New-York tribune., 1896-07-28
THE ARGTHENT ABOUT SILVER.

When men like Bryan. Stewart, Altgeld ana
Tillman have INDUCED to their hearts content
in ytuperation, advancing nothing by way or
argument 10 which "a hearer can reply, they
next appeal to the sympathy OF mankind be-
couse the world does not argue with them. but
nolnts out the fact that their teachings mean re-
nudiation and Anarchy "Why should these hard
words be used:" whincs one apologiSt Tor the
Chicago platform Cannot these questions De
"dscusscd with fairness and patience, as they
"ore in England:" Certainly they can, ana Tor
twenty years they have bcen as long US men
confined themselves to proposals which an hon
ost and loyal citizen could make. But when
Il "a seriously declared that bonds for which the
Government has received gold, virtually giving
,ts pledge behind every issue since 1873 through
its officials authorized to borrow that they
sbould be paid, principal and interest, in gold.
and for many years without any question: those
who stigmatize that proposal as an attempt to
disbouor and bankrupt the Nation are assured
,v accurate so when it Is declared that gov
ernment by Injunction and Federal interference
with rlotlng or revolution In States must DO
stoppeJ. every man Of commOn-sense THINKS
back instantly to the revolutionary conspiracy
of Debs and his followers. which the Governor
Of Illinois refused to suppress and knows that
the intention is to promise Anarchists and revo'
lutlonists in this country free course to dely
tho laws and break down the Government.
Argument has been going on for more than
twenty wears regarding the free coinage OF sill
YER. It has resulted 30 badly for silver men
that they have lost in succession Pennsylvania
MARYLAND, West Virginia, Ohio. Indiana, Ken
tuckv. Michigan, Illinois end Wisconsin, In
which both parties formerly supported silver
coIuage. and Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, both
Dakotas and Wyoming, In which the party
having clear majority at the last cleo
tion Is opposed to free coinage, while IN
Nebraska Missouri Oregon and Washington
the same party has plurality. This change
of public opinion In States covering more
than third of the whole Union both In num-
Der and in population. Is the most conclh'
sive proof that could possibly be given OF the
convincing power of arguments against free
coinage The conclusion can only be avoided by
urging that in many OF these States. when free
coinage was formerly favored. silver had not
so greatly declined no. had its production so
greatly increased as to make the step so plain
ly perllous to the Nations honor and prosperity
rs II |. now. But the answer brings out the
fact that those who still demand free coinage.
after the conditions have thus changed are
acting with amazing disregard of the facts and
reasons which have convinced more than two
thirds of the country. third within twenty
years, and with degree of Indifference to the
obligations Of the Nation and to the safety Of
its industries and Investments which betrays
the spirit of the repudiator and the Anarchist
When this long debate began tnose who were
foremost in urging free coinage took constant
pains to show that silver had been depressed
, only about 10 per cent and BY . temporary