The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-08-28
Senator William e. Chandler
Warns the Republican Party
Against Any Signs of Weakness
Regarding BimetalIism.
TRUTH ABOUT WHEAT
Not Mckinley But Foreign De-
mand Makes the Price.
Free Cuba and Bimetailism
Alone Have Power to Save.

washington, Aug. 28.-The senior
Republican senator from New lamp
shire, Mr. Chandler, is disturbed by the
political outlook.
In a public letter addressed to the
Washington Post, Mr.. Chandler warns
his party friends that unless TINS ao-
ministra ton carries out its promises Tor
birnetalIiSm and the freedom OF Cupd'
it is doomed to certain overthrow. 11e
says:
1.-THE simple truth of recent events
seems to be that wheat has gone ABOVE
the prices lately prevailing only De
cause of short crops in certain coun-
tries, as it always will under sucn COLI
ditionS while silver continues TO go
down because it is yet in process OF oe-
monetization, as every human pelnS
knew it would. But the great question
still remains for solution, Whetner
through the years to come, with SILVER
decentralization still progressing, there
will not be as a consequence thereof a
steady fall in the average prices OF the
commodities and the lands, bu1ldlngs
and ships which make the wealth OF the
world.
IF this question is to be answered in
the affirmative, the reconciliation or
silver is sure to follow. The world can
not be held to the single standard Oh
gold merely because of the rise IN
wheat which helped the election OF
Mckinley in the autumn of 1886, and
the continued rise in wheat and fall In
confusion and silence of Mr.. Bryan in
the summer of 1897.
There is one powerful reason why
the Republican party and the Mck1n-
ley administration will not abandon BIZ
metallism, and that is reason OF poll
cy as well as of principle. Overwhelm-
ing party defeat will follow such an
abandonment. There is danger of dis
aster from even the existence of the
many current suspicious. however I'M
just, that abandonment is Intended;
suspicious caused in part by reported
utterances, probably incorrect, OF Sec
rotary Gage, and by proclamationS by
Director reston of the United States
mint, whose real business is to coin
money and not to formulate party
policy.
tried in November in the state of Ohio.
the home of President Mckinley, where
Senator Hanna is then to be elected or
defeated as United States senator. The
close connection, even to unity, of these
two statesmen is complete. The lat
ter organized with consummate skill
and imitleSS powers and resources the
two canvasses which nominated and
elected the former. The prolonged sue
cess of the Republican party and the
course of politics generally on the pre-
vailing modern lines will require Mr..
Hanna'S election as senator, and an in
dorsement of him by the people of the
state of Ohio at the polls in 1897 will be
a most appropriate sequel to the nom
ination and election of Mr.. Mckinley,
guided by Mr.. Hanna and aided by the
vote of Ohio in 1896. In order to make
certain and easy Republican victory in
a contest which is so significant, the
Republican side should stand firmly by
bimetallism and not surrender to- the
single gold standard. The late Ohio
convention reaffirmed the stLouis plat
form of 1896, which pledged the party
to promote bimetallism-the free coin
age of silver equally with go----oy ra-
tiona1 methods and without cessation
in pursuit of the desired object. AS al
ready stated, President Mckinley holds
firmly to these pledges. 1t will be I'M
wise for the Republican managers in
Ohio to treat them with Indifference or
to countenance the idea in any form
that they are to be abandoned. If they
do there is imminent danger of defeat
for themselves, and for Senator Hanna
as we'll; to whom it is due to acknowl-
edge that on all occasions, and in spite
of all solicitations, he has proclaimed
that he adheres to bimetallism and that
he favors securing the use of the two
metals as money by all practicable and
honorable methods.
Adherence to bimetallism by the Re
publicans of Ohio is also of special and
national Importance at this time be-
cause this is the principal affirmative
good which the Republican party can
at this moment promise to give hereaf-
ter to the masses of the people. There
is looming up in the future no issue in
connection with which the Republican
party will be sure to advocate what the
great number of voters will desire. I'M
less it is to be this issue concerning the
standard metal money of the world
To make that money of gold alone, in
stead of both gold and silver. which
have SO served side by side since the
foundation of civilization-as Senator
Sherman so aptly said, as if by an act
of Goodwill, whether the change Is
economically expedient or not, be an
unpopular policy which will send thou
sands of voters against any party
which thus makes the fight in favor of
the permanent adoption of the single
gold standard. If the Republican par
ty should be begufled or corrupted into
assuming that position, what good
things can be devised for that party
to promise to the majority of the voters
whose adherence it must continue to
secure or go out of powere in 1898 and
1900?
Il must confess I do not see what we
can tender to the people for their bene-
fit If we deliberately betray the cause
of silver
'-The voters of the near future may in
sentiment honor the record of the grand
old party, but they will not by their
suffrage keep it in power unless it can
continue to promise some things for the
public good which majority of the
voters very much desire. Above ALL
they will not prolong the existence of
the Republican party If it becomes just
ly subject to the charge that it is only
the rich mans party, the party of the
money power, having withdrawn it's de-
SlreS and ceased its efforts to secure in
the conduct of the government the
greatest good to the greatest number.
Indeed, denunciationS that this is the
Republican condition already thicken
around our pathway. Not only is it
damagingly charged that we have left
the ancient ways of exercising the gov
ernmental function of furniSh hing money
for the people, by deserving silver and
agreeing to faSten the world to gold
alone as standard money-which is not
true-but our opponents also vehenl-
emily assert that it is the purpose of the
unre1enting forces which dominate our