Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1895-02-01
SENATOR HILL ON SILVER.

The following letter was written by
Sruator David b. Hill to Mr. Clark
Howell Of the Atlanta Constitution
just prior to the assembling Of the
extra session Of the present Congress
ia the summer OF 1893. The publica.
tlon of It was authorized by Senator
Hin some time ago:
ALBANY, n. Y,
PERSONAL July 10, 1893.
My DEAR HOWELL: Absence from
home and professional engagements
have prevented an earlier reply to your
recent letter asking conadentlally my
views Oh certain questions.
First-As to the approaching ses-
sion Of congress, { was one Of those
who believed that the extra session Of
congress should have been called in
April last, and SO l advised the presi-
dent in the first and only interview l
have had with him. He seemed bent
on having one 10 September, which 1
thought was a mistake. l believed
then that whatever policy, in regard
TO the currency and thrift, was desired
to be adopted could better be adopted
in the spring, before the patronage
had been distributed and before party
differences should augment. The
president thought differently, but has
finally yielded TO outside pressure and
has called the session for August. 1
fear thatit is mistake. l fear that
we shall be in session until December.
| do not like the prospect of having
democratic congress in session during
the fall elections. l anticipate many
differences, and much bitterness will
be develOped-all OF which will tend
to distract the party, and give us a set
back in the fall. hope am mistaken
in all this, but l fear l may not be.
SO long as congress must meet, l hope
it will only be in session thirty days
and adjourn. This would be my pro-
gramme II it could be carried out. The
extreme silver men can prevent ii;
the republicans can prevent it, and
general cussedneSs can prevent it,.
All the chances are that we shall be
in session until Decgmber. l would
not take up any other legislation than
financial if could have my way.
Second-As to the repeal of the
Sherman law. l favor the uncondi-
tional repeal OF that law 1 have al
ways been opposed to it. The true
friends of silver make mistake in
attempting to defend it. 1t should
be abandoned by general consent. My
views were partially expressed in my
recent Tammany letter, which you
have undoubtedly seen. Personally /
should prefer not To repeal the law
until an adequate substitute was pro-
vided in order to render more prob
able the adoption OF such substitute,
and not because | approve at all of the
Sherman silver law. But from party
point Of view the wisest course is un-
conditional repeal. The country eX-
poets it, and the party will be found
fairly well united in favor OF il. There
fore, it is unwise, while agreeing upon
the general proposition, to waste our
time in agreeing upon a substitute
pending the repeal. Let the repeal
be made at once, and let us differ as
TO other financial matters afterward.
l am in favor of himetaliSm as the
issue of the future. We should seek
to keep that iS5no to the front; we
should not strive for temporary sue
cess or compromise measures. We
should be for free coinage under an
international agreement if it is posi-
BILE TO procure one-and for which
every exertion should be made-and il
not possible then for independent BIZ
metalism. This is the great goal foT
which we should strive. 1t cannot be
done at once. Our friends must not
be impatient. The people must be
educated The unexpected action OF
India and the general sentiment OF
the mOneyed classes c0nspire against
us at this time. l do not believe in the
Bland biz or any other measure which
guarantees anything less than unre-
stricted coinage for gold and silver
alike, as pledged in the democratic
national platform. Let us prepare
not for present victory, but for victory
upon that issue in 1896. The repeal OF
the Sherman law win not give the re
lief which is anticipated 1t will aid
business temporarily, but ia a yeal
times will be hard and the demand
for permanent financial relief will be
irresistible. We should continue tC
hold out free coinage as the goal which
the country must ultimately reach
The triumph of the monometalist'
will be but temporary.
BueIlen's Arnlca salve.