The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-05-26
AND SENATOR HILL WAS RIGHT.

In the Senate debate on Friday last
upon the bill TO forbid the President TO
sell any more bonds without the consent
Of Congress expressly given 10 any pro-
posed sale. Senator Hill, of New York.
said. in the course Of speech made by
United States, l would take the last
dollar out OF the Treasury and borrow
every dollar that 1 could, before the
credit of the Government should be inn
paired to the slightest degree
This is exactly what Mr.. Hin ought TO
have said. and is exactly what every
other senator ought TO say and ought
10 act upon. II the President had not
had power TO sell the Government bonds
TO replenish the gold reserve az each OF
the occasions during the past two years
when he has old them, the Government
would have been unable TO keep up gold
payments, it would have been compelled
TO oner silver dollars only when gold
was demanded for its notes, and We
should thereby have slipped down TO the
basis Of the nfty-ccnt silver dollar. which
would have been the greatest calamity
to the American people that could befail
them. Mr.. Hill, therefore, would have
been right TO borrow every dollar of
gold that he could borrow, rather than
TO have allowed such an appalling ca
lamity to oyertake the country.
Mr.. Hin is a strange man. Three years
ago. when he thought there was some
possibility Of his being the Democratic
nominee for President this summer, he
was distinctly coqucttins with the free
coiners. Two OF the speeches which he
then made contain unequivocal endorse
ments of the principle OF hat money. and
no was perpetualy mounting some sort OF
nonsense about bimetallism. But OF re-
cent times he has been one OF the most
sturdy opponents Of all the PoDulistic
nonsense of the free coincrs that the
most advanced siugle-standard advocate
could be. And, barring his unwise oppo-
siiion to the resolution Tor the iuvestiga-
tion OF the bond sales, he has been one
OF the most cogent opponents Of the free
abilities and his power OF attracting men
to him. II Senator Hill had placed devo-
ton to principle above everything else
DC could have become one OF the most
respected men this country has had ia a
long time.
MIR. llill added in the same connection.
Il misiudso tho character and force o.
the present Executive. II that is not what
he will do"
We have no fear that Mr.. Hil mis-
judges Mr.. Cleveland. We have NOS the
slightest doubt that ho Will exercise every
power conferred upon Alm ny Die laws
70 prevent this country going TO protest.
lie Knows the vital Importance OK keep
ing the country upon roil basis. ho IS
not TO be inundated by tAc clamor OF
Populists: he has done his duty up 10
this time with unilinchinG sioadmess. and
We have not tho slightest doubt tnaL De
VIII continue 10 do II 10 the end OF his
term. The country does no, begin 10
realize the prodgious service which Mr.
Cloyland has done IL. during his second
term. IN keeping Il hNcdly and soildly
upon gold basis. A weak man or
vocillaung man could easily have allowed
silver payments 10 take place. and amy
one who has any sort OF understanding
OF what that means thinks OF II With "a
shudder. But Mr.. Cleveland has stood
between the country and that awful catas-
trophe like a great rock. unmoved IN
storm and steady as a rock la sunshine
We do not hesitate 10 say that no presi-
dent since Washington secured TO us our
4 dependence has rendered 10 this coun-