The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-06-19
THE REAL REMEDY.
From the Chicago Evening Post.


A rather fruitless discussion has been in
progress In the eastern press as to wheti.
er the silver movement Is essentially a
craze similar to the greenback delusion
A number OF parallelsms have been point.
ed out, and also several striking differ.
ences. Perhaps the chief source Of the
strength OF the silver cause Is found in
the popular inability to distinguish be-
tween the American programme and that
OF the scientific blmetallists of the world.
Inc greenback cause mad no support
among economists, while bimetallism
counts among its advocates and adher-
ents many OF the leading teachers and
writer's on financial and economic sub
jects. There Is little In common between
scientific bimetallism and the free-silver
movement in America, but the argu.
ments and facts marshaled by economists
against the single gold standard are twist
ed and misapplied by the silverites in such
way as to mislead thousands into be-
lieving that scientific authority sanctions
the attempt to force the United States to
establish bimetallism without the concur
renee OF other nations. The first step,
then, Of the opponents Of free silver
should 'be to emphasize and enforce the
fundamental distinction between bimet-
allism as taught by economists and silver
as preached by American free coinage agi-
tatoTs.
II Il II
But would this take all life out of the
silver movement? Candor compels all Sc
rious'students to admit that free silver is
far from being merely craze and unac-
countable delusion. and that there is a
substantial, real grievance at the foun-
dation of the agitation. Indeed, self-in-
terest in the large as we'll as narrow sense
should cause the most earnest gold cham
pions to protest against the fashion of
ascribing dishonest motives to the silver
sections. There Is altogether too much
shallow, tlippant and silly talk Of this
kind. The masses that are clamorng for
silver are not deliberate or conscious re-
pudia iationists, and are as honest and sim
cere as the people of the eastern states.
When they say that silver Is "honest
money" they mean and believe 1t. and their
error Is a purely intellectual one. Now,
as the New York Journal Of Commerce
well says, apart from justice, there is a
double disadvantage in this reckless de-
nunciation Of millions Of farmers and Ia
borers, for at places the people of the
country in a false light abroad, and its
renders doubly difficult the task Of es-
tablishing q stable system of currency
and banking by any exercise OF statesman
ship at home" The gold-standard cause
may we'll pray to be saved from its thought
less and fanatical friends. who obstruct
progress by exciting resentment and pre-
judice.
There must be real grievance, legiti-
mate want, behind this great movement.
Those who are convinced that free silver
Is no remedy at all must, after satisfying
\, IN ia
trouble producing the agitation, discover
and point out the real remedy. Honest
but mistaken people may be made to see
their error II they are fairly and reason
ably dealt with. 1t Is, therefore, partic-
ularly gratifying to observe that in the
most conservative eastern financial cir
cles q disposition is shown to recognize
the legitimate wants of the masses Of the
west and south and to study the ways
and means Of meeting them. Thus Henry
Clews, the eminent New York banker and
financier. says with reference to the sit
uation is, the west and south: more
money Is doubtless needed for facilitating
cash transactions in those sections. but
that want can be easily satisfied through
such notifications of our banking legis-
lation as will cause the note issues to re-
spond readily to every real need for cur
rency." The penalty for the Indifference,
ignorance or cowardice Of legislators and
business men who frowned upon every
proposal aiming at comprehensive bank
Ing legislation Is the renewed activity OF
the free silver men. The sooner they real
lie that the alternative to radical cur
rercy and banking reform Is the danger of
silver triumph and the reduction Of the
country to silver basis. the better 1t Will
be for the industries and political progress
of the country. Abuse and ridicule Of
those who have demanded "more money
have only served to exasperate the suffer-
ing farmers and to generate the belief
that 1t would be useless for them to expect
relief or sympathy from the eastern cap
italists and business men. They raised
the silver banner because no other plan
was proposed or submitted to them.
u II l
In addition to the perfectly rational and
legitimate demand for more money there
IL, as Mr.. Clews further admits, a demand
for better and greater credit facilities.
at is we'll worth considering" says Mr..
Clews whether arrangements cannot be
devised for satisfying these wants" He
regards 1t as highly unfortunate that relief
of this character has not been offered
earlier, for. had that been done. silver
might not have become the burning ques.
tion, the grave menace that It is today. The