Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-30
FRIDAY. 80, 1897.
OH YES. THEY'LL TAKE 1T UP.

Mr.. Dingley ambles TO the front TO as
sure the country that as soon as the Re-
publicans have passed the tariff bill,
which will provide sufficient revenue to
carry on the government without borrow
Ing money in times Of peace, they Will
take up the currency question and solve
H." We have not the slightest doubt that
the Republicans will take up the currency
problem as soon as they have disposed OF
the tariff niquity. In truth we are pre-
pared 10 see them take it up before the
tariff bill becomes a law. Mr.. Dingley
is said TO depend largely upon party
discipline in his task of getting the nsea-
sure through the Senate when it reaches
that body, but the public may rest salts
fed that he and his corps of assistant
engineers and disciplnarians will not
despise any auxiliary force that can be
employed TO make assurance double
sure.
The currency question has been used on
occasion ever since Mckinley was
elected. 10 reduce friction that threaten
ed TO impede the progress of the Dingley
bill on it's mission of robbery Of the peo-
ree Striking examples of such use are
afforded in the sending Of Wolcott TO Eu-
rope from Canton as an informal ennis
sary. ard in the appointment of the inter-
national monetary commissioners. The
object Of both these movements was to
salve McKinley's conscience. to keep the
recalcitrant Republican Silverites from
plunging over the ragged edge, and to
gain time in which to devise other sub
terfuges for holding the obdurates in
check.
The currency question was taken up in
the ways and forms referred 10 for the
purpose. also. Of deceiving the people and
evading the direct issue. and for that pur-
pose il will be taken up again. But any
one who supposes that the Republican
party has any notion Of addressing itself
seriously to the solution Of that question
IS almost too innocent for this mundane
existence. The interest that is opposed
10 reform in our monetary system has as
firm and as potent a grasp upon the Re-
publican party, as represented in the
administration and the majority In Con-
gress, as has the high protection interest
These interests are practically identical.
The party is under obligation equally to
both, and will discharge its obligation.
No one knows this better than Mr.. Ding
ley, and we, knowing that he knows it,
would be inclined TO regard him as some
thing of humorist IL it did not appear
that he really thinks he can deceive the
public regarding the matter.
AS TO Mr. Dingley's declaration about
his bills providing sufficient revenue 10
carry on the government, that places him
in as absurd light as does his promise
that when the measure shall have been
passed the Republican party viii solve the
currency problem. 1t will be remembered
that in his report to the House Mr.. Ding
ley did considerable juggling with figures.
He estimated the increase of revenue
from the measure at S75,0COOOO, provided
II became a law by the LIST Of May, but
said there would be a loss of $2OOo,0O0 per
week for every weeks delay after That
date. Well the bill will not be a law
Nav lst. and although it is not doubted
that It will finally be passed in practi-
cally its original shape. so TAR as the
robber features are concerned, 1t seems 10
be pretty well conceded that 1t will not
get through before the list OF July In
deed. we are told that some of the Ike
pubIlcan senators are expressing grave
fears that Il will not become law before
the LIST OF August. Delay Of passage I'M
IN the fst OF July would mean 900
of Mr.. Dinley's $75.O0O.OOo while delay UNI
I'll the LIST Of August would carry the
amount to be deducted up 10 $25,OOo,OO9.
A New York contemporary-and con-
temporary OF the Republican stripe at
that-presents these figures, and In com
mentinx on them says: Thus the Ding
ley b,il has lost what little pretence 1t
ever had Of being bill for revenue, and
now stands exposed as a shameless pay
ment OF campaign obligations"
But the above calculatlon--the above
conviction of Dingley upon his own show
tng-is only one of the many evidences OF
the hypocrisy Of his claim that his bill Is
intended as revenue producer. One OF
the strongest OF the other evidences. and
an evidence that win come home TO the
people with oppressive force when the
bill shall have become operative. ID found
IN the fact that many Of the schedules are
absolutely prohibitory As result, not