The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-25
Partl-anShip. Not Patriotism.

II is evident that the republican ma
jority in congress does not intend to do
anything to put the treasury in a better
fix. They are going to propose a meas
ure for the relief Of the treasury which
viii not afford it relief. and
which. it seems to US. they know
will not afford it relief. Their purpose is
TO gain a party advantage. not to legis-
late for the good Of the country. \ party
that is capable Of partisanship only,
when patriotism is needed. ought to be.
and probably viii be, repudiated BY the
people.
1t is noticeable that in speaking Of the
Presidents message, calling attention TO
the condition Of the treasury. they say
the President has called for more money,
and that they viii give it to him. As
matter Of fact the President hasn't called
for more money. He has directed the at
tention OF congress to the fact that if
gold payments are to be maintained and
the currency Of the country kept sound,
the gold reserve must be increased-must
be kept Al or near 100000.
The republicans, however, ignore the
plain purpose of the message, and make it
an excuse for increasing the tariff, know-.
ing full well that by increasing the tariff
they do not increase the gold reserve,
or in anyway help the government to
maintain gold payments. In connection
with a bill to increase the tariff they pro-
pose to authorize short term per cent.
bonds for the use of the treasury to
protect the gold reserve The bond bill,
however, is to be a separate bill. The re-
publicans know that there is no chance
for a bill authorizing the issue of bonds
to get through the Senate. when presented
in a separate measure. They feel pretty
certain that bill raising the tariff would
pass. A bill providing for raising the
tariff and an issue of bonds might be
passed, if sklllfully managed. But the
republicans don't want TO pass a bond bill.
They want the credit, however. for hav-
ing attempted to pass such a bill, and
they desire also to strengthen themselves
with the protectionists by attempting to
raise the tariff. They know the Presi-
dent would veto a high tariff bill, and the
Senate would kill the bond bill. Nothing,
therefore, would be done for the treasury
by what they propose to do.
But in the approaching campaign they
will say the President and the silver SEN
ators stood in the way when they attempt
ed to provide relief for the treasury.
They know the President will issue bonds
under the authority he now has to main
tain the gold reserve, but that he will
have to isue them under such conditions
as will be unpopular. He will have to
issue a A per cent instead of a per cent.
bond, because he has no authority to
issue a 3 per cent. bond, and it may be as
difficult to float a new issue of per cent.
bonds at a fair premium as It was to
float the last issue of bonds.
The republicans may be able to make
a little political capital for their party,
but at what an enormous cost to the
countryl If they could rise for time to
the dignity of patriots and statesmen
they would endeavor to do what the Pres
ident and Secretary of the Treasury sug-
gest should be done to protect the gold
reserve