New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-13
EDUCATION NEEDED.

With Issues or right ana wrong, vi PciSoh
and public honesty, Americans are always
sound at heart But they are not always right
In the head, and that is the sole danger 1t
seems to The Tribune grave mistake to say,
as some do in comment on Chicago. american
honesty must put down Organism" 1t surely
will II 1t gets its head right. But there Is not
the less need for much hard work to clear men
minds Of false ideas, and to make them see
which path Is the honest one. Men Mt the East,
who have been educated for years to know
that cheap money rObs the millions and not
the mllonaIres, are far too apt to think that
demagogues like Bryan are not honest, that
they cannot possibly believe what they say, and
that the great crowd behind them must he
swayed by hopes OF dishonest gain. But to
most of that crowd the gain they hope for does
not seem dishonest, and the most dangerous Of
all demagogucs are those who thoroughly be-
leve tho errors they teach.
Watching the news from Chicago one re-
marked that he could not see how any honest
man of average sense could want free coinage.
But John 2. Jones, OF Nevada was recognized
from his entrance to the Senate in 1873 as one
of the ablest men in that body. and his great
speech on Protection has been distributed more
extensively than almost any other as power
full and convincing argument. His three days
argument for silver coinage ten years ago was
not answered by saying that he was engaged
in silver mining, and was never called weak
or superficial argument by any opponent capa-
bic Of weighing facts. He was and Is In error
but all the more dangerous because he Is. I'M
like Bryan, man Of study and research
strong reasoner and known in private and bust
ness life as a thoroughly honest man. Ii Is a
bad blunder to suppose that there are not
multitudes more, perfectly honest and sincere
who bring to the acceptance Of such teachings
as those of Senator Jones minds less able, in
deed, and less stored with information, but yet
as capable and intelligent as that Of the aver
age American citizen.
The silver craze would never have attained
its actual power If it had not been at the outset
an honest belief Of the large majority in all
parties that the cessation of silver coinage was
a mistake which the country ought to correct
The earlier bills to restore free coinage were
supported by a majority Of both parties In the
House, and as late as 1877 the platforms of
Republican and Democratic conventions both,
In Pennsylvania, Ohio and Iowa. called for that
step UnquestiOnably. most Of the delegates in
those conventions were honest, and also most of
the voters behind them. Silver had not then
fallen so far That II was not possible 10 Delieve
It's value could be restored by the United States
alone The question had not been SO studied
that men had grasped the evils involved by
adopting n cheaper money than that Of the
great commercial nations.
There has been tremendous progress In educa-
ton Of the people To-day both parties as far
west as South Dakota Minnesota and Wiscon-
sin have by majorities declared against free
coinage. the Republicans in every State and
almost unanimously, and the Democrats in
every State east Of Ohio But the great body Of
Democrats and POpulists west Of Pennsylvania
and south Of the Potomac and Ohio still lag
behind in education, and have yet to get their
eyes open to the truth that free silver would
rob the poor and rob the thrifty Of their savings
The work Of education will go forward This
year with great rapidlty, because In every North
ern and some Southern States east Of the Mis-
sissippi, and In several further west, the Demo-
Gratis who oppose free coinage will join openly
and with energy in the work, having strong
journals and effective organizations. The Re-
publican party has also minority Of its own
voters to educate, and will be powerfully aided
In that work by the fact that the cause Of hon
est money Is linked with the cause Of PrOtec-
ton, which touches the interests and the rights
of every wage-earner and every producer in
the land