Evening star., 1896-03-23
FREE SILVER CRY
As an Independent American
Policy It VIII Never Win.
A PRECEDENT IN Case OF Free TRADE
When It Came to Legislative Ac-
ton Protection Was Recognized.
BUSINESS MEMS INFLUENCE

A party leader Of national reputation, an
advocate of sound money. and close OBJ
server of events, said to a representative of
The Star today:
ut would not surprise me If before this
free silver cry is disposed of a national
campaign is made on it. If such should
prove to be the case shall have no doubt
of the result. Free silver as an Independent
American policy will never win. The de-
mand for it, even in the strongest of the
silver strongholds, Is based upon an old
statement Of the case and would be very
greatly modified If brought face to face
with situation Of more moment than that
Of a mere campaign contention. The num-
ber of men who then, at any and all risk to
the credit of the country, would urge the
opening of the mints Of the country to sill
yer bullion would be comparatively small
The conservative forces Of business would
everywhere be put in operation and these
would be sufficient to check any move tend
ing through the medium Of legislation to-
ward recklessness or folly.
The Free Trade Precedent.
Fortunately for this view of the matter.
we have precedent fresh and pat to hand.
Take the demand for free trade. That was
heard for years, and it seemed to grow
Protection was denounced on the stump
and in the newspapers, and the charge
made in a hundred forms that the masses
were being robbed in the interests of the
rev. A great many people were brought to
believe the charge, and when Mr. Cleveland
put out his message in 1887 it was plain
that the battle between the two old parties
was at last to be fought on that line. And
the very next year it was fought on that
line, and free trade got a backset.
But four years later the issue was re-
newed. and the democracy went before the
people on a plain, unqualified free trade
platform, and swept the country, securing
not only the presidency. but Congress in
both brai ches. Here now it seemed would
be inaugurated the -taiked-of free
made was specific in terms, and the result
at the polls was claimed to be instruction
to Congress to lower the tariff to revenue
basis. The ways and means committee was
organized it was thought, to carry out the
new policy. and the real free traders were
very confident and happy.
A Halt Wns Called.
''It soon became apparent, however. that
there was new force to be reckoned with.
The business interests Of the country, in
democratic as in republican states. called
halt on extreme legislation. In fact, there
old not appear to be any politics in the
question at all now that it had reached the
stage when real action was TO be taken.
New York, New Jersey and Connecticut,
which had appeared to support at the polls
Inc Iree trade prOnuncltnlentO, were as
much opposed to 1t being written into law
as Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, which
had opposed it. Industries in all the states,
it was pointed out, had been built up and
were now hourishing by the aid of protec-
tfon. and no step must be taken calculated
to destroy or even injure them. OF course,
this brought on a clash. The original free
traders held the platform aloft and de-
manded that measure be passed in strict
accordance with it. But this was not done.
1t could not possibly be done. The CAM
paign really had not been won on free trade
lines. although the party platform had call
ed so strenously for that policy. The re-
suit was that the business interests trf-
Cmphed. The Wilson BILL as reported to
the House, was no free trade measure. 1t
lowered duties here and there, but IL was
chock full of protection. and remained 30
throughout it's whole legislative existence.
Examine it as a law today and you'll find
that it does not realize In any sense the
platform adopted at Chicago in 1882"
"And you think that even If free silver
should appear to win this year free coinage
as an independent American policy would
not follow?'
VIII Never Win.
''The likeness to the tariff fight will not
go that far. Silver will not win this year.
But If 1t were possible for it to do so it
would. when tho era of legislative action
arrived confront the same difficulties that
free trade did. A campaign cry Is one
thing. The adoption after patient investi-
cation Of a policy affecting every business
interest in the country, and the very credit
of the government itself, is another thing
Free coinage is only a cry. 1t is an old
cry, 1t is true, but during its existence the
country has been making giant strides
along the pathway of prosperity, and al
| thougt that prosperity is at present tempo
rarily checked, our monetary connections,
which have grown up with it, are such as
should and must forbid any extreme change
| in our financial policy. But, as I said at
the outset. it may require national con-
test on this line, with free silver a dis
servative sentiment is on the subject"