Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-02-01
PRESS COMMENT.
"RepubIican Bimetailism. g

L
inent Republican candidates for the pres
idency have, for some months past, care
fully avoided parting with their opinions
on the silver question. The Republican
state conventions of last year, with few
exceptions, either lodged or straddled
this troublesome issue, and the National
League of Republican clubs made COM
plete reversal of its practice under the
inspiration Of the discovery that it had
no business to formulate creed or en-
unciate policy. The Democratic party,
being more seriously pressed by the free
silver element than its chief opponent,
took up the issue in its state campaign
of 1896, and winged hot factional fight
in various states. It is probable that, by
this means, some progress was made
toward final settlement, but the i'm
mediate results were disastrous, so much
so that, at the end of the year, the party
found itself in worse shape, If possible,
than the torn and battered condition in
which it was left by "the awful avalanche"
of 1894.
The Republicans having set the date
for their convention, and the election of
delegates thereto having begun, we no.
tice revival of interest in the silver
question and an increased desire to know
Just where the candidates stand on that
issue. Whatever their opinions may have
been in the past, however they may have
spoken or voted on this or that occasion
in by-gone years, it is assumed that
changed conditions may have wrought
corresponding changes of opinion. But
<ho M ~ Jidotoo ro otil1 N koi mi n y,ro.
found silence on the most important and,
by all odds, the most exciting issue in
American politics. In view of this re-
ticence on the part of the candidates, un-
usual interest attaches to the deliverances
of their next friends. Senator Chandler
is close friend of Speaker Reed, and is
sincere supporter of the Marine states
man for the presidential nomination.
He comes out for Reed early, while other
New England senators were hesitating !,
and he came out with his customary zeal.
The senator contributes to his newspaper,
at Concord, N. H., the following interest
ing statement concerning the opinion of
Thomas B. Reed on the money issue.
"He ia not willing at this time to agree
to the unlimited coinage of silver at the
pICoOuU AhulO NY uuO OAAUOu SVRUCo hLouC,
but he is opposed to the monometallism
of Cleveland aud Carlisle, and in favor of
the Republican bimetallism, to be Sc
cured by the most feasible means and
with the least possible delay, SO that gold
and silver, admitted to unlimited coinage
at an agreed rattle, shall together consti-
tute the standard money of the worlds
values"
We are afraid this will not satisfy
either the silver ar the gold element.
There appears to be pressing demand
for the positive declarations. The silver
Republicans in congress say they will in
sist on free coinage, 16 to plank in
the national platform. At the east there
appears to be settled determination to
make the platform speak out clearly for
Sound money" The Philadelphia Bull
letin is fair representive of the anti
silver sentiment. That paper says of
Mr.. Chambers statement:
"It will soon be time for Tom Reed to
define his views explicitly and distinctly
on the one vital question of policy that
will be up for consideration by the Amer
lean people this year. He has hitherto
been the frankest and most courageous
of all Republican leaders in stating his
opinions; but, like all the other candi-
dates for the presidency, with the excep-
ton of Morton, there has come to be
some doubt as to where he stands exactly
on the relations of gold and silver. If
'Republicand bimetallism,' as Chandler
calls it, is to be Reeds shibboleth, he
should state with something like preci-
sion what that now vague and indefinite
phrase is intended to represent"
The Bulletin is not alone in its desire
for definition of Republican bimet-
allism." There is no OLD platform of the
party which throws any light on the
mystery Washington Post.