The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1896-11-27

A COMMON and Just criticism upon the
Republican platform during the iate
camnaiun was to the effect that upon
the money question its expressions were
pureIy negative. 1t condemned the Tree
coinage of silver, but offered no sun
Stitute for that theory of currency re-
form. 1t recognized, by inference al
least. tn at the present currency system
of the Uniled States 10 an illogical ano
II 1scientific jumble. but beyond expires
sin. q vague hope that In time all ih'sh'
ne set right 10y the establishment OF IN
ta,nationaI bimetaliism, 1t gave no
promise of cure. 1t imposes upt IN the
nresident-elect no more positive ooiga-
tion than to maintain the gold standard
resist the free coinage of silver and wall
patiently fnr England to show willing
ness to Join with the United States IN
new international monetary conference.
1t is matter of political history that
50 much of this platform as affirmed the
devotion of the Republican party to gold
,uonomeptaIlism was forced upon the
convention by the vigorous inslstence OF
Mr. PIaIt and the Northeastern delegates.
II did not accord with the political Judg-
ment of Major Mckinley, and through
out the campaign he strove to subordl-
nate the money qu"stion-on when MS
party's position was clearly repugnant
tonic the tariff issue. In the west
ern states, and particularly on the Paclf-
fic slope, Republican orators, without re
buke from the national organization, re
undated, the gold plank Of the national
platform and made thinly veiled prom
ises that in the event of Mckinley selec-
tion he would not enforce too literally
his party's declara ton in favor of gold
monometallism. m
But now, curiously enough, the
Northeastern Republicans and their al
| lies. the National Democrats $50 called }
are beginning to insist that the new ad-
ministration shall go beyond the mega
| tive platform upon which it was elected
and be governed by the platform OF the
| boIting Democrats. The latter gentle
men, recognizing the fact that they had
nothing to lose or gain, went to the ex-
| treme of frankness and boldly demand
| ed the retirement and cancellation of the
| United States treasury notes and green
| backs-a demand for contraction of the
| currency which no political party ever
dared to make. This demand made by
a mere handful of boiling politicians
meant nothing-taken up and re-echoed
as it now seems to be. by the greater
part of the Republican press, it seems
likely to prove a source of grave embar
rassment to the new administration.
Itwuold be we'll for the gentlemen
who are now pressing the demand fo
the sudden retirement from circulation
of some $500, ,OO0, 900 in notes always ap
proved by the masses of the people
and the creation OF an interest bearing
debt of like amount to prOvid
for their purchase, to con
slider somewhat the step they cOntem
plate. They are the very men who hav
promised the nation prosperity, but pros
perity, never springs from sudden con
traction of the currency. They mos
! constantly assert and they most ferventI.
hope that the ''silver craze is dead, bu
though it were as dead as Adam,
would be revived by anti greenback leg
? islation.
: However 1t is impossible that this ei
fort is doomed to failure. Major Nc
Kinley's record, even his recent utter
ances, give assurance that he will nc
: give complete adhesion to the theory
that the currency of a nation exists prin
cipalS for the profit of those who striv
to monopolize it.