Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-06-27
Mr.. wnITNEY.s LETTER.
The New York Politician Addresses HAs
Party the Moaey Question

The New York Politician Addresses HIS
Party the Moaey Question
NEW YORK, June 22--William C
Whitney yesterday made public a state
ment in which he defines the political
situation, and concludes by saying that
he is not presidential possibility, that
he ''would not run if nominated and
would not serve if elected" As to the
silver idea, he says:
For the past Is years leaders of public opfn-
ion in the south and west have been advocat-
ing the great remedy for existing ills the
without the cooperation of other nations
large majority of the delegates TO the COM
ing democratic convention have been elected
by the people for the purpose of Incorporating
that doctrine into the platform of the demo-
cratic party.
This movement for free coinage purports to
to have for its object the establishment and
maintenance of gold and silver as the money OF
the country upon equal terms with each other,
and at a parity of purchasing power II by the
proposed measure that object could be secured
there would be no substantial disagreement in
the party. Every national democratic platform
that has heretofore spoken upon the subject
has declared for both gold and silver money.
It is traditional policy But the main
tenance of a double standard at the present
time is not question of desire-it is ques-
ton of ability The commercial value OF sill
yer has greatly declined in the markets of the
world.
Whatever the causes are and whoever is to
free coinage now at sixteen to one is the same
offering for all the silver in the world
about twice what it is selling for in the mar
ket- International exchanges have to be paid
in gold And it would seem plain that if we,
under these conditions. open our mints to the
free coinage of silver and gold at a ratio OF
comparative value, which is largely at variance
with the commercial value of the two metals,
must take the entire silver surplus our
selves. maintain its parity with gold, or else
we shall go to silver basis
movement nurDOrtlnQ
terest of the joint standard, comes at most
inopportune time, in my opinion There has
never been time when the prospects of inter-
national action, favorable to the joint stand
ard. were at all promising at the present
moment but ill-advised, unsuccessful at
tempt here would discredit the cause the world
over.
At the present moment Germany, France,
Italy. Austria, Holland, Belgium and the
Enlistment and maintenance OF the joint
standard by international agreement and (moSt
important circumstance Great Britain has re-
Gently (within three months. in fact made a
most important confession She said: We
will do for you much you can do for your
selves We will make this great contribution
to a blmetallic system We will go back upon
deliberately arranged methods of providing a
currency for India We will open the India
mints. We will engage that they shall be kept
open and we shall therefore provide for a free
coinage of silver within the limits of the British
empire, for population greater in number
than the population of Germany, France and
America put together"
Personally, it is my opinion, if the demo-
cratic party goes on that platform at this
time, they will meet the most disastrous defeat
that any party has ever had in this country
1 understand it is honestly believed in and
people think it will bring relief from their
present troubles; but between now and cleo
tIon day it will be pretty thoroughly sifted.
and the people of the country will not face the
disturbance of values, the loss of confidence,
the general distress and ruin which would
come to their business interests in such a
change in their standard of value as would
arise from such change. 1t will overwhelm
the persons who undertake it