The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-08
WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER s. 1897.
WORDS. WORDS. WORDS. MY LORD.

The forecast Of all tho intelligent news
paper correspondents at Washington, who
have been interviewing the members OF
Congress. as they have arrived there. is
that Congress will do nothing with the
currency that will have a tendency TO
bring peace and contentment to the coun-
try. Congress. as it actually is, is the pro-
duct of evolution in this country, and we
have no doubt that 1t is. therefore, the
body which the essential elements of our
institutions call for. But TO one who is
really able to SEQ just what the difficulty
that the people suffer from is. and what
would Immediately end that difficulty and
produce order where there Is now such
pregnant disorder. the Congress of the
United states seems TO be one of the most
stupendous failures OF modern times. It's
most glaring defect lies in the fact that
II never leads. 1t never moves at all, I'M
Ill II is driven. The average congressman
fears nothing so much as the reputation
Bmonst his constituents that he has an
opinion until he ascertains that a ma
Iority of those constituents are of one
mind. and then he finds that his own
opinion has been exactly that all the
lime, though he was never able to dis
tover the fact until he learned how they
thought. The ways of Providence are
inscrutable. and how good can be worked
out of heterogeneous material OF this
sort we do not understand. But somehow
or other the thing seems to move along
without any serious accidents, though we
are persuaded it is through good luck, and
the mercy of God only that such is the
rase.
IL has been confidently predicted that
though no measure Of real currency re-
form would be passed by this Congress,
vet the President would make certain
recommendations which the machine in
the House of Representatives would pass
through that body. though We knew they
could not get through the Senate, and
that the next Congressional and Presi-
dental campaigns would be fought out
upon that measure as a platform. We
now know what the Presidential recon-
Inendations are and. in view of the real
trouble from which the country is suffer-
ing. they are about as potential as a tea
cup full Of water with few drops OF
thin milk stirred in IT would be for a
starving man. If Mr.. Mckinley and Mr..
Reed think that the farmers now clamor-
ing for remedial legislation can he salts
ned with the Presidents two-penny sug-
festions. they have greater facility for
decciving themselves than any people we
have known of for a long time.
II we were mised by words only, It
would not be hard TO find announcement
in the utterances OF members of Congress.
For instance. Senator Lodge. of Massa-
chusetts, being asked last Saturday TO
give his views Of the situation. chirped
out merrny the following braclng senti-
nentS. Said ne:
81 certainly believe that the effort
should be made TO pass a currency meas
ure at the coming session. ] do not see
why the situation is not sufficiently favor
able TO warrant an aggressive fght for
some simple measure for the protection of
the Treasury II is certainly much brighter
than Il was for the repeal OF the sherman
law in 1893. when the Senate met with an
absolute majority in favor Of silver. Pub
lie opinion at that time converted that
hostile majority into majority OF eleven
votes the other way, and IL the business
men of the country are I'm earnest in de-
string currency reform they ought TO be
able TO accomplish the same result again.
The point OF the whole matter is that a
manly fight for sound currency will dis
close our position. even IL II does not re-
suit in victory. and the chances are much
more than even that II Will result In
victory. The Republican party is not in
the habit Of going into a fight admitting
that It Is whipped and ! see no reason
for doing so in this case. IL the sound
money men show some OF the spirit and
asgregsireness which the silver men
have shown In coming here and demand
:ng free coinage, they can win. l see no
reason why we should not pat the same
energy into this fight as into the fight
for a proper tariff.
"A measure which provides that the
sreenbacks shall not be re-issued after re-
demption IN gold. except for gold, seems
10 me not only the most feasible PROPOSE
tIon. but a thoroughly reasonable and ef-
fective one IL Is simple and easily COM
prehensible. and would have support
which would not be given for a moro
complicated proposition. A large bond
issue for the purpose OF retiring tho
Ereenbacks is obviously out OF the qres-