The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-21
CHANDLER ON BIMETALLISM.

In letter to the Republican State
League of Colorado, Senator Chandler out
lines policy in regard to the silver ques-
ton which may be regarded as an author
itative expression of the sentiments OF
Eastern Republican bimetallists, and is
therefore of great value in estimating the
course which the National Republican
party will probably pursue in regard to
this important issue in 1896.
Senator Chandler begins by saying that
all advocates of the reconciliation of sill
yer should act uniformly with the Repub-
ican party, as that sis the true way to de-
feat the single gold standard and secure
the establishment of bimetallism." The
Republican party, as he points out, is
pledged to bimetallism by the declaration
in the platform of 1888, "the Republican
party is in favor of the use of both gold
and silver as money ana condemns the
policy of the Democratic party in its ef-
forts to demonetize silver; and also by
the declaration of 1892. ''the American
people from tradition and interest favor
bimetallism, and the Republican party de-
mands the use of both gold and silver as
standard money"
Having thus made clear the firm stand
of the Republican party on the general
issue, Senator Chandler enters upon the
more interesting discussion of how that
policy is to be carried out as a matter Of
practical politics.
On that point he says, "The free coinage
of silver by the United States alone at this
time cannot be brought about" for the
reason that our minis could not be opened
at once to the free coinage of silver with
out Immediately sending gold to a pre-
MUM and making this silver mono
metallic country. Practical binetallism
therefore will demand only that ''the de-
cline in silver bullion shall be stopped by
decision that it shall be made to becom e
as soon as possible part of the standa I'd
money of the world equal at an agree
ratio in gold; that it shall be made to rise
in value and that its restoration to full
equality shall be achieved within period
during which decentralization has been
making its deadly progress"
The programme thus outlined will not be
pleasing to extreme silver men who demand
immediate free coinage, but it will be ae-
ceptable, we believe, to the great body OF BIZ
metallists in the West as we'll as in the East.
When it was decided after the close of the
war to resume specie payment, no one adj
vocated an attempt at resumption within
thirty days or one year. On the contrary,
many years were allowed to pass while
successive Republican administrations pre-
pared the way by which, under President
Hayes, resumption was finally accom-
plished without shock to the finances,
the business or the industries of the coun-
try 1t is only reasonable that similar
policy should be followed in remonetizing
silver, and if the Eastern men accept
Chambers plan there ought not to be any
opposition from the West.
Certainly nothing can be gained for BIZ
metallism by organizing silver party in
opposition to the Republican party. 1t is
as certain as anything in the future can be
that the Republican party will control the
affairs of the country for many years to
come. Its policies have always been
broadly National, and no great interest OF
the country has ever been overlooked by
it. The cause of bimetallism is safe in its
hands, and on the lines laid down by
Senator Chandler it would seem that the
people of all sections of the Union can
agree and work for it as tremendously as
for protection, reciprocity and a foreign
policy commensurate with the dignity of
the Nation.