The McCook tribune., 1897-12-24
Chandler as an Alarmist.

WASHINGTON, Dec, Ex-senator
Chandler of New Hampshire has writ
ten letter to the Washington Post,
in which he says:
IF the secretary of the treasury and
his single gold standard associates
will cease their demand for impossible
currency legislation, congress will pass
the necessary appropriation bills,
probably take care of Hawaii ard
Cuba, there will not be serious party
division during the session, and there
will be an adjournment in May. Busi-
ness will revive, the treasury receipts
will equal the expenditures, the bal
ance of trade will continue in our fav-
or, and the republican party will in
November, 1898, elect a majority Of
the house in the Fifty-fifth congress.
"On the other hand. if Secretary
Gage continues to press on congress Il
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
presidents declarations in favor Of
continued efforts to secure Eimetall-
ism, d political turmoil will arise i'll
congress which Will split the now
united republicans into fragments,
while it will unite and console the
now incOngruOus opposition.
1T is not feasible to retire the
greenbacks; there is more a probable
ity that bill be sent to the president
to increase their amount. It is not
possible to secure the passage throug gh
either house of a bill making the
greenbacks convertible into gold
notes, or authorizing bonds payable
in gold. The effort to do either thing
will probably result in the passage of
a bill for the redemption of the green
backs in silver dollars. and for the
payment of all United States bonds in
gold or silver coin in the discretion Of
the president, who will be commanded
to exercise his option for the advant-
age of the government, and not for the
advantage of the creditor
With such an uproar in congress as
these proceedings will create, with
western congressman embroiled there
in, with presidential vetoes as threat
ened by Secretary Gage under angry
discussion, it will happen that all
business enterprises and funds and
stocks will be disturbed, prices will
fall, insolvencies will increase, and the
republicans will lose thecongressional
elections in 1898. as they did in 1890,
and beyond the hope of a favorable
action in 1900. at which time. there
fore a Bryanite democratic president
and congress will be chosen.
Whether we are to have one of
Fa4,
other, political destruction-depends
entirely upon the course to be pur-
sued by Secretary Gage and those who
are pressing him, forward, namely. the
gold standard league Of New York, and
the self-conStituted national monetary
conference. How much Secretary
Gage cares for the republican party
is not known. Whether President Nc
Kinley, whose good faith toward BIZ
metallism is coming to the test, will
stop his secretary in his insane career
is not known. 1t is to be hoped he
will. But no political situation has
been clearer than the present, to
sound eyes, since the republican party
began its marvellous career. forty-two
years ago. These are times for all |
things. There is time to move and |
a time to keep still and now is the |
time to keep still.
"It is simply political suicide for |
the republican party in this congress !
to affirmatively open the discussion of |
the money question. We ought to |
await the progress of international bi-
netallism, the advent Of prosperity.
and the filling of the treasury by the
normal workings soon to be seen of
he new tariff law. Shall we wait for
,hese things or rush on to self-destruc-
ion? President Mckinley must de-
eide. Will he act for his people. or
'or his piutocrats? Upon his answer
will depend the events Of 1898"