Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-23
THE CURRENCY QUESTION.

Some OF the kepuDi1can papers are adj
vancing a most remarkable. not TO say
absurd, deduction from the woIcott mis-
sion fiasco. That deduction Is that the
failure OF the mission sounds the
death knell OF the silver craze" as
those papers term the free-silver move
ment. Nothing could be more illogical.
All the sound argument is In favor of
the proposition that the failure of the
mission will impart, TO the free-sllver
movement increased strength.
As we have frequently pointed out, the
| Wolcott mission was simply one of seve-
raj subterfuges the Republican party
has resorted to. in order to make show
| OF keeping election pledges, and 10
stave off meeting honestly the currency
issue. 1t was another case OF false pre-
| fences. 1t was intended no less as a
sop TO the Republican free silverites, and
the element that occupied the middle OF
the road on the currency question. than
as one to the Democratic masses. 1t
was designed to play upon the credulity
OF the people. and distract their atten-
ton from the issue Of free coinage OF
silver in this country, Independent OF
other nations" until something should
turn up that would enable the admins |
tration to side-track the whole matter |
with safety. 1T was another adroit |
manoeuvre to aid Mr.. Mckinley in work.
ing his way from under the cross-fire,
represented on the one side by his own
he inn xlo
the ST. Louis platform, and on the other
by Wall street and the national banking
interest.
And 1t must be confessed that the real
mission of the mission was successful
% certain extent. Despite all the facts
hat initiated against the assumption
hat it would accomplish anything for
or was expected by its pro-
noters to do So it did. in a degree, stop |
ree-silver agitation in this country and
ause many persons to indulge the hope
hat foreign nations would do something ,
or silver" However, the manoeuvre has
cen brought to a sudden termination.
he whole game is exposed for what II
! worth, and those who accepted the
ppointment Of the commission in good
aith are disillusionzed.
The failure of the mission does not
hange the financial conditions in this
ountry. 1t does not do away with the
Did. hard fact that we have not enough
irrency to meet the demands Of bust 4
ess. 1t does not reform our banking
nd currency system-a system by which
lie financial necessities of the people
N be rendered the sport of. speculation.
I'd under which the volume Of money is
at the very times its expan-
On is most needed. 1t does not cure
y of the many evils that have given
rec and vitality to the free-silyer
ovement, and furnished its advocates
ments. Moreover, the failure places
beyond doubt that the matter of set
ng our currency question is one en-
ely Of self-dependence. 1t throws us
rarely on our own resources, in re-
ect of working out that problem. 1t
is the administration in a position
ere IL would seem that it must either
p shily-shallying and keep absolute ]
tn touching currency reform, or bow
xn openly before the golden calf. That
will do the former we have no idea.
e sole recourse for the remedy of our -,
incial evils is, therefore, with the peo- i
and that they should repudiate the :
y policy that gives promise Of relief
on it's face. So we re- r
t, the logic of the situation. instead
pointing to an end Of the SILVER c
ze', foreshadows more aggressive ID
t for the free coinage of the white
al than ever before--a fight in which
discrediting of Wolcott G. Co. will S
We a potential auxiliary Of the silver +
es. "