The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-21
The silver Agitation.

The Silver Agitation.
We feel quite sure that Mr.. Bryan and
other members of the bimetal.ic league
would receive the thanks of the
country if they would let the silver ques-
ton alone for awhile They have already
said about all that can be said in behalf
of silver and there cannot be much gained
for the silver cause by going over the
same ground so soon after silver's defeat.
Another congressional election viii not
take place for nearly two years. and it will
be nearly four years before the next Pres
idential election. The country ought TO
have at least a years rest from another
agitation of the silver question.
Prominent silverites have expressed a
willingness 10 let the republicans have
| chance to restore prosperity TO the coun-
try. Senator Jones said soon after the
presidential election that he did not intend
TO obstruct the republicans in their efforts
to carry out their policies, and he has
| expressed the same intention recently. It
was hoped therefore that the agitation of
the silver question would cease until the
approach of the next national election.
IT seems, however, that Mr.. Bryan and
other members of the bimetallic associa-
ton have no intention of giving the coun-
try a rest from the silver agitation. They
have arranged for series of speeches on
the silver question in New York city. their
purpose being to elect a silverite President
in 1900 They cannot help knowing that
the continuance of the agitation hinders
the return of prosperity. Capital is timid
and will not seek investment freely as long
as there is serious doubt as TO whether or
not the country will remain on a gold ba-
sis.
There are signs that the depression in
business is disappearing. There are re-
ports from many localities indicating a
better feeling in business circles. There
is a steadily increasing activity in the
world of industry and business men are
beginning to look towards the future hope
fully. Why then try to check the rising
tide of prosperity? What can the bimetal-
| lie association hope to accomplish at this
time by renewing the agitation of the sill
! yer QueSbOnf
1t is pity Mr. Bryan cannot find a sub
ject other than silver, about which he
can talk intelligently and entertainingly.
II he and his associates renew the silver
agitation the sound money men will Sc
cure orators to talk against them, and
thus the people will have their attention
again strongly directed TO the silver issue,
when they ought to be devoting their
whole time to matters relating to the ma
terial welfare of the country.
If Mr.. Bryan had anything new to say in
respect to silver he would have some ex-
cuse for re-opening the discussion of it,
but it is safe to say that he not only has
nothing new to say, but he has nothing to
say that is specially important. In none
of his campaign speeches did he show
that he is particularly well Informed in
respect to financial questions. On the con-
trary, he raised doubts as to whether he
was well informed on questions of that
character.
The agitation of the silver question al
this time would do more to retard pros
perity than the silverites in congress could
do by opposing the policies of the republi-
can party. When the silverites say there
fore that they do not intend to obstruc'
the efforts of the republican party TO re-
store prosperity they are not quite as
frank as they would like to have the coun
| try think they are.