Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-23
What Conservative Republicans Say
of the Present Situation.
THEIR REPLY TO CARRIERS SPEECH
The Tariff, Not the Money Ques-
ton, the Cause Of Strngency.
Z Attn IN THE PARTY

Senator Carter in his speech justifying
his vote against taking up the emergency
tariff bill, tainted the eastern leadership of
his party with having been outwitted by
Mr. Cleveland at the special session of the
Fifty-tEird Congress. In MIR. Carriers opin-
fon, the republicans should not have per-
mitted Mr.. Cleveland to shift the issue at
that time from tariff to finance. The de-
mocracy had come into power pledged to
an extreme cut in all tariff duties, and, as
Mr.. Carter argued, it was that that had
caused the extraordinary business depres-
sion the country was then experiencing. The
President saw this, and in order to relieve
his party as much as possible, he raised
cry against silver. He insisted that silver
was the cause Of all the trouble and he
made it tie issue in his special message at
the special session. The republicans fell in
behind him, and the sound-money men of
both parties, acting together carried out
the Presidents program.
The Wilson Tariff Bill.
Then the regular session came on and
Congress tackled the tariff question. But
not TO carry out the Chicago platform. 1t
v as never on the cards to do that But
what, In other circumstances would have
been most inglorious backdown on the
part of the democratic leaders, escaped at
ttntion for awhile behind the stir that had
been raised on the money question. 1t was
not until the tariff bill was completed that
its deficiencies stood so plainly revealed
that Mr. Cleveland himself denounced it
and refused TO sign it.
Why Shift the Issue Now.
Some of the more conservative republic
can leaders, who do not favor the free coin
age OF silver, and yet would not commit
the country unalterably to the gold stand
ard, are applying Mr.. Carriers arguments
to the present situation. Why shift the
issue now, or permit it shifted, from tariff
to finance? There is new tariff issue they
insist. The issue of 1923 WAS that of a
taTiH threat. The issue of today is that of
tariff bill, uneven and unwise in all of its
PROVISIONS, and unequal to the support of
the government Is not the Wilson bill
these men inquire, more to blame for the
existing hard times than anyLhiny else ?
Can the times be rigited until that act has
been repealed and a wiser law put in its
place! DO something for silver, yes: but
don't make silver the only issue Why pre-
teAu that even free coinage would effect
what SO many republicans are certain can
only he effected by the re-establishmeat of
systematic policy of protection? Sound
economies as well as sound money If nro
vision is to he made for the use of moro sill
Yer as money, provision must also be made.
and made first, for keeping the home
markets more exclusively for home pro-
ducts.
Faith i'm the Party.
There is great faith in conservative re-
publican circles in the ability of the party
to successfully avoid both extremes at ST
Louis. Men OF this view point to the fact
that the party's credit before the country is
and has always been of the highest. 1t is.
they claim, the creator and has been the
preserVer or the sound money of the day.
1t is not, therefore, called upon to make
any resounding professions of any kind
1 he busln ess men know the party and trust
IT, and so far the silver men are cor
cerned they are bound to admit that every
'hlng that has been done for the white
metal in twenty-five years stands TO the
credit of the republican party.
Policy for Every Candidate.
1t is in this strain that conservative ac-
ton at St Louis is being urged. 1t is not
policy pointed out for any particular can
didate. but one which any man whose name
has been suggested for the presidential cam
didate can afford to accept and, if elected
haAlT 70 ls,.U,