Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-02-07
Editor.
What Shall BE the Standard!

congress seems unable to answer
this question, and Is, therefore, una
bic to agree upon a measure of cur
rency reform. Mr.. Cleveland, whilst
announcing that he is not unfriendly |
to silver, is regarded by large ma.
Jority Of the Democrats in Congress, ,
all the P0puliStS, and not a few of
tn" Rrpublicans as taVOring the gold |
standard, and his recent recommcu-
dation that $500, 600, 900 of green
backs and treasury notes he retired |
and cancelled and Il similar amount
OF interest bearing gold bonds be
substituted IN place thereof, is re-
garded as still another step in fixing
the gold standard and the National
bank system upon the country, and
will not, therefore, receive the ap
prevail of either house. A recent
poll Of the Senate shows a large ma.
Jority against the Presidents recon-
mendation. Last week, in the SEN
ate, Mr.. Vest declared that Congress
had been assailed because il would
not put the country permanently
upon gold standard basis and per.
petuate the National banks. The
President, he said, had declared war
against silver, and sought to make
those who did not believe i'm the sin
gle gold standard accessory to the
destruction of the white metal. To
this, he said, he would never agree,
and the time had come when he and
the President must part company.
MIR. Sherman spoke for those who
favored the Presidents policy. He
declared that a contest hrd arisen
land that ii could not be avoided, J
and this contest must determine
whether we shall have the gold or
silver standard. On this question he
declared himself against the position
OF Senator Vest, and, as between the
two, much preferred the gold stand
ard. He had always believed, how
ever, and still believed, he said, that
both gold and silver ought to be main
tanned as the standards of circuIa-
tioo-gold as the highest measure of
value in all matters of commercial
relations abroad, and, as the basis of
our commerce and business relations
at home, with the use Of silver to the
largest extent possible that will not
demonetiZc gold.
This seems to be substantially the
Presidents policy, and on this cues
ton there is such n radical difference
OF opinion that So far il has been i'm
possible to reach an agreement i'm
either house. The silver men. re-
gardiess Of party, will agree to no
measure which does not provide for
free coinage, and as this cannot be
had nothing has been done, and there
is now little OF no hope that any
measure of Importance will be ell
acted at this session. Both Demo.
cratic and Republican parties are
hopelessly divided on the question
OF silver coinage. The truth is that
on this question there is such radi
cal difference of opinion that nothing
but a formal trial of the issue before
the people will ever settle it.
Col. WatterSon of the Courier.
Journal says of the Presidents mes
sage: "All that the President saws
Is well and truly said particularly
what he says about silver. fla free
coinage bill could pass into law, II
would eXpel gold from the country.
1t would MeXicaniZe our currency
1t would not make money cheap. but
dear. 1t would not make money
plenty, but scarce. In very little
while its authors would be engulfed
by popular odium. His message is
an able and luminous statement of
the whole fiscal situation, carrying
with it an appeal to patriotic Ampri.
cans, the more cogent and pathetic
because of the circumstance that il
Will pass for the most part un-
needed"
CAN IT BE POSSIBLE ?-We no
tlce that the bill introduced nv m.