The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-25
rooentlx heen more or less talk.

recently been more or less talk.
Though The Times has known all
along that he was n sound-money
man. there was a general desire to hear
from him directly upon that subject.
The Times gr.tified that desire yester-
day by the publication OF what General
Lee himself said on the subject. He
was very averse to speaking on II az AL
because he did not wish TO be placed in
the position OF thrusting his opinions upon
the public. but he did not have. ana
never has had. the,slishtest objection TO
any one knowing his opinion who wished
TO know It. He has always been sound
money man, and he has always declared,
when It. was fitting that he should speak
at all. that this country couidsnot under
take free coinage alone. and II must not
be attempted unless in pursuance OF an
international agreement. Under very
great pressure from The Times reporter
General Lee at length consented 70 the
statement that We made yesterday,
though II was with very great reluctance
that he allowed himself TO appear to be
thrusting his views upon the public.
Tho open letter from Governor O'Fer-
rail-. which We print this morning. well
deserves careful reading.
The Governor has evidently studied the
subject TO advantage since he last voted
on it, But if MIR. Carlisle and Mr.. Hoke
Smith and a million other intelligent
Americans have prohted by the discus
sion Of. and reflection on, the silver ques-
ton, Why should lot Governor O'Ferrah!
The amazing thing is that there are so
many men who have been ever learning
and never coming to q knowledge of the
truth"
TWO extracts from the Governors letter
give the results OF all his study:
am opposed to the free coinage Of sill
yer I'm the United States except through
an international agreement with the great
commercial countries OF the world.
| DO not believe this country alone can
maintain a parity between gold ana SILVER
at any fixed ratio.
These are my views. stated as breny
and cOncisely as possible.
For the reasons given i am OPPOSE
to the doctrine Of free and unlimited Sill
yer coinage without intcrnduonal a5Iet-
ment with the principal commercial couh-
tries OF the world. We cannot duopl
MONETARY system different from these
great nationalitics ard force them TO
recognize il. We cannot ioat III ty-.tnt
si,vor dollar as sound dollar IN TINS
country. much less I'm the markets OF
Germany. France. Austria, or f.h-iaiu'
With whom our interests are Closely lu'I-
titled. There are many ihnss we can uS
REGARDLESS Of the opinions or WISH ,a on
otber lands. We can amend or chan5e
our system Of pONcrnmtht, ha 'a-' ".i
internal affairs. and enact laws 70 koN'i"
our own people. without l't or hhlranco
from any foreign source; but iheIe la III
thing We cannot 40 We ,"l'.ly, ,o .,,,.
nther people and lands 10 re'oshlle any
nancy we may see proper 10 eneiaFe or
coin ms a medium OF exchange rttN'-l
them and us As well might We al.'ilrt
IN change the laws Of gravitauon or i'aNe
water run up NH.
The declarations Of General Lee ana
Governor O'Ferrall leave Mr. Thomas
c Martin almost the solitary Nireinian'
holding any important position before
the public eye, with an undisciosei epih-
ion upon this most vital subject.
We'ba so recently reviewed the posi-
tion which Mr.. Martin holds I'm regard
TO IL that we feel hardly justified IN CIV
ing any further attention TO 1t now.
Meantime we may be allowed 10 eX-
press the hope that Mr.. Martin VIII get
all the enjoyment out OF his opinion that
Il is capable Of affording, for, by the time
he thinks 1t worth while 10 deliver 1t 10
the public, the public will have lost all
interest in the subject, and 1t viii be
quite Indifferent as 20 whether Mr.. Mar
tin approves Of or opposes free silver.
But view the case as one may 1t Is OBJ
vlous that free silver IS dead. We very
much question whether 81 will be heard
Of M all I'm the next national convention
NJ Democrats. Ii may attempt to llft
its diminutive head there, but IF II does
that head viii receive blow from the
pondorous paw of the national Democ-
racy that Will put free silver 10 sleep Tor
all time to come. so far as the Demo-
cratic rarty is concerned.