The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-12-21
CONGRESS WILL BE PLUNGED
IN AN UPROAR.
DEMOCRATIC VICTORIES PREDICTED
Chandler Says the Democrats viii win in 1893
and 1900 if Congress NEEDLE With the
Coul~ VS. Finances as Prescribed
h., Mr Cara
Nv. by Mr. Gage
Washington Post.l

prospects IN 1910. was Inc quCStioii
propounded by representative of The
Post to Hon. VIM. q. Chandler, as he
was about to start to New Hampshire
to stay during the recess Of Congress.
The Senator said that this was too i'm
portant question to answer orally ana
off-hand and that he would give reply
In writing, which he did, subsequently,
rs follows:
''The Republican party, as whole,
has gone on very well during the year
1897. Having carried the Congressional
and Presidential elections of 1896, it
went to work at once to perform its
promises.
''E'irst, during the ensuing winter, it
passed, with the consent, almost unan-
imous. of Congress, bill for reopen
ing conferences with other nations tend
ing to secure the free coinage of silver
equally with gold as standard money.
Immediately after the 4th of March,
President Mckinley sent ENJOYS to open
negotiations in Europe, which are still
pending. with fair prospect of success,
and meantime the agitation of the propo-
sition that the United States should pro-
coed alone to free coinage has been sub
stantially suspended. 1t entered very
slightly in the few elections which took
place in November, 1897.
Second 1t passed, without serious
opposition, Mt an extra session of Con-
gress, and made a law by the signature
of President Mckinley, protective tar
If measure admirably conceived in its
general scope and fairly well framed in
its details, thus fulfilling the most inn
portant pledge of the party by reason
of which it obtained its overwhelming
national victory.
Concerning the future of the party,
either of two results may happen.
LET THE GREENBACKS ALONE.
IF the Secretary of the Treasury and
his single gold tsandard associates will
cease their demand for impossible cur
rency legislation, Congress will pass the
necessary appropriation bills. probably
take care of Cuba and Hawaii, there
will not be serious party division dur
ing the session, and there will be an adj
journment in May. Business will revive,
the Treasury receipts will equal the ex-
penditures, the balance of trade will
continue in our favor, and the Republi-
can party will, in November, 1898, elect
a majority in the House in the Fifty
fifth Congress.
"On the other hand, if Secretary
Gage continues to press upon Congress
a bill, the object of which, he says, is,
First, to commit the country more
thoroughly to the gold Standard and
the immediate effect of which is to throw
doubts upon the sincerity of the Presi-
dents declarations in favor of continued
efforts to secure bimetallism, a political
turmoil will arise in Congress which will
split the now united Republicans into
fragments, while it viii unite and con-
sOlidate the now incongruous opposition.
1t is not feasible to retire the green
backs; there is more probability that a
bill will be sent TO the President to in
crease their amount. 1t is not possible
to secure the passage through either
house of a bill making the greenbacks
into gold notes or authorizing bonds pay
able in gold. The effort to do either
thing will probably result in the passage
of bill for the redemption of the green
backs in silver dollars and for the pay
ment of all United States bonds in gold
or silver coins, in the discretion of the
President, who will be commanded to
exercise his option for the advantage Of
the government and not for the advan-
tage of the creditor.
with such an uproar in Congress as
these proceedings will create, with West
ern congressman embroiled therein, with
Presidential yetoes, as threatened by
Secretary Gage, under angry discussion,
it will happen that all business enter
prises and funds and stocks will be dis
turbed, prices will fall, insoivencies will
increase, and the. Republicans will lose
the Congressional elections in 1893 as
disastrously as they did in 1S90,and be-
yond the hope Of favorable reaction in
1900, at which time, therefore, Bryan
Democratic President and Congress will
be chosen.
SAFETY OR DESTRUCTION
p WHICH?
"Whether we are to have one Of these
results-politicaI safety-or the other
political acknowledgements entirely
upon Secretary Gage and those who are
pressing him forward, namely, the Gold
Standard League, of New York, and the
self-constituted National Monetary Con-
ference. How much Secretary Gage
cares for the Republican party is not
known. Whether President Mckinley,
whose good faith toward bimetallism is
coming to the test, will stop his Secre
tary in his insane career, is not known.
III is 10 De nOped tnat ne VIII. but no
political situation has been clearer than
the present to sound eyes since the Re-
publican party began its marvellous ca
reer forty-two years ago. There are
times for all things. There is a time to
move and time to keep still, and now
is the time to so keep.
st is simply political suicide for the
Republican party in this Congress to
affirmatively open the discussion of the
money question and to bring on yea and
nay votes upon currency legislation. We
ought to await the progress Of interna-
tional bimetallism, the advent of bust
ness prosperity, and the filling Of the
Treasury by the normal workings soon
to be seen Of the new tariff law. Shall
We wait for these things Of rush on to
self-destruction? President Mckinley