The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-05-20

Many express the opinion that If con
gress would adjourn for three, five oil
ten years, trade and business would bt
greatly benefited.
Among manufacturers it is natura
to find sound views on finance, for such
men are brought into daily contact with
currency and credit questions, and ap-
preciate how vital it is that there should
qoe no debasement of the one or distrust
of the other. but it is rather surprising
that so small a portion of the above
should demand a tariff for protection.
J The manufacturing interests are sup
posed 10 profit more largely than any
other from high tariff, but even those
who are especially favored by protec-
/ ton evidently realize that a reopening
of the same would be disastrous to bus
| mess.
The candidacy of Mr.. Mckinley, in
addition to the uncertainty of this gen
tleman's views on the currency, is a
disturbing element, because of his rep
utation as an ultra high tariff advocate.
In our opinion, what is most
| needed to bring about greater prosperity
for the general industrial interests of
the entire country is the nomination
and election of a president who has
the courage of his convictions, and who
is not afraid to announce TO the world
that by no action of his shall the Uni
ted States of America ever permit the
debasement of one dollar of its currency
of the dishonor Of any of its obligations
and that he is unalterably opposed to
-.
the maintenance of gold as a standard
and measure Of value, and the selec-
tiOn and election of senators and repre-
sentativeS who will place patriotism
above party and personal interests,and
who will egislate in the interest of the
nation and people.
The Dry Goods Economist says:
1T is the persistent policy of the Dry
Goods Economist 10 look up rather than
down, to count the rays of sunshine
and glimpses Of blue sky rather than
the clouds, and to be generally optimis-
tic rather than the reverse. But ii is
impossible not to recognize the grave
dangers that beset the business inter-
ests Of the country owing to the peculi-
ar circumstances that at present sur
round the candidacy of Mr.. Mckinley
these dangers the possibility or prob
ability Of change in the tariff. We
believe that outside of interested man
ufacturers the great mass of Repulblf-
can business men who have weight and
influence in Washington are not in ia
vor of any radical change in the rates
duties, and are heartily opposed to any
such revision as is associated with the
name of the man who at this writing
seems to have so favorable a chance
OF being nominated a st. Louis ANY
question of tariff revision, however. is
entirely overshadowed by the vastly
more important one of whether the next
president Of the United States is TO
be strong, outspoken, and fearless
supporter of the existing stable gold
standard or fiabby, trucking, and
singeneous associate Of those who for
selfish reasons desire to see our curren-
cy debased and our standard of value
cut in half, rendered subject TO con-
slant fluctuations. Mr.. McKinIey's
record is that of persistent panderer
to the unsettlement of our financial
system; whether ne has changed his
views of late or not no one knows, for
in the face of repeated requests for in
formation he remains eXasperatingly
silent.
Loud as McKinley's boom has been
so far. ii is by no means a foregone con-
clusion that he viii obtain the nominal
ton. We cannot believe that other
men of vastly greater strength and
with vastly superior records will be
ignored by their party in favor of one
whose private and public career he's
given evidence of no more than the
most ordinary abilities: but should Nc
kinley be nominated then will come 10
the Democratic party the greatest on
portunity it has had since 1884. Should |
1t nominate a good man and come ont
fearlessly with an uncompromising gold |
standard plank II viii switch thousands |
Of Republicans into its ranks who viii |
fully cover the detection Of those who |
favor free silver, uncertainty and bust |
ness depression.
For these reasons II is highly i'm |
portant, not only from business poin-
OF view, but even from that of r7era
politics. that the merchants Of the entire
who favor the maintenance
OF the gold standard should place them
selves distinctly on record. L. The |
airy good strade make itself plainly /
heard on mis- question. 1t spoke 1rro,
'Si NNluiiiAS WIN no uncertain yoio
against the continuance Of the Durcl,sS,
q silver by the government in 1Nq3. To-
Us hear from ii again az this critical
period in our financial history.
Dry goods men OF the countrvr n,
YOU favor the maintenance Of tba ms
mt stable sold standard OF value2 =,
Us hear from you"
The New York Journal OF Comna-oA
says:
The continued export OF gold. the
renewed agitation in The senate against
Tie issue OF bonds. and The activity Of
ne silver element in both political mar
-leS are causing concern in admiuistra-
lon circles. Il is believed that the
oss Of gold would cease with tighten
ne rates for money and the expiration
y the spring export season. If il were
lot Tor the uncertainties Of the politi-
al situation. II IS considered 90 ne |
llg1eSt Importance, not merely for mar
y or political reasons. but for the main
enance of the public cre5it. that both
political parties and their candidates
should plant themselves upon an NM
luivocal gold platform. II Mckinley
'hould be nominated upon dubious
platform and the Democratic national
convention should then be carried Tor
rec silver. il is feared thai a sa-5o,,s
'anic would follow.