Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-07-23
A Sensible and Conservative View.

For the consideration and benefit
Of few of our gold bug friends, who
seem disposed to withhold their sup.
port from the Chicago ticket and
platform, we publish the following
excellent and very sensible editorial
from last weeks issue Of the Staun-
ton indicator, so ably edited by II.
G. Tinsley, Esq, who had stoutly
opposed the growing demand for the
free mintage of the white metal:
1t is superfiuous to tell the read
ers Of the NINDICAToR that there
are two planks i'm the Chicago plat
form-the free silver and the denun-
citation of the Civil Service-with
which we are not in love. But we
hope it is equally superfiuous to as
sure those readers that we will give
the Chicago nominees and platform
the most loyal and earnest support of
which we are capable.
And here let us say few words in
the utmost Kindness to our fellow
gold-bugs. Don't talk rasbly and
don't say something that hereafter
you may wish you had not said
All this hubbub you see raised over
the work at Chicago will soon have
died away; there is no occasion for
it and it cannot live. The Chicago
adopted a genuine Demo-
cratic platform and placed upon it
two lifelong Democrats without a
stain on their Democratic record. So
from party point of view you are
absolutely without excuse.
Again, about the harm ii will
do the country. Remember that
both parties have always held that
was most desirable if it
was feasible-that is if the other ma
lions would join in it. The differ
ence between the two great parties
o.day is that the Democrats have
determined not to wait for European
Don't be betrayed into
talking about this action as repudia-
ton and populism or anything else,
but just what it is. The wisest man
in the United States does not under
stand this currency question suffi-
GENTLY to say what will come of any
certain action taken. We were told
by the Republicans that the coinage
under the Sherman law would re-
store the price of silver. 1t did not.
We were told by President Cleve-
land that the thing to restore good
times was the repeal of the Sher-
man law. That, too, failed of veri-
tication. We were told that the gold
action of the National Re-
publican convention would start I'D
the buying in Europe. 1t did not.
We were told that a free silver de-
at Chicago would shut
down all European buying. 1t did
not. In short the people have re-
ceived all sorts of assurances from
the people who ought to know, and
they have failed. 1t was then that
the Democratic party resolved to
make the free silver experiment.
In characteriZiug this experiment
1t is well enough to be careful. We
gold bugs have not had all the knowl-
edge in the party and in the world
on this subject. We should remem-
Der that in Great Britain, in Ger
many, in France, in all European
countries, the business community Ia
greatly divided on the question of
free coinage. 1t is not at all one
sided affair. We have just been
reading some English Bimetallists'
views which were cabled to the n.
Y. World after the adoption of the
free silver platform at Chicago. w.
H. Greenfel, who represented Great
Britain at the Brussels Monetary
Conference, says:
MY own humble opiniG.: is IhS.:
the United States are big enough aud
strong enough and rich enough to
maintain a par Of exchange. 1t is
not improbable that panic would be
organized and that there would be a
selling Of American securities by ig-
norant people and buying of them
by wise ones, but | believe there
would be such stimulus to trade
and sucn an increase in exports of
the United States that gold would
begin to flow back in a natural man.
ner. / believe that the way for the
United States to keep their gold Is
to go on to silver. Furthermore l
believe that the United States would
soon be Joined by other countries
Another important opinion was
cabled by Sir Moreton Frewin, as
follows:
AT the recent conference Of BIZ
metallists at Brussels, which | at
tended, the opinion prevailed that if
the United States would open her
minis to silver the minis of France
and India would follow suit, while a
number of the European countries,
especially Russia and France, would
purchase annually fixed amount of
silver to be used rs full legal tender
coins. NJ. Raffalovitch declared that
Russia would gladly take 10000, 900
ounces if she could get them.'
$50 you think, then, that free coin.
age by the United States, single
handed, might assist an international
settle" ent?'
Il think IL wnnld Cor manu- ron