Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-18
CHANDLER MEANS FIGHT.

There is unauestionably a silver lining
IN the cloud that has been, and Is still,
gathering upon the horizon of the incom-
ing administration. But paradoXical
as Il may seem. that lining is not cal
culated to excite hope in the breasts OF
the trust known as the Mckinley Hanna
Renublican Combination Qimited) in
contradistinction to the Republican party
I'm general, and several minor Repubh-
can combinations in particular.
The St. Louis platform threw sop
TO the silver Republicans, but no sooner
had McKinley's election been assured
than IL became obvious that his man
ayers had not the slightest idea Of keep
ing faith with that element. The tariff
was forced to the front, 10 the exclusion
of all other questions; and there was
an evident purpose on the part Of the
combination, limited, to ignore the cur
rency problem in it's entirety. except TO
the extent of tacitly agreeing upon no
change.
But the silver issue In the Republican
party would not down. Just when re-
ioicing and merry making were at their
height at Canton. it stalked in like
skeleton at a feast, and it has been
haunting the President-elect ever since
Tuesday, however, the issue came up
In more material form. so TO speak, than
ever before-that is, in most remark
able and significant speech in the Senate
by Senator Chandler. Mr.. Chambers
in aHu Of racaiu-
ton submitted by him on the I'd Of
this month, and which is as follows:
Resolved, That it is the sense Of the
Senate that the United States should not
permanently acquiesce in the single gold
Standard and that the efforts of the gov
eminent in all its branches should be
steadily directed TO secure and maintain
the use of silver. as well gold. as
standard money, with the free coinage of
both, under a system of bimetallism TO
be established through international
agreement, or with such safeguards of
legislation as will ensure the parity in
value of the two metals at a fixed ratio
furnish a sufficient volume of metallic
money. and give immunity to the world
of trade from violent fluctuations In ex-
change
The speech was remarkable for the
array of facts and valuable and interest
ing statistics it presented, and signif-
cant in that, coming from such a source.
II Is evidence of strong and growing
sentiment ia, the Republican party in
favor OF silver or bimetallism. However
widely we may, as a general rule, differ
with Mr. Chandler. and however we or
others may be disposed TO challenge the
soundness of some of the deductions he
made Tuesday, a careful reading of the
speech carries the conclusion that he
was sincere. From Mckinley and Sher-
man down he did not spare the leading
Republicans who had once been in love
with silver, but have forgotten their love,
and in, the following declaration he
charged them, by implication, with break
ing faith with a large element of their
party and with the people;
"The Republican bimetallists saved the
election of Mckinley and Hobart. Ii
would not have been thus carried If the
Republican party had adopted a money
plank similar TO that of the indianapolis
convention. While pronouncing against
immediate free coinage of silver without
an international agreement, the Rspub'i-
can party uecldieus Dy duulnS concerning
bimetallism six potent words, which we
pledge ourselves TO promote that II
would equally oppose a permanent ac-
quiescence in gold monometalism. This
party. therefore. stands rec ,gnizing The
evil consequences which have come from
the reduction OF the values OF the worlds
property. proclaiming that the cause is
The decentralization OF silver. and de-
ciaring that the remedy Is the re-estab.
lishment Of bimetallism. The great politi-
cal question OF the future. therefore, is,
Shall this pledge be keptg'
We see in Mr.. Chambers speech no
evidence OF subterfuge for the purpose
Of gaining time for the new adminlstra-
ton. such as was apparent in the wolcott
mission and the last resolution providing
for an international bmetallic conven-
fion. On the contrary, It would appear
that the New Hampshire Senator, feeling
assured that he is backed by a big Re-
publican bimetailic, or silver. contingent,
means war on the Mckinley Hanna COM
bination, limited. So mote II be-
Eoso ~ he -.