Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-08-03
sREELAND, PA, AUGUST 3, 1896.
why Gold Men support Mckinley.


attempt to explain why he should re-
cciyc their votes in preference to Bryan.
Both men stand upon platforms which
declare for bimctalliSm. The only diff
ference which can be detected is that
the Republicans want to wait until an
international agreement with 'othcr"
nations can be effected. They do not
say how it can be accomplished, nor at
what ratio the two metals should be
placed, nor how many or what foreign
nations should agree, nor what ought to
be done if we fail to secure the promised
international agreement. They do
icclarc, however, that bimctallism is
necessary and pledge themselves to pro-
note it-whcn other nations consent.
Therefore, the gold men cannot con
'istcntly support Mckinley on the
grounds that the platform he stands
upon is more favorable to them than thc
platform Of the Democrats. If bimctal-
ism would harm their interests they
should fight Mckinley as strongly as
thcy fight Bryan. Both platforms want
5he same thing. and if either was adopt
ed by the country the ultimate end
would be the same.
The Democrats give definite dates
md unmiStakablc figures, but that is
III wherein they differ from the Rcpub-
iicans. They say that gold and silver
should both be coined in quantities
limited only by the amount available for
coinage. that both should be made legal
tender money, that sixteen times as
much silver should be placed in silver
Iollar than there is in a gold dollar, and
chat this country should do this now.
There is not particle Of difference
noticeable to the average reader, except
Is noted above. and this difference will
disappear if either should be followed to
Us logical end.
Why, then, should the men who are
Interested in maintaining monometal-
ism, the single gold standard, declare
Inrcserycdly and as one person for the
Republican candidate? William Nc
Ninley is as bitterly opposed to the gold
standard as William Bryan. The plat
form he stands upon says so, and not
,ater than June "A. 1890, in the national
house Of representatives he used the
the following language, quoted as de
Iiycred by him, on page 9,4I7, volume
Il, Of the Congressional Rec0rd: Il am for
the largest use Of silver in the currency
IF the country. | would not dishonor
it; l would give it equal credit and
honor with gold. l would make no
discrimination, | would utilize both
metals as money and discredit neither.
/ want the double standard"
Why, then, do the gold men, who do
not want the double standard. declare
that to save the country we must elect
the man who in a prepared and dOliber-
ate address says Il want the double
'tandard?" How can the opponents of
making money OF silver bring themselves
to support It man who wants to make it
money, who would give it equal credit
and honor with gold, who would make
no discrimination, who would, in short,
make Of silver everything which the
opponents OF silver say it should not be
made.
The stand taken by the gold people of
The country is certainly paradoxical,
nevertheless there must be Il reason for
it. Bankers and brokers, and the in
tercsts they represent, are never found
arrayed As a unit on the side of any
public question unless they have good
cause for taking that position.
What is it has caused them to rush to
Mckinley when his platform and his
public uttcranccs are diametrically op-
posed to gold supremacy? Is it not well
for every Republican bimctallst, and
all who accept the Republican platform
is their political creed are as great BIZ
mctallists as William Bryan, is it not
well for them to try to ascertain why
their opponents side with Republican,
ism in this campaign? When Republ-
cans find among their ranks every man
who opposes that which Republicans
and the party advocate, should not Re
publicans ask themselves why this is so?
Is it not well to remember the old adage
Of Greeks bearing gifts?n
1t is not to be assumed that William
Mckinley has given the gold men any
assurance or intimation that he will re-
pudiate his platform, which declares for
bimetallism, or his previous record
which IS also very favorable to silver
Mckinley is scarcely the kind of man
who would do that. Still, the bankers
and the gold men in this and every
other country want him elected, conse-
quently there must be reason some
where for such Il state of affairs, and
the Republicans who are supporting him
because they think his election would