The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-03
CLEVELAND AND GOLD.

We have never had any faith in the
courage or integrity of the Republican
party managers. Not one Of the leaders
has dared 10 boldly face the financial
question. and declare his position in UNI
equivocal terms. John Sherman comes
nearest 10 the line and it is believed
upon. we suppose, the principle Of one
Of Kepplers laws Of motion, that a body
moving at a certain speed and i'm a GER
tain direction will continue to do so, UNI
less extraneously arrested or detected
that Mr. Levi p. Morton, an old-fash-
toned hnancier. will be an irrefragable
eold-bug-that is, when he tells his mind.
But none of the others have taken a clear
stand. and the recent action of car Reed
nuts him in the bat category-neither
bird nor beast.
TO those who feel that commercial, IN
dustrial and financial interests Of this
country. OF the greatest magnitude. de-
mend upon our obtaining and maintaining
q sound financial status, The outlook is
indeed depressing. 1t is fact, and a
melancholy fact. that Mr.. Cleveland is
the solitary public man, whose views on
finance are known. who possesses the UNI
qualified confidence. not merely Of pro-
fessional fnancicrs but OF all those men
who believe in the gold standard and the
strict observance OF public faith and
credit. This is Mr.. Cleveland great
card in the third-term game. That he
may lose the trick we most devoutly wish.
but that the game is on The taps is be-
coming more and more apparent.
The Washington correspondent OF the
New York Sun has this remarkable state
mont to make:
For two weeks the President
and his Cabinet have watched Tie
financial situation with the ut
most anxiety. and he is considering
the ACCESSIBILITY Of sending another mes
sage 10 Congress, recitng his fears. and
announcing his intention 10 issue bonds
as the only means OF preventing a finan-
cial crash. The President does not hope
10 avert IL permanently. because he firm
ly believes that. with Congress consti-
tucd as II is. nothing can now prevent
gold from going 10 a premium, and the
Unped States being placed on a silver
basis. lie will not permit this TO occur
as long Is he is President, but he thinks
that this Congress or the next will enact
legislation that will bring it about.
The President and the members Of his
Cabinet believe that the Republicans in
the House of Representative missed a
great opportunity when they refused 10
retire the greenbscks and pronounce in
favor OF the gold standard. and they
think. moreover. that Grover Cleveland
viii be nominated for the presidency in
1896 on n gold platform: that the Repub-
lican platform VIII be straddle on the
money question. and that the Republican
party Will be practically anuihilated.
They think also that Thomas Il. Reed
pissed his chance Of being President Of
the United States when he failed last
week 10 lead his Republican Congress
TO make declaration in favor OF gold as
the single standard Of money in the
United States. and they believe that
he can neither be nominated nor elected.
Cleveland, they say. IS the only promi-
nent man OF either party who has dared
10 come out sruarelv and boldly In sun
port Of the gold standard. and for that
reason they expect 20 see him the nomi-
nee Of the Democratic party next year.
TA- nArxons have more faith In Cleye-