New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-10
Suicidal SILVER POLICY.
DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE BEGIN
MING TO OBJECT

THE SENATE HAS DEALT THE CAUSE
BLACK EYE-REAL PUBLIC SENTIMENT
WILL TRIUMPH IN THE END.
10y TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUNEl
washington, Feb 9.-As the time draws near for
,b. vote in the House OF Representatives the
sanate free-coinaCe substitute for the Bond BILL IN
dca..ons appear that the silver Democrats may d.
vide themselves into two groups-one composed OF
'1ast-dich" free-conage men. and the other OF
men who have promised 10 vote for the pending
measure and will do so. but who have promised
themselves that they will do again. In
conversation with a reporter Yesterday a promi-
uent Democratic Representative said:
I Shall for the bill and then go home and
tell my people that if they renomnae me it must
mat silver Will be entirely excluded from circula-
ron There will always be silver currency and
DO DO not say that there may be or less
coinage Of the white metal in days to come. But
believe silver IS doomed; There are New-York. Penn
sylvania Ohio and Illinois. four OF the largest
States in the Union, which are opposed to silver
Michigan. Wisconsin and Minnesota. and also Cal
States. They are all against silver Back Of them
stands III credit OF al Europe. We are in the
As between The North and South Independently and
alone The war might have terminated differently II
the sentiment OF the world had not been arrayed
agaius, the Confederacy. and all Europe rad not
stood behind the Federal Government with money
The question is: Can win a fight in which the
leading states Of the Union are on the side OF the
an
The Lila and Lilo Congresses IL we had made the
contest in a spiri. OF compromise. We could have
Yer redemption money and for the coinage OF the
seignioraee We could have forced through other
making this an issue Of life and death. and we
doomed TO BE- defeated. TO continue the struggle
all sympathetic accord with the Federal power. for
no matter who may succeed Mr. Cleveland, ne will
States Will be damaged by conflict vita the Fec;
be invested in them
There is 10 reason doubt that these views
shared in the main by number of other Demo
Gratis in the House of Representatives. but II is
doubtful whether many Of them Will hold out
when the test is applied If they do the
schism in the Democratic party will be largely. If
not mainly due 10 the intolorant disposition and
attitude OF the free-siver majority in the Senate.
which has only destroyed every vestiSe OF the
House bill 20 maintain the co.r reserve and pro-
vide for temporary deficiencies Of revenue. but
which has also compelled the free-silver majority
OF the Finance Committee to DO the thing
with the bill 70 Increase the revenues. This latest
performance is regarded by many Of the free
silver Democrats In the House probably fatal
blow 10 the prospects in Congress Of the cause
which they have so long and 50 earnestly advocated
There are Democrats even in the House OF Repre-
sentatives WHO are sensible and patriotic men
men who would not knowingly or wfuy do any
thing 20 impair the credit of the Nation or s!rch
As honor and they resent the rule or ruin poll
cy Of the silver majority which controls the Sen
ate In conversation with Tribune correspondent
last night one Of these men said
As YOU know. ! an a free-siiver man and have
voted for free and unlimited coinage at every op-
portunity since l have been a member OF the
Bond bill N december mainly because me Ad,;
mnistration was opposed to II; 1us nov oev9aSe
retire the grsenbacks. ! am opposed TO that. l
believed then ard believe now. however that the
Secretary ought 10 have authority 10 .ssue bonds
at a lower rate OF interest than Pc cent am
PAYABLE within shorter period than thlTiT year,
We'll. the Senate refused 10 pass the Dil. sen, u
It BY the House. and has sent Us free-co'hgs&
substitute which shall be forced 10 FGye i iDI.
aged the cause Of silver because in The mean time
rates which Will yield 10 the PURCHASERS as | am
informed a rate OF interest considerably IN exec
House BIZ. II the new bonds yield 3as per CEN
the interest VIII amount % $4,000 year mo-.
cent. and in thirty years it will amount TO- 81
$1,000 more ard the taxpayers Of the United
o a.. that is no, ali or The worst Of it, voted
against the revenue bill as matter OF &C nui J.
sensible and intelligent man admits, that large
amount Of additional revenue Is needed 70 larry on
TIE Government supposed that the Senate. after
sending us "a bull against the comet in the snap
OF ;ree coinage substitute for the hond hi, Won
promotlv consider and within a reasonable time pas
me repenue , n 10 s ,DT;terabv worse than
blunder No. J. and I, for one. am completely dis
hearened well as shoroqghiy disgus'sd In my
in The Finance Committee has dealt the cause %
free coinage "A blow from which II vii! not recol"
for wears to come If It ever does. That Wi! be the
chief result OF the performance, which was an az
slrd and wicked II Was unnecessary Tor 81 couisc
If one free coinage measure cannot be enacted into
law two certainly cannot be written in the statute
book ..o
against free and unlimited silver coinage in the
United States within the next few months rom
which II will not recover in this generation, and
the rule ruin free silver majority in IN" Senae
composed of Democra;s Republicans ana Pop1HiS,'s
will be responsible for II. Among the other pr0OaD.e
results will be the temporary undong Of the Demo
cratic party in several important Southern States,
and like temporary undoing Of the Republican
party in several less important Northern States at