The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1896-10-17
SATURDAY. .oCToBER IL, lss
IT STANDS FOR GOLD.

Il Id
Pre-eminently above all other re-
plblicans in the state of Oregon stands
Hon. George b. Williams, who ad-
dressed the people of The Dalles last
Saturday evening, and from his lips
we expected, and no doubt did receive
true and correct Interpretation OF
the republican national platform. His
Interpretation of it's plank on the
money question was evidently dis
appointment to the many advocates OF
silver in the republican party, who
were led by Senator Mitchell TO
believe that it meant the free coinage
of silver at an early date, for Mr.. Wli-
liams' address was confined to depict
ing the beauties of the single gold
standard, and not as the national plat
form of 1892 had it. "the republican
party. from tradition and instinct,
favors bimetalisn," or as senator
Mitchell explained "the republican
party today favors making silver
primary money of final redemption and
will exert its influence in that direc-
tion if Major Mckinley is elected
president Therefore if Mr.. Will
liam's construction of the platform is
correct, and he is indeed high author
ity, the free silver republican has little
to hope for, hence little encourage
ment to support the republican
national ticket.
1t is indeed unfortunate that the re-
publican platform is so vague that a
double construction can be put on 1t
by two men so high in the party as are
Mr.. Williams and Mr.. Mitchell.
However we are forced to believe that
the construction put on the platform
by Mr.. Williams is correct-that II the
republican party succeeds on Nov. 3,
the present glod standard will be con-
tinued for another four years, there
fore there is but one choice left for the
republican silver man, and that is to
rise above party prejudice and vote as
his dictates teach, for the interests
of the people.
We believe that Mr.. Williams is
more nearly correct in his interpret
alton of the national platform than is
Mr.. Michel, that the republican party
of today stands squarely for the con-
tinuance of a single gold standard,
and that no attempt will be made by
it to secure an international agree
ment for the free or unlimited coinage
of silver should it again get into power.
In this belief we are encouraged. not
only by Mr.. Williams, but by the great
daily papers that are supporting Nc
Kinley, which are unanimous in the
contention that the gold standard is
perfection as financial policy. If
they contend for this policy, then they
favor policy that is detrimental to
the interests of the country, or ex-
perience goes for naught. and some OF
the greatest minds of the nation have
been wrong in their views of what the
result of a single gold standard would
be. Blaine and Carlisle both con-
sidered the gold standard dangerous to
the best interests of the country In
times past, and with many other lead
ing statesmen raised their voices
against its maintenance. On January
20, 1878, in speech before congress,
Mr.. Blaine said:
s.I believe the struggle now going
on in this country and in other coun-
tries for single gold standard would,
if successful, produce widespread dis
aster in and throughout the CONNER
cial world The destruction of silver
as money, and establishing gold as the
sole unit of value must have ruinous
effect on all forms of property, except
those investments which yield a fixed |
return in money. These would be
enormously enhanced in value. and
would give disproportionate and un-
fair advantage over every other |
species of property"
This expression from Mr.. Blaine is
in direct line with the sentiment of |
Mr.. Carlisle who said: "sThe con-
summation Of this scheme for the de.
monetization of silver will cause more
misery than all the wars, pestilence
and famine that have occurred in the
history of the world" And this is
the policy which Mr.. Williams holds |
the republican party of today is
pledged to maintain. Mr., Williams is
high authority in the republican party
and no one will have the termerity to
denv that he speaks adyisedly.
Therefore we ask in all sincerity can
the voter who is patriotic and loves
his country affiliate with that party?