The Yale expositor., 1896-04-24

Two weeks ago The National Bimetal-
list discussed the republican platforms
of Ohio, Iowa and Kansas SO far as
they had any bearing upon the money
question.
Kansas trusting blindly to the Ma
tiOnal Republican Convention, Iowa
swallowing anything and everything in
the name of Allison, and Ohio present.
ing a ridiculous straddlc, rendered
positively grotesque by the overdrawn
rhetoric in which it was clothed, made
picture Of weakness that should cause
every true republican ear TO tingle with
shame.
Since then the republicans OF New
York and Massachusetts have spoken.
Whatever may be said Of the sound
ness of their flnapC!al policy, their plat
form declarations at least have the
merit of frankness, and are without
equivocation for gold
The New York declaration is as fol-
lows:
THE agitation for the free coinage
of silver at the ratio OF 16 to / seriously
disturbs all industrial interests and
calls for a clear statement of the re-
publican attitude upon this question, to
the end that the trade OF this country
at home and abroad may again be
placed upon sound and stable founda-
tion.
a ion in hn
the free coinage Of silver an attempt to
degrade the long-establisbed standard
of our monetary system, and hence
blow to public and private credit at
once costly to the national government
and harmful to our domestic and for
eign commerce.
Until there is 4 prospect OF inter-
national agreement as to silver coin
age. and while gold remains the stand
ard of the United States and OF the civil
lied world, the Republican party of
New York declares itself IN favor Of the
firm and honorable maintenance Of the
standard"
That of Massachusetts is e..uost iden-
tical, except that it is a little more
strongly in favor Of the national banks:
I'VE regard the silver agitation as
hurtful to business and destructive of
confidence, and, as has been recently
shown, hostile to all tariff legislation
designed TO give protection to our in
dustries and revenue to our treasury.
'We are entirely opposed to the free
and unlimited coinage OF silver, and to
any change in the existing gold stand
ard, except by International agreement.
Each dollar mWst be kept as good as
every other dollar. The credit of the
United States must be maintained at the
highest point, so that it cannot be Qucs-
toned anywhere, either at home or
abroad. Every promise must be rigidly
kept, and every obligation redeemable
in coin must be paid in gold.
1--WE are opposed to the unsound and
dangerous system OF state banks. We
support the national banking system,
and believe that it should bc so amend
ed as to give room for expansion and
opportunity to meet the demands of the
growing business and population OF
the country"
Not only this, but the candidates
named as their choice can be safely re-
lied upon to stand squarely by the plat
form declaration.
All of Morton's instincts are upon the
side of wealth, while Reeds environ
ments are such that he cannot oppose
it, if he would.
1t will be observed that these enun-
Citations in favor OF gold are not even
veneered with the thlnnest coating OF
bimetallism.
The New Workers arc in favor Of
maintaining the gold standard until
there is a prospcct of international
agreement as to silver coinage"
Massachusetts is entirely opposed to
free and unlimited coinage, and to any
change in the existing gold standard,
except by international agreement"
Neither suggests the slightest proba-
bility Of such an agreement, any de-
sire for one, or any intention to try to
bring one about. So they are clear-cut,
hat-footed, unqualified declarations for
the gold standard.
Twenty-three years ago that standard
was fastened upon the people OF the
United States and a large part OF
Europe. Almost Immediately prices
began tofall, business depression began,
and there was an almost universal cry
OF hard times. Some classes in New
York and Massachusetts, (the money
lenders, and business men occupying
positions of exceptional advantage)
have prospered; but with the great
army Of toilers and producers, there has
been scarcely a glimmer Of sunshine.
Each succeeding year has found them
a little poorer, with the:r load of debt
increasing, their ability to pay di-
minishing and with an almost hopeless
future staring them in the face.
Property values in tho United States
are very little, If any, more than half
what they would have been ii the old
standard of measurement mad been pre-
served, the American people are selling
their exportable commodities on sill
yer basis in competition with Asia and
ne IN boi Jo1, kxyt ha uto r,d a nd