Evening star., 1895-06-17
FOR SOUND MONEY
Ex-Congressman Cooper on the Drift
of Sentiment.
BOTH PARTIES WILL DECLARE FOR IT
No Strengthening of the 'Populists
Likely.
PARTIES WILL DECLARE FOR IT
GEN. HARRISON'S CHANCES

Ex-Representative George w. Cooper of
Indiana arrived in this city this afternoon
from his home in Columbus. Mr. Cooper is
one of the prominent democrats of Indiana
who has stood firmly for sound money
and the policy of the administration, while
the great free silver tidal wave has swept
over the country. and he is today as firmly
welded to that policy as he was when he
voted for the repeal of the Sherman law
during the last Congress.
.It is really a symbol of thoughtfulness
and intelligence" said Mr.. Cooper to
Star reporter this afternoon, "for man to
favor sound money. This may sound some
what egotistical, but 1 believe it to be a
fact. In Indiana 1 know hundreds of men
who have been free silver men. but who
have declared themselves for sound money.
In my home meet such men daily. On the
other hand, 1 cannot recall one instance in
which a man has favored sound money
and has then gone over to the free coinage
of silver at a ratio of 16 to l without any
restriction as to an international agree
ment.
There is another element that, I am
sorry to say. is showing itself in this sill
Yer debate. 1t is hard on silver men to say
that they are influenced by dishonesty in
wanting free coinage. But only short
time ago in my own town a speech favor
ing free coinage was made by a man who
admitted that he was deeply in debt. that
he thought SO per cent of the people of 'he
entire country were in debt, and if they
would have free coinage they could nay
off their obligations in a currency less val
liable than that under which those obliga
tons were contracted. That speech was
given out for publication, and that argu-
ment looked impOrtant
If that is not dishonest, l do not know
what dishonesty is.
Drift In Favor of Sound Money.
But as I have said, believe the drift
today is very much in favor of sound
money. So far as the democratic party is
Concerned In its national platform, 1t has
always stood for an honest policy and
sound currency, If we except the platform
of 1869, which was in favor of paying off
the national debt in greenbacks. or, in
other words, paying off a debt with another
debt. OF course. it is unfortunate, and
am sorry to have to say that the demo-
Gratis OF the country are not SO well school
ed on the financial question as are the
republicans.
During the long term of power of the
republican party that party had to carry
out financial policy while the democrats
campaigns We're chiefly carried through
period, If the democrats had come into
power, and If they should come into power
in 1897, whatever should be the platform
which they had gained success that the
administration would have the rashness to
actually leap into unlimited independent,
free coinage of silver al 16 to l. 1t is well
enough for horse to balk and rear when
1t has no load on its back, but when it is
loaded the situation is different. With the
responsibility for the result of free coinage
of silver resting on their shoulders. no
President or Secretary of State. and no
administration would actually put such
policy into execution. The results would
be too disastrous.
But firmly believe that the democratic
party as we'll as the republican party, will
adopt a sound money platform in it's ma
tiCpal convention. What is more I believe
that the silver democrats will support the
nominee of their party. 1 find in Indiana
that, while the free silver sentiment has
been so general, many democrats are
caused to come into support of the admin
istration- and of a sound money policy by
the abuse that Is being thrown on the
President and Secretary Carlisle. The par
ty feeling among democrats Is very strong
and while men will fight for certain prin-
-ciples when it comes to giving up their
party they hesitate.
No Strengthening Of the PopuIists.
'1t is for this reason that do not antici-
pate any great strengthening of the popu-
lists from either the republican or demo-
cratic ranks. The populists have no leaders
that the country would place confidence
in. To be sure, a man may get great no
toriety and be talked Of in all the papers
of the United States by not wearing his
socks, but when it comes to having the peo-
pie of the country place the administration
of public affairs in the hands Of men who
have gained notoriety in various ways, 1t is
a different matter.
think there ia of the naon1p
of this country giving their support to
Jerry Simpson, to Mr.. Sibley, to PETER or
to others who might be named in connec-
ton with them. To be sure. these gentle
men have good qualities and do not wish
to speak too harshly against them, but
they are not the ones with whom to place
the responsibility for administering the af-
fairs of great government. This is an
off year, and politics cannot be seen in its
most serious light at such time. I be-
lieve that were vote to be taken Today on
free coinage of silver the south and the
west, regardless Of party lines, would favor
free coinage. But we have before US year
in which tc educate the voters, and by the
time the national conven tons meet the Sc
rious people of the country will have seen
that free coinage is not a practicable meas
ure."
Hnrrison's Chances for denomination
"Iiow do you regard Mr.. Harrisons
chances for renomination?' The Star re-
porter asked.
"I believe that Mr.. Harrison will be nom
mated by the republican party. I believe
that Indiana will favor him. When I left
Washington, upon the adjournment of Con-
gress, 1 thought that Mr.. Harrison had no
chance whatever. That opinion was, per-
haps, formed because of my association.
with men who favored Mr. Reed and Mr..
Mckinley. But since tEen 1 have seen
such Overwhelming evidence of Mr.. Harri-
sons strength that I am convinced that he
will be renominated. Mr.. Harrison cannot
be blamed for the Sherman law by any of
the leading republican candidates. Mr..
Mckinley voted for it, and Mr.. Crisp as
sisted in Its passage.
1.-THE Harrison administrati ton must be
pronounced a good one by all these repub-
lican leaders. and then there Is a sentiment
throughout the country in regard to Mr.
Harrison because he was defeated by Mr..
Cleveland.'