Evening star., 1896-06-17
money issue as well as of serious interest

money issue as well as Of serious interest
considered separately?
One argument offered to the voters with
silver tendencies in favor Of protection Is
that 1t enables a larger use Of silver in the
financial policy of this country. II the
markets Of the country are reserved for the
people of the country the medium of ex-
change between the people need not be so
carefully calculated with regard to the
money standards of other countries. Some
thing of an American system of finance
will then be possible. Not the free coinage
of silver as an Independent act by this
government, any more than the irrevocable
and permanent adoption Of the single gold
standard. but as large a use of silver as
may, for the larger uses of this country,
circulation here.
But under free trade or approximate free
trade. how would 1t be? The protectionists
urge that the larger the dealings with
foreign countries the greater American
dependt nee on them. Balances, necessarily,
must be settled in the money Of those coun-
tries. If gold is that money-and gold is
the money of the countries which sell in
America with the tariff bars let down.
then gold must be kept, or be obtainable,
In large amounts. Silver in such circum-
stances would not answer the purpose. And
ss free silver would drive gold away, free
trade, which would make gold essential to
the increased foreign trade, would cause
gold to go to a high premium and stay
there
This whole question will of course have
to be fought out on the stump. The mere
assertions of national conventions-made
always under more or less strain and ex-
citement-will be brought. later, under the
strong glass of protracted campaign ex-
animation. The people are curious, and are
vitality interested, and in the end will
decide.
AS the tariff. therefore, is certain to be
In evidence not only On account of the
direct public interest in this issue. but by
reason of it's connection with the financial
question, how will it be dealt with? The
republicans are for high protection, tenn
pered by reciprocity and by the necessity of
a revenue-producing tariff. They are not
urging the re-enactment of the Mckinley
bill. for they agree that six years time
makes new schedules necessary. But they
insist that in whatever is done with the
schedules the principle of high protection
must be kept in view and enforced
What say the democrats? What they said
ct Chicago four years ago will not answer
now. Since then they have written a tariff
Dill which recognizes the principle of pro-
lection. and. besides, many of their leaders
recognize the force of the republican charge
that free silver and free trade are incon-
gruous. But to what extent will they
publicly make this admission? Protection
Is necessarily delicate subject with them:
but If they are obliged to handle it they
must do so with more or less directness.
VIII they content themselves with advo-
eating protection which will provide
merely for the difference between the wages
paid in this country and wages paid abroad ?
a democratic platform leaning toward pro-
lection will be a curiosity, but not more so
than democratic platform declaration in
favor of the free coinage of silver at 16 to l.