Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-02
How the Extreme Silver Men Look
on the Conference.
SUSPICIOUS OF THE PRESIDENTS ACTION
They Fear History Will Be Re-
peated in Legislation.
THE CONSERVATIVE VIEW


extreme silver men have entertained Of the
real meaning of the movement. The
acquiescence of England, even, operated
not so strongly on their apprehensions and
beliefs. The President, in their eyes, is
more English than the English themselves
on the question of a gold standard, and
when he commends a movement having
for it's declared purpose the rehabilitation
of silver. the all-for-silver men either draw
back outright or else are disposed to be
mere strictly on guard than ever. In their
judgment the rivers will run up hill before
either Mr.. Cleveland or the money power
of England will be found working cordially
and without reservation Of any kind in
the interests of the white metal.
They Remember the 1855 Situation.
Many of the silver men are thoroughly
persuaded now that the proposed confer
ence will, if held, come under the sway of
the gold men, and be made to answer the
ends in the main of the single gold stand
ard party. They point to the situation in
parties in national convention found them
selves obliged to make concessions to
silver, and engaged in an effort to outbid
each other in their platforms for the SUD-
port of the friends of silver. What the
democracy would have done in the way of
legislation at that time must always re-
main matter merely Of speculation. The
democracy did not win that fight, and
hence its expressions of loyalty to silver
took no other form than the rhetorical
persuasiveness of campaign literature.
The republicans did win, and when the
Fifty-1rst Congress assembled in Decem-
Der, 1881, one of the most important du-
ties that confronted 1t was the necessity
of legislating on the subject of silver. The
matter was taken up, and 1t proved to be
more difficult than anybody had supposed
1t could be. The ablest men in the party
took part in the conferences, and it was not
until the next July, six months after the
work was begun, that a measure was
passed. And that measure, as the silver
men now exclaim with warning, was the
famous Sherman act. which subsequently
both sides repudiated, and which it's author,
only three years afterward, assisted in re-
pealing.
Fear History VIII be Repeated.
Turning to the present situation. the sill
yer men fancy they see purpose on the
part OF the opposition to repeat, with for
eign aid, this well known history. Silver
has again grown so strong that the gold
men must make concessions of some kind
to it. The next presidential campaign is
even now in its incipient stages. The bid
ding for support has already begun. What
shall be-or rather what must be-given
for silver? 1t will no longer do to sneer at
silver The administration, with all of its
power; cannot force the issue to the rear,
and the republicans are pledged not to
try to do so. Something, therefore, must
be done, and this International conference
Is seized upon.
The intention Is, as the extreme silver
men believe, to make the deliberations of
the conference serve as the basis only for
campaign platforms and campaign litera-
ture in this country next year. and thereby
prevent the silver issue from being drawn
sharply in the national campaign. Both
parties, as in 1883. will bid for silver sup
port, with the money power dividing it's
campaign contributions, so as to have a
lien on legislation no matter which side
wins. Then, after election, and when the
will be another Sherman law, or some
thing with similar design, and with the
foreign trade mark upon it, and, as before
makeshift will be enacted and silver be
left with the bag to hold This Is the
way the thing looks to the men who just
now are urging the making of silver the
paramount issue for 1885, and the forming
of coalition to put the program through
The history of the Sherman act, they as
sert is easy reading. The lesson they re-
gard as obvious. and the duty of the real
friends of silver as plain as a pike staff
The Conservative View.
The more conservative silver men dissent
from this view. Much as they believe in
silver, and as far as they are willing to go
to aid the cause, they are yet unpersuaded
OF the wisdom of attempting to make a
national campaign on that issue alone Nor
do they believe that the full fruits of such
victory, conceding 1t possible to win a.
victory, could be applied. All legislation
.ney point out, Is In the nature of COM
promise. Even If silver should have been
the one issue in the national campaign it
would not be the only subject presented for
consideration to the Fifty-fifth Congress-
other important matters will, as always
press for attention, and these could be and
can be used in combinations, If necessary
against silver. If a compromise is likely
therefore, almost certain, indeed Why not
they ask, have the benefit of international
suggestions on the subject? Because the
Sherman law failed as a compromise is no
good reason why satisfactory compromise
should be despaired of in all circumstances
The Sherman law, even at the time of its
adoption, satisfied nobody. The men who
framed 1t and the men who opposed it alike
saw it's nadequacy and ephemeral charac-
ter. That may be used as a chart to enable
the new pilots to steer clear of the old
rocks.
Indifference of Extremists.
Naturally, the extreme silver men are
Indifferent both as to who shall go as del
egates to the conference where the con-
ference shall meet Whether London,
Paris. Berlin. Brussels or Vienna is chosen
will mean the same thing to them Gold
Is powerful in Great Britain and in every
European capital, and its ablest champions
will be present as delegates or honored WIS.,
itors throughout the entire meeting. There
must be a strong gold influence felt first
ana last, no matter the place Where or the
circumstances under which the meeting
takes place. And, so far as the American
delegates are concerned, what impression,
the silver men ask may they be expected
to make, with the executive against them
and the party coming into power in Con-
gress led by Mr.. Sherman in the one house
and by Mr.. Reed in the other? What Euro
pean statesman could be made to respect
suggestion as to silver coming from such
source, no matter how ably presented?
But show him that the south and west to-
gether can control the situation in the
United States, and have united for that
purpose. and he will have something to
think about. And then whether much or
nothing comes of the conference, the case
% far as the United States is concerned
will be in it's best form for silver, and
everybody at home and abroad may take
the proper warning.
Naval Movements.