The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-12-25
AGAINST The GOLD STANDARD.
Senator Chandler Strongly
Criticises the Gage Bill.
BIMETALLISM HIS IDEA.
Predicts Party Disaster If Present
Plans Prevail.

WASHINGTON. Dec. Ex-senator Chandler,
of New Hampshire. has written letter IN
which he says: -.
,.Jfthr Secretary of the Treasury and his
single gold standard associates will cease their
demand for impossible currency legislation
Congress will pass the necessary appropra-
ton bills. probably take care of Hawaii and
Cuba. there will not he any serious party
division during the session. and there will he
an adjournment in Nav. Business will re-
vive. the Treasury receipts will equal the eN-
pendiurps. the balance of trade will continue
in our lavor and the Republican party will III
November. 1898. elect a ma Iorty of the
House in the Fifty fifth Congress.
son the other hand, if Secretary Gage con
tinue> To press upon Congress a bill the OBJ
iect of which. he SAYS. is FIRST. to commit the
country thoroughly to the gold standard and
the immediate effect of which Is to throw
doubts upon the sincerity of the President
declarations in favor of continued efforts to
secure bimetalliSm. Il political turmoil Will
arise in Congress which will split the now
united Republicans into fragments while 1t
will unite and consolidate the now neon
gruou> opposition.
GREENBACES SHOULD BE INCREASED.
1T is not feasible to retire the green backs:
there is more probability that bill Will be
sent to the President to increase their amount.
II is not possible To secure the passage
through either House of a bill making the
"reenbackS into gold notes or authorizing
bonds payable il gold. The effort to d"
either thing will probably result III the pass
age of :: bill for the redemption of the green
backs in silver dollars and for The payment of
all United States bonds IN gold or silver com
in the discretion of the President, who will be
commanded to exercise his option for the adj
vantage of the Government and not for the
advantage of the creditor.
with such an uproar in Congress as these
! proceedings will create. with Western Con.
gressmen embroiled therein, with Presidential
| yetoes, as threatened by Secretary Gage. under
angry discussion. it will happen that all busl-
ness enterprises and funds and stocks will be
| disturbed prices will fall. insolvency will in
crease and the Republicans will lose the Con-
oreSsional elections in 1898 as disastrouslv as
| they did in 1890. and beyond the hope OF Il
| favorable reaction i'll 1900. al which time.
therefore. BRYAN Democratic President and
| Congress will be chosen.
AN INSANE CAREER.
..Wheti er we are 10 have one of these re-
| sultS-politcal safety-or the other--polihc'l
| Observation-Disclosures entirely upon the course
! to he pursued by Secretary Gage and those
who are pressing him forward. namely. the
| GOld standard League. ol Nc" Lo'h an" Wv
| selfconsttuted National Monetary Confer
ence. How much Secretary Gage cares for
the Republican party is not known: Whether
| President Mckinley, whose good faith toward
bimetallsm 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 he
publican party began its marvellous career ~
years ago. There are times for all things.
| There is time to move and a time to keep
still, and now is the time to so keep.
1T is simply political suicide TOR the he
publican party in this Congress to affirrna-
! lively open the discussion of the money ques-
ton and to bring on yea-and-nay votes upon
currency legislation. We ought to await the
progress of international bmetallism. the adj
vent of business prosperity and the filling OF
the Treasury by the normal workings soon to
he seen of the new tariff law.
''Shal we wait for these things or rush on
to self-destruction? President Mckinley must
decide. Will he act for his people or for his
plutocrats? Upon his answer will depend the
! events of 1898.
CIVILIAN f. CHANDLER.
| ,hn,.1