The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-01-14
TILE MA8K DROPPED

In his regular, weekly circular, issued
under date of last Saturday, Mr.. Henry
Clews proceeds to conduct the funeral
obsequies of the free silver issue, I'M
mindful of the fact that similar office
has been performed by Mr. Carlisle,
Hoke Smith and a number of other pa
triots of that class. The free silver issue
seems to have a persistent habit, like
Banquo's ghost, of appearing at every
feast held by the advocates of the single
gold standard. The free silver issue is
buried, and the grave closed over it for
the 'steenth time with the following Ian
guage:
The free silver members of the finance
committee have evidently been in Kip
Van Wrinkle sleep and awoke just In
time to vote for the free silver measure,
for which there is no demand elsewhere.
Tie long trance of these gentlemen has
left them in ignorance as to the change
of sentiment that has come over the spirit
of the people of this country in connec-
ton with silver in the last several months
They could not know that it has become
a dead issue beyond the power of resur-
rection, hence their affirmative vote for
free silver. They have not realized that
the last twelve months has been pretty
lively period, and justified people with
anything at stake 10 remain Wideawake
for self preservation.
The silver question being thus finally
settled the mask of binetallism is
thrown aside in the following extract
from the same circular:
This country is cow permanently on
gold basis, and on that account ranks
amongst first class nations of the world
in point of credit, and it is there to stay,
and our own product of gold alone justi-
fes it. We will, however, have use for
all the silver that we can't find ready
export market for at remunerative prices
for the arts in this country and for sub
sidiary coinage. The white metal, there
fore. will never cease to be one of our
paying products. Even at the present
price, it is more profitable crop than
wheat, corn or oats, and mine owners of
silver, by contrast, have no ground of
complaint
= The country being firmly on q gold
basis aud there to stay there will be no
further occasion for keeping up the farce
of advocating an International agreement,
so we may confidently expect to hear no
more of that phase of the subject, which
has done duty so long as a means of de-
ceiving and dividing the people. 1t is
well that it is SO. The whole question is
simplified by being narrowed down to
square fight between gold recommendation
and bimetallism.
The politicians who have used the in
ternational agreement as a hiding place,
knowing all the time that there was not
the remotest possibility of such a thing,
will now be compelled to come out into
the open and get in line with one side or
the other on the silver question. The
spokesman of the brokers aud bondhoId-
ers has said that the country is firmly es-
tablished on a gold basis, and the coun-
tries which were expected to enter into
an international agreement being also
firmly established on a gold basis, what
more can be desired by the advocates of
such an agreement, who have been gold
standard men in disguise all the while
unless they were really deceived and
were ignorant of the true situation.
The International agreement argu-
ment was merely used to gain time SO
that the gold standard might be firmly
fixed on the country. Mr.. Clews now
believes that this has been accom- plished
and hastens to say so. The friends of
silver will understand by this that they
have no small task before them. The
charge that the free silver men have
been asleep is not wholly without rea-
son.