The herald., 1896-12-14


victory. are attempting to cry down any
ton. They complain that agitation dis
turbs business. and they accuse the ad-
vocates of free coinage of stirring up
discomfort. -.
"Agitation is the only means by which,
wrong can be redressed under our form
Of government. The man who de-
nounces agitation simply opposes the
discussion of a public question, and the
man who attempts to put stop to the
discussion of a public question confesses
his hostility to our form of government.
they must be free to consider any sub
ject which concerns their welfare. Those
who are disposed to suppress any further
agitation upon the money question
should remember that the opponents of
bimetallism have always been ready to
agitate whenever they desired to secure
legislation. During his first administra-
ton, Mr.. Cleveland recommended the
suspension of coinage under the Bland
act-those who supported him were not
afraid of disturbing business then. Dur
curing the repeal of the purchasing
clause of the Sherman law-the boards
of trade, the chambers Of commerce, the
flnanciers and the gold standard press
did not hesitate to disturb business then.
All legislation temporarily disturbs bus
mess to greater or less extent. and
yet the Democrats (the gold Democrats
included) commenced agitating for the
repeal of the Mckinley tariff act as soon
as it became a law, and the Republicans
(the gold Republicans included) COM
Wilson tariff act as soon as it became a
law. The New York Reform club was
organized for the purpose OF agitation;
1t first agitated against the protective
tariff and then against bimetallism. The
Home Market club was organized to
carry on an agitation against tariff re-
form. l mention these instances to show
that the people who now oppose agitation
against the gold standard have always
been willing to agitate when they were
not satisfied with existing legislation.
'Those who regard this election as a
conclusive settlement of the question at
issue should recall the recent political
history of the United States. The ex-
act vote cannot be given at the time
this article is written, but it is so close
that change of less than thirty thou
sand votes. properly distributed over
several states, would overcome the Re-
publican majority in the electoral COL
lege. The vote was so nearly even in
Kentucky, South Dakota and Wyom-
ing that change of one thousand votes
either way would change twenty elec-
toral votes. On the basis Of the electoral
vote, therefore, there is nothing to guar
antee permanence in the victory for the
gold standard. But even If the Repub-
lican triumph was more sweeping than
the figures at present indicate, it would
not settle the next campaign. In the
past parties have often recovered quick
ly from what seemed overwhelming de-
feat. In 1872 Mr. Greeley was defeated.
and yet in 1876 Mr.. Tilden was believed
by the Democrats to have been elected.
Mr.. Blaine was defeated in 1884, and yet
Mr.. Harrison was elected in 1888. The
Republican victory Of 1883 was quickly
followed by the Democratic victory of
1890 and the election of President Cleve-
land two years later. The election of
President Cleveland by large major
ity in 1892 was followed two years later
by an enormous Republican victory. The
changes which have taken place in the
past indicate the possibilities of the fu-
ture. There is only one prophecy which
can be made with certainty of fulfill
ment, and that is, that the American peo-
pie will study subject until they under
stand it and will then settle it. Changes
of opinion will go on until the best solu-
ton of every question is found. Our
form of government is based upon the
theory that the people are capable of
self-government. This theory is, in my
| judgment. we'll founded. The people
have both the intelligence and the patri-
| otism to select and to secure for them
selves those policies which are best. They
| are now engaged in an effort to discover
and secure satisfactory financial pol
| icy, and it would be reflection upon
them to say that they would perma-
nently accept an unsatisfactory pol
| icy. Experience plays an important
| part in the settlement of public ques-
| tions. That financial and Industrial
| conditions are unsatisfactory at this
| time, no one denies. The advocates of
free coinage have insisted that these
conditions are largely due to the gold
standard. They insist that falling prices
are but an evidence that gold is rising,
and they assert that the rise in the pur-
chasing power of an ounce of gold is due
to legislation which has increased the
demand for gold. The Republicans, on
the other hand, have blamed the Wilson
bill for the present hard times and have
promised to restore prosperity by OPEN
ing the mills. The next four years will
determine whether the Republican prom
ises can be fulfilled"
The courts should settle the question
Of how far a preacher may practice de-
ception to inveigle would-be honest
man into committing a crime without
duplicating himself. An intimation on
that subject from the bench might tend
to expedite the summers cases now up
for hearing.
There is no foundation for the rumor
that ex-Candidate Martin regards the
Parkhurst society as the greatest bless
ipr ~ tho nj oentIlrV Ha ha &