Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-01-06
what congrsssmen Know.

The Atlanta Constitution recently con-
tanned the following paragraph
HAS John Sherman endorsed the
amended Carlisle bill? II he hasn't, u
can't pass"
The Dispatch commented as follows:
THE Constitution is hard upon the
President and his Secretary OF the
Treasury. who using their utmost
efforts not TO strengthen the money
power, rs our Atlanta contemporary
seems to suppose. but to devise better
banking and currency scheme than we
now have. II the Constitution VIII
originate and give TO the public cur
rency system, or a. banking system or
silver law. entitled TO be accepted upon
its merits, Mr.. Carlisle and Mr.. Springer
will receive II with grateful hearts.
Our congressman are not DESTROYS OF 40
ing wrong. They simply do not know
what they ought to do. They are as
anxious to do what 10 best as are any
OF us who remain at home and censure
our most faithful public servants
And upon our little paragraph the Char
lotte Observer commented as follows:
"The Constitution IS entirely rabld on
the financial question, and why II shou!u
oppose the Populist party, which, IL put
in power, would give IL what u wan :,
Is beyond explanation by anybody; ana
yet to say that "our congressman arc
not DESTROYS OF doing wrong-they simply
do not know what they ought TO 90
Is at once an insufficient reply 10 tEe
Constitution, n poor defence OF our con-
gressmen, and poor consolation TOT tne
balance OF us. 1t Is their duty TO know
Mt all times what to do about public
ouestions-that Is why they are there,
because they are supposed TO know, and'
knowing, to do"
We intended our article TO be mild
one, and the Observer says that 1t was.
However. our Charlotte contemporary ex-
poets too much when II expects congress-
men to know moro than other persons.
We suppose there Is hardly a congress
sional district In the United States which
has not an ADLER man in 1t than the one
who represents II in Congress. And yet
we must admit that such financial ex-
perts as Messrs. Walker OF Massachu-
settles, Warner OF New York, Hall OF Mis
souri,. and a dozen others we could name.
though all OF them thoroughly conversant
with the laws OF finance, cannot agree for
one moment as 10 the currency scheme
which Congress ought to adopt and adopt
at once.
The Observer says It is the duty OF con-
gressmen to know what to do about pub
lie questions. But 1t Is a duty which they
cannot perform without tie consent Ct
say three hundred other members Of The
House Of Representatives. Why not? Be
cause these three hundred Eon-experts
cannot be convinced that The few experts
know as much as they think they 90
1t is one thing, too. for congressman to
have a plausible financial sci enc of MS
own and another thing to convince MS
| constituents that such is the fact.
For our part we do not expect congress
men 10 know any more about finance thar
| n large number of other persons. The mem
| beers Of the present Congress are certainly
mired in doubt. They DO NOT "kno"
what TO do about the public questions
| involved in the various banking and cur
rency schemes now pending In tina twc
houses. We would that the great imam
| cial leader would show himself. He Is
certainly needed. II We may judge ethei
| from the history Of the Sherman silvti
law or the present condition of things II
| Congress-