The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-12

The Minneapolis Times remarks with
either a very short memory or a very preju-
diced Imagination: -"
nPIArr has never iod On any vital issuc."
Eighteen months or more ago the Repub-
lican party was all at sea rs to It's course
concerning the most vital issue of the last
quarter of the nineteenth century In Amer
lean politics the maintenance Of the ma
TONS honor and credit against the attacks
Of the flfty-cent dollar men.
Tho condition of uncertainty lasted until
the National Convention met. In many
States the prevalent idea Of Republican
policy WIS that 1t should compromise with
free silver sentiment; at least avoid offend.
ing It. Many Republican statesmen hon.
estly believed that a square declaration for
the gold standard would be fatal to the
party in the approaching Presidential cleo
tion. The c~ounsels of timidity seemed
likely to prevail. Even here in New York.
almost up to the time of the st. Louis Con.
iyention, the cowardly and treacherous Ne1D
Fork Tribune was protesting against the
use of the word gold in the national
platform.
The convention of the New York Repub-
licans was held on March "a. 1t was one
of the earliest. TIL only Republican State
conventions which had preceded it were
those of Florida, Rhode Island, Ohio, Iowa,
and Wisconsin. The Florida Convention
did not touch the silver question. Rhode
Island vaguely declared for "a financial
policy which recognizes every dollar to be
of equal value with every other dollar"
Ohio declared meaninglessly for "the use
of both gold and silver as standard money
either in accordance with a ratio to be
fixed by international agreement, II that
can be obtained, or under such ~restric-
tions and provisions to be determined
by legislation as will secure the mainte-
nance of the PARTIES of value of the two
metals e. Iowa said nothing in March.
Wisconsin came out on March 10 more
boldly than the others, favoring "the use of
silver as currency, but to the extent only
and under such restrictions that its parity
with gold can be maintained"
Then the Empire State Republicans spoke
through their convention, their "Platt
convention" If the Minneapolis Times pre-
,fers that term:
.The agitation for the FREQ coinage Of silver at the
ratio OF 10 to 1 seriously disturbs all industrial in
terests and calls for q clear statement Of the Repub-
iican partys attitude upon this question, to the end
~ that the trade of this country at home and abroad
'may again be placed upon a sound and stable founda.
ticn. We recognize in the movement for the FREQ
coinage Of silver an attempt to degrade the long.es.
tablished standard of our monetary system. and
. hence q blow to public and private credit at once
costly to the national Government and harmful to
our domestic and foreign commerce. Until there Is q
prospect OF international agreement rs to silver coin
age. and while gold remains tho standard of the
United States and OF the civilized world. tho Repub-
lican party of New York declares In favor OF tho nrm
and honorable maintenance OF that standard"
These were words of gold, and words of
political courage and true patriotism, and
THOMAS c. PLAT carried them from New
York to st. Louis; and the declaration of
the National Convention, in spite of the
efforts of towards and trimmers did not
differ greatly. And On that vital issue
the Republican party won.
Has our esteemed contemporary in Mime
apolis forgotten all this when 1t describes
Senator PLAT as a leader who never led
on any vital issue? Or does 1t rot class the
issue Of 1896 as vital to the honor and
well.being of this republic?