The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-17
REpuBLrcANsAND THE CURRENCY

Here is the plank OF the Rhode Island
Republican convention that relates to
the currency question--a plank that has
received the unqualified endorsement OF
sound money interests all over the coun-
try as a straightforward, explicit and in
every way most commendable expression:
"Resoyed, That the Republicans of
Rhode Island are infiexibly opposed to
the free and unlimited coinage OF silver,
and they believe the continued agitation
of what is called the silver question to be
unpatriotic and destructive of all the in
terests of industry ana commerce.
"1he existing gold standard ia the meas
ure of value adopted by the nations with
whom the United States have the most
important commercial relations, and the
very suggestion of departure from II in
fiicts injury to the credit OF a nation
whose honor should never be questioned
at home or abroad.
"To those who toll for their daily bread,
"A currency redeemable in and OF equal
value with gold, is essential While the
capitalist may protect himself against the
fluctuations even OF silver, the la borer and
the artisan, the saIaried Official and the
widow, are powerless to guard against
~ u u
great and peneficeDt Government should
make absolutely secure and unchanging
in its purchasing power.
Here is the way the Maine Republicans
expressed the same thing, putting their
views in the form OF a tribute to and an
approval of the record OF their splendid
son, the hon. THOMAS Il. REED: SHE
Is opposed to the free and unlimited
coinage OF silver except by international
agreement, and until such agreement can
be obtained he believes the present gold
standard should be maintained.
The Republicans of New Jersey, in con-
vention assembled, expressed the same
views as follows: "The standard of value
lin this country and in the other principal
commercial nations of the world is gold.
Wages and prices have been made and
fixed In accordance with this standard,
and the welfare OF the people demands
that ii should be maintained. We regard
the agitation for the free coinage OF silver
asa serious obstacle to our country's
prosperity"
The Republicans OF Kentucky declared
that the free and unlimited coinage of
silver is strongly disapproved by them,
and gave their unqualified support to the
gold standard, favoring such legislation
as shall keep silver and paper in circula-
tion at no discount.
The Republicans of North Dakota, ac-
cording to the platform of the conven-
tion, adopted unanimously, we believe,
"are united In their demand for honest
money. We are unalterably opposed"
they declare, "to any scheme that will
give to this country deprecated or de-
based currency. We favor the use of sill
yer as currency, but to the extent only
and under such restrictions that it's parity
with gold can be maintained. We are
therefore opposed to the free and unlim-
tied coinage of silver until 1t can be ar
ranged by international agreement.
While none of these quotations from
Republican platforms of other states |
makes any improvement on the excellent |
resolution of the Rhode Island Republi- |
can Convention, and while, indeed, the |
latter is rather better expressed than any |
we have yet read, there Ia no difference |
between any OF them in the positions
taken. Maine and Kentucky, Rhode |
Island and North Dakota are united so
far as the currency views of the Republi-
can party are concerned. Republicans all
over. the country with, OF course, the ex-
ception of the four solid silver states of
Colorado, Montana, Nevada and Idaho,
will, we believe, be found holding the
same views and expressing them In terms
equally unqualified. Exceptions and
qualification will be rare in Republican
councils.
We refer to this matter again as empha-
sizing what we have before maintained:
that the silver question, contrary to
good deal Of popular impression, is less
sectional question than party question.
1t is not, of course, entirely party ques-
tion, for we do not believe that the Dem
ocretic party in all OF the Eastern States
will fail to speak out with sense, clear
ness and honesty, for sound money. But
already we are told from Washington that
sound money Democratic leaders are
seriously alarmed over the outlook for the
control of the national convention and |
that the free-silver Democrats are making |
a most thorough campaign, carrying
everything in the South and West, and |
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