Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-24
NOT IN THE HANDS OF FRIENDS.

NOT IN THE HANDS OF FRIENDS.
Congress seems minded to provide for
the appointment by President Mckinley
of n commission, or ENJOYS. to inaugurate
an international bimetallic conference, or
10 attend any that any other nation may
call.
The Republicans. after discrediting BIZ
metallism by all the arts in their power
now talk about carrying out the pledge
of their platforml Under such circum-
stances. we may well doubt If any pro-
testations Of friendship on their part
will avail at home or abroad. Any enemy
OF silver who attends any such confer
ence will be able to confound all Of the
arguments Of the Republican members
from documents issued by that party last
year In short. the Republicans have
furnished the enemy with all Of the am
munition that they want, and it is now
rather late in the day 10 be treating
with them for terms
The pending proposition commits the
whole subject to President Mckinley;
and it is more than likely that he will
vows. who will draw their pay with great
regularity. but will be able TO render no
real public service. With a proper com
mission, we can very well see now the
cause of bimetallism might be promoted
lust now. Those who undertook TO DO
this would however, have to tell our
European friends that the American peo-
,rI rnf. % ~
last fall by the promise held out to them
that the election of Mckinley would re
store confidence" and give life" to bust
ness.
we have no doubt whatever that, but
for the great campaign fund raised by
Mr.. Hanna, and the hope extended that
McKinley's election meant an instan-
taneous restoration of confidence" the
overwhelming majority of votes would
have been cast for Mr.. Bryan.
Yes; "the plain people" We're told over
and over again during that memorable
contest that what was the matter with
the country was lack of confidence" and
that. IL we rejected Bryan and elected
Mckinley, we should see a prompt change
I'm conditions. For a little while after
the election, under the widespread delu-
sion that the prophecy would be realized,
there was a squirt in business; but II
soon died out We do not care to make
further comparison now between the
campaign promise and the post-electlon
performance. We would rather encour-
age than discourage the people, and we
have faith that the vigor and elasticity
OF our countrymen can survive even
four-years term Of Mckinley Repubh-
canisnl Yet we cannot but believe that
a new movement in behalf OF interna-
sional bimetallism will fail in the hands
OF such fakirs as they are. a cause 10
be well represented ought to be repre-
scented by earnest and honest friends.
The Republican party does not stand in
that relation TO bimetallism. After dis
credlting 1t as much as possible before
our people, It cannot properly plead for
Il before an international tribunal.
The only good that this new movement
can possibly do. so far as we are able
20 see. will be to keep alive the free-silver
discussion for some years TO come. We
saw keep alive" but we don't mean TO
Intimate that the question would perish
hat for this help. No. indeed Nothing
can bury the free-silver question but
great wave Of prosperity, sweeping over
the whole land, and bringing plenty OF
money, high prices. and high wages in
rs train.
The Republicans affect to believe that
their high-tarif- policy will do al this;
but the business public Is not yet con-
WINGED that Il will. so far from 1t, the
markets of the country, with here and
there an exception as TO particular ar
ticles. show more and more weakness
the nearer we approach the time when
we shall see that wonderful tariff bin.
But We by no means despair AS we
have said. we believe that there is too
much Of Skill wgor, hopefuness, and
patriotism in this country OF ours TO be
suppressed. even by Mckinley Republi-
canism and Hanna craftsmanship. The
patient. however. is IN declining state
Of health and. though the attending phyr
sician IL full OF brag, we doubt the po-
tency OF his system OF medicine. Yet
we have called him In, and must give