Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-27

tisan In any aspect, but purely one -
business. The people, regardless OF party.
want good money. And they are entitled
to good money. A debasement Of the
currency must operate as disastrously TN
Colorado as in Massachusetts,. But par
tisanship enters more or less into every
public question in this country. and, UNI
fortunately, among the first notes heard In
this campaign are those pitched In a high
partisan key
All adverse criticism of the financial de-
livefance at st. Louis proceeds upon the
proposition that 1t commits the republican
party unreservedly to the gold standard
to the permanent exclusion even of safe
guarded bimetallism. If that Is ratified
at the polls, the silver men declare. the
country's financial policy will be riveted
to gold recommendation without the hope Of
separation. And yet the plank explicitly
favcrs bimetallism. and pledges the party.
Eif successful at the polls, to promote
measures looking to the securing of free
coinage as an international instead of a
mere local act. Meanwhile, despite the
fact that silver, as bullion, is worth but
little over fifty cents, every note in circula-
ton based upon silver is to be maintained
at par. Its purchasing power in this coun-
try is to remain the equal of that of gold.
If the republican party had intended to de-
clare for gold. and gold alone, would 1t
not nave asserted that the double standard
was undesirable and ought not to be pro-
posed or worked for?
But the silver men declare that the prom
Use to promote international bimetailism
Is lnsincere-a mere campaign device to
catch votes. The same thing was said
OF the same promise contained in the
platform upon which General Harrison
was elected President. And yet that
promise was kept. An International con-
ference was called through the agency of
this government, and the question earn
estly submitted. An agreement, it is true,
was not reached. but the discussion was
by no means discouraging to the cause OF
silver.
The silver men are now to be heard from
in convention. Theif. boast Is that their
dec laration will admit Of no misinterpre-
tatton: that it will be a straightforward
pledge to free coinage at IL to l as an
Independent act by this country. But will
that be declaration for bimetallism
viii it not in effect be a declaration in
favor of the single standard, and that
standard silver? Do not many of the sill
yer leaders favor free coinage in the hope
that the success Of that policy will send
the country to a silver basis? Are they
not on record, in public speeches and in
authorized interviews, as favorihs silver
over gold as the standard of value?
Assuming then tina: the Chicago plat
form follows the lines promised. the con-
sentative bimetallists of the middle west,
who may hold the balance of power
IN the struggle, will be called upon to de-
eide as to which platform is the better
calculated to promote bimetallism: The
one which declares for international BIZ
metailism and pledges active aid toward
bringing it about, or the one which de-
clares specifically for silver, and whose
Endorsement at the polls would. 1t is pre-
dicted, mean inevitable silver monometal-
lism, and threaten national disaster