The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-03-17
WHAT WILL THE REPUBLICAN PLAT
FORM BE?

One OF the nest curious as well as
interesting questions of tho day is. what
position will the next National Repubh-
can party take upon silver 6eh-
eral Henderson. of Iowa, who is one or
the most important men in that party
had an interview day or so back with
.np reperter in Washington, in. which he.
sad:
''The great body of the Republican par
ty believes In the use OF both metals,
gold and silver, and undoubtedly the Re-
putlicans will struggle TO secure legisla-
ton with that end in view, never losing
sight of the more important aim of keep
ing all kinds of money at parity. How
far the" may be able to accomplish tins
with European cooperation, no man at
this time can truthfully say. l have no
doubt but that there are many in the
Republican party who would be glad 10
drive this country 10 a silver basis l
am not going to question their motives.
but / believe there is a powerful direct
influence at work in this country, stimuli
lated by a great and important mining
interest, actively spreading ideas that
would lead this country to a silver basis.
This" said General Henderson. sis our
great danger and may become one of the
greatest DTOD'tlHS 1or lle iNtpuDilNdH pdiN
" or any party TO solve. While the BIZ
metallists In the Republican party are
unreserved i'm their expressions and fear
less in their advocacy of their ideas. yet
the direct interest of the silver mines is
keeping up a constant agitation which is
being felt throughout the country, al
though II is stronger in the East than in
the West. If the silver power succeeds
nearly $500, 600 900 of gold will be driven
from circulation and financial disaster UNI
equalled in this country will follow. 1t
may require this education TO convert the
single silver standard advocate to real
bimetalliSm. just as trying free trade mas
made this strong protection country"
We assume that Mr.. Henderson is bet
ter informed about the financial move
ments of the Republican party than he
seems 10 be about the strength of protec-
tion In this country, for IL there is one
idol that has been broken in the Temple
of Baal' 1t is the idol of protection.
And we are not so much inclined even
to believe General Henderson when ne
says the great body of the Republican
party believes in the use of both metals.
gold and silevr, though there are many
OF that faith, we are when he says
that the silver mining interests are indus
triously at work to befog the minds OF
American voters so that they may sell
the product of their mines at double or
treble its value. We are perfectly salts
fled that this silver business largely con-
sists of the South sitting down tamely
as an instrument upon which 1t allows
the silver States to play for their own
advantage aud for the South's destruc-
ton. II the South were allowed her ma
tural liberty TO have her own banks
where she pleased. 10 issue their own
notes for the accommodation OF the neigh |
bors of the banks. free silver would have |
no important strength, and II there were |
also no silver mines in Colorado, Mon /
tano. Idaho. and Nevada. we should never |
hear one word about the free coinage OF
silver. We are perfectly satisfied about
this.
But We doubt II the great body of the
Republican. party believes in the use of
both gold and silver as standard money
metals. There are undoubtedly a great
many Republicans In the Northwest who
believe In this, and we have no doubt,
General Henderson is coddling them In
the tub 10 the whale fashion when ne
says this. We believe the overwhelming
sentiment of both Republicans and Demo-
Gratis OF the Eastern States is for the
gold standard. and with little faith in
the possibility Of international bImetal-
ism.
With this apparent to all observing
men. 1t Is strange 10 find such a Republi-
can journal az the New York Tribune
uttering such opinions as the following,
which We take from one of Its recent
editorials:
The thing wanted 10 not gold mono.