The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-08-27

rAs Presidents Policy 10 Carefully
E~xpedjent.

-
RE Psesiaenrs Policy IL Carefully
ExDeaiest.
The nost noticeable feature Of the
discussion about the currency com
mission wa the utter absence OF any
higher tone In II all than he mere
question Of party e~xpediency. Tina the
administration owes it, power 70 last
falls pledges Of currency reform seemed
to be . consideration entirely elim'-
mated from discussion. Perhaps this 10
not to be wondered at sc much; little
Is TO be expected in the way Of attach
me mt I . pledges from an administration
which has spent a twelfth OF It's lease
Of life in arranging to repay campaign
contributors through the tariff. TO the
exclusion of all other subjects Of dis
cussion. With such az administration,
under such conditions, IL need not ex-
cite surprise that 50 poor and pitiful y
sop to decency as the currency commits
sion scheme should. after II had been
prepared and publicly announced as
about to be transmitted to congress, be
withheld, while the republican Politi-
clans wrangled over the question OF its
expediency.
Hanna. il appears, favored the trans
mission Of the message. Not that Han
ma had any idea that congress would
do anything on the subject II 1t was
sent in, for Hanna knew full well
how completely at odds the repub-
leans In congress were, underneath
their surface semblance OF harmony,
and how hard it had been to
hold congress together long enough to
straighten out the conflict OF selfish in
terests over the tariff. But Hanna rea-
soned that the contest in Ohio. in which
he had so vital a concern and upon the
result Of which will depend his re-
election or the loss Of his seat in the
senate. is to hinge in great degree upon
the financial question. An indication
by the administrator that II favors
legislation which will prevent future
drains upon the gold reserve might
catch the business men in the state and
titus strengthen the republican cause.
Hanna was well aware that no action
would be taken by the senate upon the
presidents recommendations, if made,
but he believed. apparently, that the
mere making Of such recommendations
would be accepted as proof of the sim
ccrity OF the administration, and, by
giving press and people something else
to talk about. steer them away from the
dangerous ground of the Dingley tariff.
The eastern republicans in congress,
a. q rule. took the other side of the ar
gument. They feared that the financial
issue might again be thrust into prom
ipence at a time when their business
constituents were demanding rest from
discussion and opportunity to adjust
themselves TO the new conditions vt ths
Dingley bill. They asserted that they
were deluged with letters from mer
chants, manufacturers and bankers
urging the unwisdom of a renewal o.
the controversy over the financial ques
ton until the exigencies of a politica
campaign should demand it.
So the president, simply n careful
gentleman, much too amiable n to-
imprcssionable to be safely intruste'
with the great executive Office" baI
anced the pros and cons of currenc
reform on the pole of e~xpediency an
hesitated. How happy might he b
with either. we're t'othcr dear charme
away!-Albany On. Y.) Argus.