New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-21
TT BRYAN WE'RE ELECIED
WEAR OF WILD CHAOS BEFORE ANY
THING WOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED
rx.covERyoR CORNELL TRACES THE r"o'"''''
co,,,sr OF EVENTS AND PREDICTS THE

GOVERNOR CbINtiSb
cor-psr OF EVENTS AND PREDICTS III"
Future FROM THE PAST
tn the Editor Of The Tribune 49, .o,., with
10 VIZ .,a,ion Of the silver question pesa" VIZ"
49, ers, active preparations for the Na''o'l.
notinp conventions, and with s'e'"iy ,s,o NJ
soa has become the dominant ana V''ai ,'' ,,,o
~, n.,aor,,aI canvass Newspapers anu P'
sneokers have devoted their efforts 'arsey 49,
ASCENSION TO the substantial exc'us'o" " ,,uar
features OF political difference so una. ,on,,on
issue has practically monopolized pup''. nsa.
during the progress OF the campaign liz 80
ouent effect Of this prominent discuSS'o' no. ,,I
- ,,,,os, IN the minds of many people ca'''''
consideration OF the possible results !" ''o ,ona
of the adoption Of the policy OF iree-T"'. an
at the coming National election NV'S -
,rohension has evidently been aroused that SUI"
,, ,,s, % necessity create important none
,ar,, ,,s,urbances and perhaps involve the country
in another great financial crisis. A.. u
Almost coincident with the beginning OF the s''-
yer agitation reports OF Factory su9Po"'
caused by slack demand for products pes""
appear in the daily press. and the NUMBERS VI
,oh ro,orta have steadily increased with every
succ.edins month Long lists OF business iaii"ie'
are now published daily. and bank faliuies az 81"
nonnced with alarming frequency. bacn VI u.s.
occurrences adds to the general disturbance an"
renders the conduct Of ordinary business hore "'i
hcult and hazardous. Hundreds OF thousan"S VI
Industrious wage-earners have already been thrown
out of employment. and the number IL rap'uy W.
creasing The earnings and incomes OF many peo
pie are consequently seriously reduced ana uesu-
tuition IL stealthily invading many homes where
thrift and comfort have hitherto prevailed lhis
unfortunate situation Is plainly caused by the
pending feeling Of apprehension. and will doubt
less continue until the cause Of anxiety shall have
been definitely removed
ObviousIv this condition OF business depression
must continue until the development Of the po-
sufficiently certain to re-
veal the final result and Justify the resumption or
Industrial activities. While some may be "liiing
to rely upon the promise OF earlier Indications
most prudent men will feel disposed TO await the
event OF Election Day before venturing TO resume
operations In suspense. They VIII hesitate
TO enter upon new engagements OF serious mag
nitude, involving either the use OF borrowed caPi-
tai the prices of materials and labor uhtl 'he
questions of future values be more clearly es'l-
mated. II seems vitality important and desirable.
therefore In behalf of all Industrial and business
interests that the result OF the election shall be
such to render the future as free from DOUBT
and uncertainty as possible. In this connection,
moreover. II may well be worth while to contem-
plate what may be the prospective business situa-
ton In the event of the election Of the respective
candidates prominently named for the Presi-
dency.
THE ONE CONTROLLING ISSUE.
While the platforms OF the two leading parties
are radically antagonistic In many important par
ticuars, and differ widely In numerous details, 1t
is universally believed and admitted that the con-
trolling issues of the Presidential campaign are
those relating to the future treatment of silver
and the adjustment of The currency and financial
affairs OF the Government. However numerous
and vital other questions may be. In their respec
tive merits and importance. they manifestly
subordinate in public estimation. and must there
FORE abide the general decision OF the main issues.
1t consequently becomes especially important. that
the silver and financial questions shall be care
fully considered with reference TO the bearing and
influence that the other of the respective
political policies may have upon the commercial
and Industrial interests OF the country both direct
and ultimate. Herein the individual interests
Of the people most directly concerned, either as
wage-earners. merchants. manufacturers or other
wise Interested In business pursuits.
The Bryan platform demands immediate indie
pendent and unlimited free coinage OF silver at the
ratio OF Is 10 Of gold. whereas the present COM
mercial values OF the two metals actually about
81 to i. This difference In value Of nearly 50 per
cent is generally believed by the most experienced
fnanciers. TO be fatal obstacle to the success OF
Independent free coinage According to numerous
declarations OF Mr.. Bryan his solution OF this
difficult problem involves an enormous specula-
tion by which he assumes that the commercial
value OF silver bullion will be advanced from its
present price Of about SIS cents per TO 81 %,
the relative equivalent In value of Is to for gold
He has repeatedly assured his auditors that
through his election President and the free
coinage Of silver by our minis. this phenomenal
advance in the value Of silver bullion would surely
ienged by decided majority Of those most widely
experienced In finance, as well as by the most
the efficacy OF his proposition be relied upon?
With such positive and boundless difference OF
ject there can be doubt that. in the event Of
Mr., Bryans election, the final result would re-
necessary legislation 10 provide for free coinage
could be enacted II the condition OF uncer-
taip "a Rod
Of time as many sagacogs observers belieye 1t
lently! huctuate and the stability OF all markets
would be utterly DESTROYED. while the existing
continue with increasing aggravation Such CON
dltions could not fail to involve financial dis
tnuance. 1t becomes, therefore, a question OF
Be obliged to endure the horrors OF such unfortu-
nate condlti9ns and the only time for the consid
becomes too late to avoid the impending danger
NO STEP POSSIBLE TILL MARCH A.
President Cleveland and the existing Congress
must in conformity with the provisions of the Ma
tona Constitution. continue In Office and conduct
the current affairs Of Government until the expira
ton Of their official term Of Office on March 4
next However patriotic and anxious they might bo
to serve the true interests of the people in any
pending emergency, the propreties OF the situation
would forbid their making any effort that would
invade questions Of policy settled by the election in
anticipation OF the advent OF an Administration
ernod the expiring regime. Their province viii
necessarily be confined to the mel est routine Of
official detail that will enable them deliver pos
session Of the Government to their successors with
the least possible frictsn, and they will be abso-
lute'y powerless TO avert any impending danger
that may have grown out Of unwise and unfortu-
Thus after the lapse of four months in case Of
his election Mr.. Bryan would succeed to the Presl-
Dental Office. and in conformity with his an
nounced purpose. would call In special session the
newly elected Congress. to whom he would submit
his recommendations for legislation. How much
time would be occupied In securing the necessary
enactments can only be estimated by experience
under similar circumstances The nearest analogy
perhaps In our histor; ia that of 1898. when Mr.
Cleveland called special session of a new Con-
gress TO which he recommended the repeal OF the
Sherman Purchasing law. That proposition
was comparatively very plain affair and seemed
to have the almost unanimous support Of the peO-
ple regardless OF all political bias Ii required