Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-12
s,,v.r and the wc.tcrn Republicans.


We have kept a strict watch upon
the Republicans OF the West In order
10 inform ourselves as 10 what they pro-
pose to do with the silver question. we
knew there was wide divergence on
that question between the Republicans
OF the Eastern States and those Of the
Western, Northwestern. Rocky Mountain,
and Pacific States; but we did not know
whether there was any common ground
upon which all az them could stand
1t seems, however. that the Cincinnati
Commercial Gazette. a silyerite organ
and a leading. II not the leading Re
publican paper In the West, has formu-
lated new creed, which is both Mega
tive and n positive creed; but is never
theless very short. our Cincinnati con-
temporary says 1t stands upon the Sill
yer plank OF the Republican national
platform OF 1892; but It scorns the idea
OF adopting the words Of that plank
l. does not care for the letter OF that
plank. but relies upon the spirit and
interprets It as any plain, everyday man
would interpret II. That paper. In
word, understands that the Republican
party is pledged TO the use OF both
gold and silver. and to maintain them
ut par with each other. We now quote
the Commercials words:
owe approve it. We stand by IT, we
support II. Nay, We 20 farther-a great
deal farther-and say that the plank
sets forth our deepest. sincerest con-
victlons-the convictions that have come
OF study, OF experience, Of reflection. we
believe that in bimetalism lies the hope
Of the world
"The wisdom Of the people-their in
sieht-are sometimes more TO be trusted
than all the wisdom OF theorists or the
experience of practical men. The bur
den of debt-world wide, gigantic-con-
stantly increasing. under which the peo-
pies OF all the lands groan. was largely
created when ii could be discharged
in two metals. II remains now to be
discharged in one. We protest against
the Injustice. We denounce the policy.
whether born of commerce, OF legislation,
of rapacity, as a monstrous outrage.
Notwithstanding these strong words
this clear and unmistakable language
we expected to come across an explaHa-
ton Of the Commercials position. which
would enable 1t TO hold its place in the
Republican ranks. Here is one declara-
ton:
"What would this country do without
goldg What would this country do
without silver? We want gold; we
want silver: we want both
Let US not disguise the practical din
cuIties there are in the way of bimetal-
ism"
What are these difficulties? We let
the Commercial catalogue them:
I. The folly that insists that gold and
silver can be maintained at par by this
nation alone
.. The difficulty Of establishing an in
ternatlonal ratio between gold and silver.
Shall IL be the French ratio. of 10 IL 10
l: or the United States ratio. OF l5.9S TO
/? Or shall It be some new ratio, dif-
feront from either?
3. How many nations must agree 70
adopt n double standard before double
standard can be successfully maintained
as against the rest OF the world, and
what nations must they be?
4. Can England. the great creditor ma
ton of the world, be left out?
The first difficulty will be safe ground
for the Republicans In the West 10 occu-
py, If they are In any true sense BIZ
metallists. 1t IS safe to say either
that gold and silver can be maintained
at par by this nation alone. or that they
cannot. Nobody knows We incline to
the opinion that they cannot and. there
fore, we strenuously advocate the policy
Of insisting upon the fixing of a coinage
ratio by the next International Bimetallic
Conference We have not a doubt that
any three OF the great nations-one OF
them to be the United States-can restore
and maintain parity between gold and
silver
The second difficulty, so called, does not
strike us as formidable. If three coun-
tries can agree that there shall be
coinage ratio, they need not have any
difficulty in agreeing upon that ratio.
The third difficulty is no difficulty at ALL
The fourth difficulty is a financial
spectre. We have feared II so long. how
ever, that it seems to us TO be a reality.
Our opinion is that France, Germany
and the United States could remove this
difficulty.