Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-11-21
Mckinley and the Greenback.
New York Journal

New York Journal.
A common and a just criticism upon
the Republican platform during the
late campaign was to the effect that
upon the money question its express
sions were purely negative. 1t con-
demned the free coinage of silver, but
offered no substitute for that theory
of currency reform. 1t recognized, by
inference at least, that the present cur
rency system of the United States Is
an illogical and unscientitic jumbo,
but beyond expressing vague nope
that in time all might be set right by
the establishment of international
bimetallism. it gave no promise OF cure.
1t imposes upon the President-elect no
more positive obligation than TO MAIN
tain the gold standard, resist the free
coinage of silver and wait patiently
for England TO show a willingness 10
join with the United States IN he"
international monetary conference.
1t is matter Of political history that
so much of this platform as alIlrneu
the devotion of the Republican party
to gold mOnOmetallism was forced up
on the convention by the vigorous in
sistence of Mr.. Platt and the Northeast.
ern delegates. 1t did not accord with
the political judgment of Major Nc
Kinley. and throughout the campaign
he strove to subordinate the money
uuestion-on which his party's posi-
ton was clearly repugnant to him-to
the tariff issue. In the Western States,
and particularly on the Pacific slope,
Republican orators, without rebuke
from the national organization, repud-
lated the gold plank of the national
platform and made thinly yelled prom
ises that in the event Of McKinley's
election he would not enforce too lit
orally his partys declaration in favor
of gold recommendation.
But now, curiOusly enough, the
Northeastern Republicans and their
allies. the National Democrats (so-call-
ed are beginning to insist that the
new administration shall go beyond
the negative platform upon which it
was elected and be governed by the
platform of the boiling Democrats The
latter gentlemen, recognizing the fact
that they had nothing to lose or TO
gain. went to the extreme OF frankness
and boldly demanded the retirement
and cancellation of the United States
Treasury notes and greenbacks-a de-
mand for contraction of the currency
which no political party ever dared to
make. This demand made by mere
handful of boiling politicians meant
nothing-taken up and re-echoed, as
il now seems to be- by the greater part
of the Republican press in this part Of
the country, it seems likely to prove
source of grave embarrassment to the
new administration. =
1t would be well for the gentlemen
who are now pressing this demand for
the sudden retirement from circulation
of some $500 0O0 GOO in notes always APP
proved by the masses Of the people, and
the creation of an interest-bearing debt
of like amount to provide for their
purchase, to consider somewhat the
step they contemplate. They are the
very men who have promised the ma
ton prosperity. but prosperity never
sprang from sudden contraction of the
currency. They most constantly as
sert and most fervently hope that the
"silver craze" is dead but though it
were as dead as Adam, it would be re-
vived by anti-greenback legislation.
However. it is probable that this eff
fort is doomed to failure. Major Nc
Kinlev's record. even his recent utter
ances. gives assurance that he will not
give complete adhesion to the theory
that the currency of a nation exists
principally for the profit of those who
strive to monopolize it.