The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-09-21
TUESDAY. SEPTEMBER. d, 1897


Secretary Of the Treasury Gage is on
visit TO Chicago. his home. and he has
teen talking with the newspaper men.
lie refused to discuss the new Currency
Commission that Mr.. II. II. Hanna has
appointed. beyond stating that men Of
the highest ability. in whom he had the
greatest confidence. had been selected for
1t.
This augurs. We fear. badly for the out
come of their work Secretary Gage is
national bank man. and he believes in
the theory OF the national Government
endorsing all bank currency so as TO
make 1t good at its face all over the
Union. That idea is death TO any amend
ment Of our currency system that will
give any relief TO the farmers. and. until
the farmers are made content no move
at all has been made towards ending our
financial troubles. The seat Of the trouble
IS with the farmers, who have no media
Of exchange with which to do their BUSH
ness and until that fact is recognized,
and system adopted that will secure
them currency. our troubles will continue.
and will break out we fear. with far
more virulence hereafter than has ever
been exhibited even yet.
But Mr.. Cages satisfaction with the
present commission confirms our fear, al
ready expressed. that il is a commission
appointed TO hang on 10 the present sys-
TEN with some worthless patchwork that
IL will recommend 10 bee added, and that,
after al the fuss and noise that have
been made about It We shall have nothing
but another ridiculous little mouse. We
shall hope for the best but we frankly
admit that We expect nothing material
Secretary Gage was asked. in the course
Of his interview. il he believed the silver
question was dehaitely settled. and he re-
piled mot by any means. II ought 10 be.
for the good Of the country, but while
Mr. Bryan and his followers keep up their
agitation. the question cannot be consid-
cred settled"
There IS where Mr.. Gage, along with
80 many other leading men, make vital
hlunder Tie is perfectly right I'm saying
the silver question is not settled. II IS
going TO give vast deal Of trouble still.
hut he falls into most dangerous error
I'm supposing that the silver question re-
mains an open question because Mr..
Bryan and his followers keep mp their agi-
tation Mr.. Bryan and his followers
might agitate 10 the crack Of doom. and
they would produce no results If there did
not exist amongst the people a serious
cause Of discomfort. Mir Bryan's agita-
ton counts. because a great body Of the
people feel that they are denied their
natural rights. and they know that this
denial causes them suffering and distress.
The farmers gee men in the cities sup
Piled with an abundance of media OF eX-
change to transact their business with.
and they see themselves entirely destitute
az II. and compelled TO transact their bust
ness almost by barter. They say, and
Justly say, that this is an injustice to and
am outrage upon them. and their clamor
for free silver is nothing but a protest
against this wrong TO them and "a cry
for something that will enable them to
transact their affairs. They enormously
believe that an over-valued silver dollar
will bring them the relief that they long
for. and while they are mistaken about
that. no one can blame them for rescnting
their present treatment and for demand
Ing that something shall be done TO anne
liorate their present conditions. An act
Of 1--WE lines would end the whole trouble.
Repeal the tax upon the issues Of State
banks. and We should never hear OF fnon-
e.al troubles in this country again.