The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-11-10

~ A'ecemoers would have been lixtless aud
70 an extent embarrassing. despite the fact
.nac there are many matters OF importance
70 come up for the consideration Of the
Nations lawmakers. As Il is, however.
wiun the news OF the universal democratic
gains ringing in their ears, the democrats
OF congress will DO aggressiyely alert and
niSm the time when the sessions begins
mere VIII be a constant play for position
looking to the congressional elections Of
next year,
fhe failure OF the Wolcott commission.
which sweeps aside the last vestige Of pre-
tense cd International bimetillism. and the
very evident growth OF silver sentiment
throughout the country, as manifested by
tne elections, will give to the democrats in
the present congress an advantage which
they are sure to realize
troubles seem to be crowding thick and
iast on the Mckinley administration, The
rock upon which II was founded was that
prank promising international bimetailism
without this the republicans would have
gut no ngure In the last campaign. II Me-
hiniey ana his supporters had stood square
~ IN deiense OF the single gold standard
II there had not been those other promises.
Win winch too fool "a great many honest
iepuDiicans. Bryan would have carried al
most every State west OF PENNSYLVANIA ard
Mchinley's showing would have been Moth
ing NJ all. Now, however. the Wolcott COM
mission can only report absolute failure.
everything which that body has done, every
move that has been made on the line Of
international bimetallism has been an in
dorsement of the democratic position. The
democrats have maintained, and they still
maintain that the hope of the CO. operation
CT Great Britain In any movement looking
to the rehabilitation of silver is a dplusinn,
They have commended that whatever
chance there might he for France or for
Germany acting in concert with this coun-
try In the establishment OF an lnterna-
tional bimetallic system. England was sure
to block the game; that the square mile
around and about the Bank OF England and
the Royal Exchange would never consent
until forced to do 50. to such a change in
Great Britains financial policy as would
take frcm her the great advantage which
the present gold standard gives her. The
Wolcott commission has proved absolutely
the truth of these contentious and has
swept away the chance for pretcnse upon
these international lines Men like Senator
Chandler and ether blmetallists who have
| remained in the republican party will have
to acknowledge now that the issue Is
squarely between the gold standard with
all Its evils and the free and unlimited
coinage of silver which will bring about
| the restoration CT bimetallism.
The gold force inside the republican party
| is strong enough to control its policy That
| 1t is the party of the money power. The
contest inside republican ranks is 10 he
between the gold men OF the East and the
Western republicans who, taking note of
public sentiment in their sections, are 60
| Ing to take stand as strongly as they are
able against the absolute committal of their
party to the gold standard. They do this
nct so much from principle-though there
are some men OF principle among them
but as matter of self defense, for they
know that the effort on their part to de-
| fend gold monometallism will result In
their political isolation and these men who
| come tc Washington however much they
may protest their undying faith in repub-
/ llcan principles. are looking out first AID
foremost for their own political carcasses.
The republican administration Is between
the devil and deep sea on this political
question with the devil having al the
chances swinging things his way. The
party will have TO do something at this SEES
| SIGN OF congress. will have to put UP some
sort of bluff at financial and monetary re-
form in order to make any showing at all
in the congressional elections of next year
They are badly split up among themselves
| and what they will do no man can say
| The advantage as it stands Is entirely with
the democrats, and that they will grasp
it, that they will play everything during
this session for its political worth is GER
tain.
1t is this feature of the session of con-
gress to which the greatest interest at
taches. There are many matters OF impor-
tance to come up, and from frs. to last
there will not be an uninteresting day,
Every move that is made viii be fraugh'
with political importance. There is alread,
a gathering Of political leaders in lntici-
patton of the battle that is to come or
early in December. Every day now viii
bring its quota OF developments en- this line
and every movement of the political leaders
before the session, as we'll as after ii be-
gins, will have meaning. The democrats
go into congress at this session full o
life, full OF hope. full of confidence. TIE,
know as well as man can know anything
that between now and November Of 1898
one Of two things must happen. There viii
either be in that time a substantial TN
questioned return of prosperity to all Sec
tions of the country, or democracy will tri-
umph in the elections of next November
by such vote as has scarcely been knowr
in the political movements OF recent years
Unless there is an absolute change Of con
ditions; unless the republicans are able t.
show some substance in their prosoert,
talk; unless they are able to get togethe
on some plan TO again fcol the people.
democratic victory Is absolutely certain
and thnt means the control of the mex
congress as forerunner to victory in thu
presidential camraign of 1900 Oil,