Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-06-07
uETTEn TINES AHEAD.

DIsI1IH TIMES AHEAD
These are times of doubt, distrust, and
depression, in the business world, and
rnany men OF property and thousands VINO
are unemployed are weighted with care.
But we may be sure better times are
coming. 1t is long lane that has no
burning and We cannot but believe that
this year a turn viii come in the affairs
of this country which will brighten faces
that are now gloomy and make busy
workshops that are now silent and de-
serted.
Almost anything would be better than
an indefinite continuance Of the agitation
that we have been having for some years,
during which the silverites on the one
hand and the goldites on the other, have
been predicting disasters dire for the land
should the policy OF one or the other pre-
vail.
We take no stock in gloomy fcrebodings.
we don't believe that these United
States. with all their wealth Of labor.
genius. and property, are going TO the
.demnition bow-wows." To be sure We
would rather see a general uprising
against than for free-silver coinage
at the ratio Of l6 TO 1. but II the
people will have the 10 10 1 law, why. we
say the sooner the better.
That gold will then so TO a premium,
we cannot doubt, but that it Will 70 TO
any such premium as is predicted by
some wel-meaning, but eXcltable beings,
we don't believe at all. Nor do the great
fnanciers Of this country and Europe
believe that there is going TO be a 80
cent dollar" The proof OF this is to be
found in the fact that day after day
shrewd. sharp-witted capitalists are in
vesting their money in 3. 4, and per cent
bonds. which are not payable in gold
Do you think these long-headed and cold
blooded fellows would put their hard dol
lars where they might be repaid with 90
cent dollars? Not they.
As We have said, il is well nigh certain
that free coinage would force gold 10 n
promium-certainly. at flrst-but that it
IS going to bring universal wreck and
ruin In its train we cannot credit.
Things are bad enough as they are
and exaggoraiion is wholly unnecessary
and entirely indefcnsible. Let us make
The best OF them rather than the worst
of them. We are approaching a critical
period in our affairs and we would botteg
do SO In hopefulness ana calmness than in
fright and despair.
1t is certain as certain can be that the
National Democratic Convention, which is
10 meet at Chicago on July 7th, will de-
clare for the free and unlimited coinage
of oliver at the ratio Of 16 to !, indie
pendenily OF the action Of other nations.
This Is not what We think 1t ought TO do,
but It is what we think il is going to do.
Moreover a number OF gentlemen worthy
OF the presidential ONCE are willing TO
take our nomination in the confident be-
lief that the frce-silyer wave which is now
dashing over hill aud vale, from ocean to
ocean. Will land them in the White House.
Nerily, it would seem that there is very
little uncertainty about what the Chicago
convention is going 10 do. Kentucky was
the pivotal State. and it decided in favor
Of free silver and Blackburn. as against
Cleveland, Carlisle, and gold.
Indeed, so far as conventions go, there IS
more uncertainty as TO what will be done
on June 10th at ST. Louis, than what will
be done on July 9Th at Chicago. We
think the Republicans will declare against
the l6 TO / independent free coinage
of silver and couch their declaration
sn terms impossible TO be misunderstood
but It may happen that some eQulvocal
expression may get into its platform.
We hope not yet We must recognize the
fact that accidents 90 occur. even in the
best regulated political conventions.
However, there are hundreds Of wide
awake and aggressive delegates who are
going to st. Louis for the express pur-
pose OF making the action Of that body
as decisive in its way as the action OF
the Chicago convention is foredoorned to
bo In its way. So we conclude that the
financial question will be settled this year
Then how much more sensible 1t would be
for US TO await the peoples decision with
GOODNESS and hopefulness than with fear
and trembling.
We repeat that in our belief. better
times are coming; nor indeed can they be
far of: nor need we be apprehensive that
80 reacn them We shall have TO pass
through a period Of pasic. The country
Will brace itself up TO meet the situation.
whatever II may be.
Nearly all Of the delegates TO both
national conventions have been elected.
and we should now forget the predictions
Of the alarnist electioneerer and resolve
10 secure happiness and prosperity from
toe result. no matter what II may be.
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