The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-02-20
he Democratic Advocate.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1897
chandler for Bimetallism.

Senator Chandler, of New Hampshire, as
tonished his Republican colleagues in the
Senate on Tuesday by well prepared speech
in favor of bimetallism. He not only aston
ished the Republicans of the Senate but Of
the House also, and his speech has caused
something of a sensation among the gold mo-
nometallists
In the late presidential campaign he stood
by Mckinley and Hobart, and during his
speech on Tuesday criticised those RePubli-
can Senators who bolted Mckinley and sup
ported Bryan.
1t will be remembered that the Mckinley
platform declared for bimetallism, by inter-
national agreement, and pledged the Repub-
lican party to work to secure an International
agreement upon a fixed ratio. To this part
ofthe platform Mr. Chandler wants to hold
his party, and he intimaes that ifthere should
be a failure to secure an international agree
ment for bimetallism he will favor action by
this country alone.
Mr.. Chambers speech was very nearly on
the line of those OF Mr.. Bryan. He ascribed
the fall in prices, particularly in farm pro-
ducts. to the decentralization of silver, and he
very seriously doubts whether prices have
touched bottom aud that an era OF pros
perisy is near at hand, as alleged. Falling
prices and shrinking values, while debts re-
main the same. the Senator thinks, will pro
duce bankruptcy rather than prosperity.
The tendency Of present conditions, said
the Senator, was to leave debtors without the
power to pay their debts, until. BY a gradual
revolution. the assets of debtors are absorbed
by creditors. The daily press is full OF fore-
ble illustrations of this Business men are
being forced TO the wall every day, because
OF falling prices and stationary debts and IN
terest. and reduced values and forced sales
generally leaves them penniless.
Mr.. Chandler, we believe. mistakes the
meaning of the trainers Of the St. Louis plat
form. The declaration for bimetallism by
international agreement was simply TO hold
the bimetallists in line Those who were IN
strumentaI in having the declaration inserted
in the platform knew that an international
agreement is without the pail OF probability.
The Mckinley press and orators east Of the
Ohio river boldly discarded the idea and con
tended for the single gold standard. Per
haus Senator Chandler himself now realizes
the hellowness of the internatial agreement
plank, and his resolution presented to the
Senate, declaring that it is the sense Of the
Senate that the United States should not per
manently acquiesce IN the single gold stand
ard was introduced to test the sincerity OF
his party in the matter The balance Of the
resolution is as follows
aud that the efforts of the government in all it's
branches should be steadily directed 10 secure anu
maintain the use of silver well gold as stand
ard money with the free coinage of both, under q
system of bmetallism to be established through IN
ferrlationaI agreement or with such safeguards OF
legislation as well insure the parity in value OF the
TWO metals at q fixed ratio, furnish sufhcient vol
ume Of metallic money and give immunity to the
world of trade from violent fluctuations IN ex-
change"
Senator Chandeliers prominence in the SEN
ate and in the Republican party makes his
utterances significant, and the gold monomet-
allist must feel uneasy at this attack from so
high place and from such an unexpected
ouar4or