
purpose of deceiving the unwary. All over
the country. but mainly throughout the
rural regions, the silver leaders have scat
tered broadcast argument of the popular
Sort some of it pictorial, but all of it so
simply stated that the wayfaring man &C
cepts 1t without question. To Offset the
campaign which IS being waged by the sill
yer people. little that Is practical has been
done. A few documents have been issued
by the friends Of sound currency but often
the terms used are uncommon and the logic
involved. There was therefore sound rea-
son for the presidential call. The organiza-
ton Of the silver workers must be met and
opposed by an organization Of those who
realize that disaster will surely follow any
successful movement in the direction Of fiat
money. The people are not yet fanatically
pledged to silver monometaflism; they may
be turned from the error of the way in
which there is possibility OF their going by
terse, lucid appeals to their common sense.