New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-10
TO SIDE-TRACK SILVER.
A REFERENCE TO THE CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICTS.
THE "sILvER-TONGUED ORATOR FROM Ne
vADA" PLEADS AGAIN FOR THIS con-

THE "sILvER-TONGUED ORATOR FROM Me-
vADA" PLEADS AGAIN FOR THIS con-
CEssIoN TO SILVER REPUBLICANS
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: May I again ask access to your columns
to urge upon Republicans the necessity OF con-
cessions at st. Louis in order to prevent disas-
trous division In our ranks? The coinage Ques-
ton Is not, In my opinion. one Of paramount I'M
portance. During the last forty years the peo-
pie Of this country have had boom and panic
prosperity and disaster, high prices and low
prices, alike under bimetallism. monOmetallism
and no metallism at all But no changes made
In the coinage laws have wrought 1.-THE OF the
mischief resulting from the free-trade victory OF
1894 The pressing need OF the hour Is to reverse
that victory and permanently restore the prin-
cipe OF protection to our tariff laws. After that
we may divide, II necessary upon questions OF
currency and coinage: but until then it will be
suicidal for single goid-standard Republicans
to force unnecessary quarrel upon free-sver-
coinage Republicans and threaten them with
expulsion from the party unless they surrender
their bimetallic views.
Concede that the Republican vote east OF the
Missouri River and north OF the Ohio will be
sufficient to elect President upon a gold-stand-
ard platform, yet Of what avail-except to those
who are anxious only TO capture the consulshlps
and the custom houses-would be victory
gained upon lines that would drive from ten to
twenty-four Republican Senator'S into opposition
and would leave the new Administration power
less to procure either the enactment the
peal OF single law?
The allegiance If trsnsmlssissppi Republl-
to the principle OF protection has been
gained from their patriotism alone. and has not
as In the East-been vivined by local In
teress and needs. They Will continue loyal to
protection If permitted TO retain their convic-
lions concerning free coinage. but II compelled
by their Eastern brethren to surrender either
one the other. there is danger that protection
will be sacrificed
Extremists are not wise counsellors. A free
coinage plank in the National platform would
lose to the party every State east OF the Allie
ghanes and entail National defeat while
single gold standard plank would lose to us every
State west Of the Missouri River. and make i'm
possible any restoration of protection
Mutual concession alone can preserve party
unity. and any measure OF concession should be
candid and easily comprehended. To declare
that the Republican party Is in favor OF free
silver colnag, by international agreement
would he to declare against free silver coinage,
for who does not believe that international
agreement is at present out Of the question!
To declare that the Republican party Is IN
favor ~ sound money" and honest dollars
and gold and silver money Of interchange
able value" and NJ equal intrinsic and dent
having power" is TO jugge with phrases ca
pable u double definitions. and recalls the old
Jacobite toast
God bless the Faith. God bless the Faiths De-
God save the King. God confound the Pretender!
Which the Prcicrder is. and which the King
God bless my soul that's quite another thlhs'
The f,irest and most practicable solution OF
the pending problem is. repeat 10 remit II 10
tho voters = the Congress dis,r is. and - permit
Republicans To- remain gold-standard or nee
silver rllnage adVocatel according . their con-
..cti.ns while they march together to victory
uri,r th. banner ~ protection Ny forme: sug-
r.s.i,n = a flank at ST Louis TO this effect in
GUIDED a prdg. tina; the President should not
inierp.se tie vet, power 10 defeat any coinage
/ law. ina, might be- enacted by the votes OF ma
I f.-l,, 4 Republican Senator's and Representa-
/ live. In Congress hut this feature may be
waived because. while Il seems especially OBJ
noxlous to the gold men IT is not important TO
/ IN. silver men for II and whenever ree-colh-
oge law can receive a majority OF Republican
/ yote. II can-ulth the aid ~ Democratic ana
Popu,ist votes-bc carried over veto
suppose II will be quite hopeless Tor me 10
expect courteous treatment by porti"h OF '"e
Eastern press ~ any suggestions OF cohcesS'o"
/ - fr-e-coinage Republicans ana IBIS cot""'"'l'-
} cation may. Ike its predecessor De eul'oi'""S
denounced by The Chicago Tribune as felo-
/ Nous" and foolish" and by The Hartford
J. C1urant" az "cowardiy and dotc. but "ii'e
do not enjoy being made target Tor sp'teiu'
e.u,ctoration Of denunc!atory adjectives. think
| I ourh. not therefore, to shirk the self-mposed
| du,v n messing this plan of adjustment upon
| the attention II Eastern Republicans
| THOMAS FITCH.
Phoenix Ariz March 4. 1896.