New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-05
SENATOR WOLCOTTS MISSION.

The fact that Senator WOlcott. of Colorado
announced. prior to his departure for Europe
last Saturday. that during his absence he should
embrace the opportunity to make inquiries con-
corning English sentiment on the subject Of
bimeasm. is exciting unfavorable comment on
the part Of some of our contemporaries, who are
evidently laboring under a misappNphension as
to the attitude Of the Republican party on that
question. They have apparently forgotten the
terms of the resolution in the platform relating
TO money. which set forth the party view and.
laid down the doctrine which must govern the
policy OF the incoming Administration. This Is
not strange, perhaps. since whoever gives the
matter a moments thought will readily recall
the fact that the subsequent action Of the Demo
cratic National Convention In going to the ut
most extremes on the financial and all Other
questions raised a hurly-burly OF confusion, in
which the old landmarks were lost sight Of and
original issues blurred and Obscured. The IN
sistence by Mr. Bryan and the free silver orators
upon the identity Of free silver at the ratio OF
10 10 with bimetallism and their constant it.
Grafton of the charge that their opponents were
gold monometasts pure and simple. had the
effect 10 befOg the real issue, which was not
whether the country should adopt free silver
anu DllltIdlslIi, Dut WHFtH'i IL rH""iu h""P'
free silver at the IL to 1 ratio and 60 at once
and inevitably 10 silver mOnometallism.
Whatever may he the position of the party in
the future upon this subject, under the guidance
of experience and through the logic Of events
for the Republican party is not hdebound by
traditions nor welded TO dogmas in its last
platform ii did not take the attitude OF I'M
compromising hostility to blmetalllsm 1t did
set its face resolutely against the free-co.nase
delusion on the 16 TO ratio for the simple rea-
son that II did not mean blmeallsm at all, but
silver monOmetallism and the reputation OF
honest debts. Because Republicans "are I'M
"alterably opposed TO every measure calculated
Ito debase our currency or impair the credit or
"Our country" they said in their platform. I'VE
"are therefore opposed TO the free coinage or
silver except by international agreement with
the leading commercial nations Of the world,
(which we pledge ourselves 10 promote; and
until such agreement can be obtained the ex-
listing gold standard must be preserved" This
pledge to promote international agreement may
be called manifestation of weakness, or per-
haps a bit Of demagOgy or trucking TO gno-
rance and folly; all the same. it cannot be de-
MED that II distinctly defined tho issue as against
free-silver monome,allism and was a potential
factor In the election. Moreover. II il needs
justification the history Of the party I'm its
treatment of the slavery question furnishes
abundant presidents for II.
At any rate, it is pledge and however i'm
probable any practical result thefeiron, mas In
honor TO be carried out Free coinage mt III to
is. as all except the widest OF free-silver
Missionaries now See utterly impracticable In OK
listing and perhaps In any probable conditions
But blmetallism as understood by many of It's
advocates is "A quite different thing Probably
only a small minority Of Republicans believe
In its praclicability at any ratio. But the fact
that there are some intelligent en-su"h as
President Francis 4. Walker and Senator Vol
cott-who do believe in IT, and The further most
essential fact that the party is pledged to use
its efforts TO promote international agreement
make 1t necessary 10 take some tentative steps
IN that direction. For our own part we nave
no fears that anything will result from honest
compliance with the pledge already given that
will furnish encouragement to the free silver