Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-05-27
A REPUBLICAN, MAkEsHIFT.
IncOmpetency of the Whole McKin-
ley Party.


IncOmpetency of the Whole McKfn-
ley Party.
The republican party platform, it will
oe remembered, does not pledge the
party to currency reform. The only
change it proposes is the abolition OF
the gold standard by means of inter
national bimetallism. On other ques-
tons of currency reform it is silent.
This fact compels the republican par
ty in congress to defend the present
currency system by refusing to take
measures to reform it. Though the sys-
tenn is condemned by both people and
bankers, yet the republicans cannot
afford to place themselves behind any
scheme of reform They dare not make
even an effort to concentrate on any
position. They are afraid to indorse
the proposition to retire the green
backs; they cannot take stand in favor
OF the restoration of silver, and so they
are compelled to assume an attitude
which makes their party the champion
of the present system, which everybody
condemns as utterly inadequate.
The inherent weakness of the repub-
iican position is further emphasized by
their effort to evade responsibility.
They dare not bring the question to an
issue in congress, and so they intend
to hide behind the proposition to forEl
a currency commission. The ''curren-
cy commission" plan is fraud and n
sham in conception and purpose. 1t is
nothing more than plan to delude the
people while the gold syndicate which
he
the skids for the final slide to the gold
standard.
The currency commission" plan IS
engineered by the political bunko
steerers who had charge of the Indian
apolis convention. 1t is an effort to
postpone, to evade, to cover up the in
evitable issue. 1t is falsely called IA
business mems PLAN"
The men who are behind the "curren-
cy commission sham are sneering at
politicians, as our correspondent says,
and at the same time begging politi-
clans to indorse their proposition. They
say it is not party question, but it is
most essentially and dlstinctively a
party question. Currency reform is the
main and most vital issue between the
parties. The democrats have declared
that the true remedy for present evils
is the restoration of silver. The repub-
Leans, controlled by the gold syndi-
cate, have contented themselves with
declaring that, while the gold standard
is bad thing and ought to be abolished,
yet they are in favor of it if we cam
not have international bimetallism.
BY advocating international bimet-
ellism they deluded a majority of the
people into believing that the Euro
pean nations are willing to enter into
an agreement with the United States.
Such an agreement is an impossibility
until independent action IL the United
States forces them to take steps III that
direction.
Having appointed an international
commission, the republicans are now on
the point of favoring a national cur
rency commission" The democrats in
congress will, of course, propose that
scheme and expose it. The people who
went to the polls last fall elected a con-
gress to carry on the public business,
and there is no reason why congress
should not act. or, failing to act, the
DGrden OF responsibility Snoulu MOI ldlI
on the republicans.
4 few more months of the gold
standard, coupled with the effects of
the forthcoming Dingley la<v, will find
the people in no mood to be trified with.
Currency commissions and interna-
tiona1 commissions viii cut small figure
in the verdict they will pronounce
against the republicans next year.
They will condemn the Mckinley party
on the broad ground of general in
competency. Elected to restore pros
perity. every scheme put forward by
that party has been for the purpose of
robbing or deceiving the people. Every
plan of reform it has proposed has led
to harder times, lower prices and lower
wages.-Atlanta Constitution.