St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-06

Inc AIhdHSdS 1SpuDllCdnS not only
declared for solid Mckinley delega-
cation to the national convention, but
they have something to say on the
financial question. Under the lead of
that pure and eminent statesman, Pow
ell Clayton, who is almost as great a
philosopher as Steve Elkins himself,
1t attacked the currency. 1t adopted
financial plank which has
familiar ring, and can be traced back
to its paternity in the Minneapolis
platform of 1892. This is perhaps the
nearest appI oach to anything positive
that we have ever had offered to US
to explain what Mr. McKinley's posi-
ton on the money issue really is. He
did not, of course, frame this resolu-
ton, but those who did frame it are
ardent McKinleyites. So it is interest
ing to know how they would solve the
difficulties Of the situation. We find
them offering to us nothing but the
old dry bones of true bimetallism,
provision, to be determined by legisla-
ton, as will secure the maintenance
of the parity of values of the two
metals. ETC."
This is the plank of four years ago,
which has been rejected and spurned
and spat upon by both factions of the
orfxy
brought out in a recent debate of the
senate that this plank was written by
the silver representatives, Mr.. Teller
himself having a conspicuous share in
1t. Mr.. Teller says that when he wrote
it he meant free coinage of silver at
the ratio Of 16 to 1, and never dreamed
that anybody else would chal-
lenge that Interpretation. Repub-
lican leaders who hold opposite
opinions to his say that it
means nothing of the kind. What it
does mean they are not at all agreed
upon. Some of them read into it a
declaration for an international agree
ment, others say that it means "a
larger use of silver" without explain
ing how that is to be brought about,
and still others contend that it contem-
plates the gold standard alone.
At this writing, their differences have
become SO apparent and irreconcilable
that all of them have agreed to at least
one thing; namely, that the financial
plank of 1892 means now absolutely
nothing at all. They have further an
nounced that no repetition of it will be
satisfactory to any wing of the Re-
publican party. In 1885, Mr.. Teller and
Mr.. Sherman and Mr.. Morrill, all an
nounce that the Republican party will
be pledged to say one thing or the
other. 1t will go for the gold standard
or for the silver standard, because, at
this writing, there is no middle ground
This being the case, it is not a little
interesting to see that the sharp polit-
ical workers in the several states do
not hold the same opinion. They are
looking forward to another straddle
and of all the candidates who are men,
toned prominently for the Republican
nomination, none has exerted himself
with more eloquent bursts of silence
that Mr.. Mckinley to keep on both sides
of the fence. If the Arkansas platform
is at all representative of the Mckinley
movement, and we are much inclined
to believe that it is. the Republican
party is preparing to say to the coun-
try that there is no issue on hand
this year but a restoration of the Nc
Kinley bill; and to present on the fnan-
cial issue the faithful old Truepenny
which they offered to the country four
years ago, and which has since been
discovered to be nothing but a MKT
ure of base and worthless metals.