The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-11-25
IHE LEADING THEME.

The money question is not settled
either On a gold basis or on any other
basis. A renewed degree of prosperity
has tended to quiet the discussion and
10 somewhat allay the uneasineSs of
one and two years ago. AS the Eagle
declared, upon the adjournment Of con-
gress, that while protective tariff
would undoubtedly afford financial re-
lief and by so much rebound to the
strength of the Republican party, yet
after all. the party must at the next ses-
sion Of congress be confronted by the
money question. Aside from brief ref
erences in the dispatches of efforts for
international bimetallism, there is little
heard of the currency system of the
United States. But by the middle of
January, it will be the leading theme in
and out of congress. Commencing with
the monetary commission, and the sec
retary of the treasury, and the finance
committees of the two houses, every
member Of which Is a supposed expert,
and every one of whom will have cur
rency scheme of his own, there will be
plunged into the discussion all of the
newspapers and politicians Of the entire
country. There viii be scores Of plans.
And therein lies the danger to the Re
publican party. whose st. Louis plat
form was so worded as to afford every
possible latitude. If the party were only
agreed upon a well defined plan it
would meet with trouble enough In its
attempt to crystalize such plan into a
law of the land. The Pop party is the
only party which has made up its mind
as TO what it wants, and that party is
well-nigh unanimous. They are for a
currency which. in fact, is not money
at all, but simply an evidence OF sup
posed universal or all-pervading credit
They want an unlimited issue Of irre-
deemable paper, good for anything ex-
cept for gold, and therefore good for
nothing.
But bills embodying schemes and
plans will be introduced by the score
and referred, and if by any possibility
a system should be agreed upon by
either committee a fight over the ques-
ton between the senate and the house
is inevitable
Gamaliel Bradford has addressed
letter TO the monetary commission in
which, after going over the grounds and
suggesting numerous troubles. he de
clares that thirty years have passed
with never 4 step recorded in placing
the currency of the country on a per
manent basis other than the RESUMPTION
act OF 1879. He thereup0n suggests
that there is but one possible way OF
solving the problem, and that by trying
one man and one plan Al a time. He
concludes by observing: 'Why should
not Secretary Gage walk into the house
of representatives next month. lay his
plan upon the table and fight it out
against ali comers? II he could not hold
his own in the debate. he would have
10 make way for the strongest man
among his opponents. After that man
had been fioored, and perhaps half 4
dozen more, we should find man who
could stand his ground against all at
tacks. And when the country recoS-
nized him it would order congress to
stop its talk and do as he says.
THE way for this is all prepared by |
fhe report OF February /, 1881. signed |
by eight senators Of both parties. and |
IL needs only vote of the house 10 put |
IL in practice. That vote the house VIII /
never give except upon compulsion. and !
here lies the true currency question. Il /
is not financial, but political. not Of |
what 10 do, but how 10 get il done. Ii |
means a battle between congress ana |
ahe country. and the quicker the Irum- /