The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-22

I MAKE the AANuEs
secretary Carlisle. in his speech at the
annual dinner of the New York
Chamlser OF Commerce Isst Tues
daN might. said it was the duty
Of all who are or may be re-
sponsible in any degree for the welfare
OF the country to insist that there shall
be no further equivocation or evasion
in our treatment OF the currency ques-
tion. Mr. Carlisle is right The time has
come for political parties 10 make it
known exactly where they stand on that
question. While both of the great polit-
icaI parties have put planks i'm their ma
tfoual platforms that show they are in
favor Of sound money they have ac-
companicd their declarations with phra-
ses which give those who favor an in
ferior currency the opportunity 70 bring
into doubt the meaning of their declara-
tions.
The silverites in the democratic and re-
publican parties have been contending
ever since those parties adopted their
last national platforms that those plat
forms permit the free and unlimited coin
age of silver. They have very little
ground, il is true. for their contention
still. they have succeeded in creating a
doubt not only in this country. but also
in the countries with which we have
close commercial relations whether
it is the purpose of this couu-
try to keep its currency sound. This
doubt has been injurious to our bust
ness, industrial and commercial inter
osts in many ways. It has made our
security market unsteady, and it has
hurt the sale of our products in foreign
markets.
Mr.. Carlisle thinks the time has come
when this doubt should be absolutely
and forever removed, and all who are pro-
foundry interested in the prosperity of
the country agree with him.
The only way in which it can be re-
moved is for political parties to make an
honest declaration of their purpose. If
they are for the gold standard and sound
money let them say so in terms so d.
rect and unequivocal that it will be i'm
possible to give them any other mean
ing. and If they are for free silver coin
age unlimited and Independent at the
ratio of 16 to l. and an inferior currency,
let them say so frankly. so that all men
will understand them. The issue thus
made viii be fought out and settled.
The settlement of that issue, the re-
moval ofsall doubt. is imperatively de-
,,,updad ~ II o,,r fvtoroete
We agree with Mr.. Carlisle that there
is no doubt as to what the decision of
the people would be. They would de-
eide for sound money by an Overwhelm-
ing majority. That point having been
reached, steps would be at once taken
to keep our currency on a sound money
basis. The troubles that now arise from
the doubt as to what our ultimate money
policy is to be would then disappear.
Among prominent public men who are
seeking political advancement are those
who are either occupying an uncertain
position on the currency ques-
ton or are declaring for free
silver coinage or against it not
from any conviction they have, but be-
cause they hope to take the position
which is the most popular in their re-
spectiye states or communities. These
men should not be tolerated as the lead
ers in their respective parties They
have not the courage to do what is right,
and hence are not fit for leadership.
They must be pushed aside and their
places taken by men of convictions. Then
we shall have no ambiguous phrases and
no inconsistent and irreconcilable clauses
in our platforms. We shall have clear
cut issues, and common sense CONNER
cial integrity and national pride" will
in favor of sound money.