The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1898-12-16
a STEP THAT SHOULD BE
TAKEN.

The session Of congress that opened
in Washington Monday will be a
busy and important one. And yet
there seems to be an impression that
outside of the regular appropriation
bills, little important legislation will
be enacted, as the time for such work
is rather short, the session coming to
q close by constitutional limitation on
March 4th next. But it is quite pos
sible that the future course Of much
important legislation will be outlined
and put in shape during the next
three months, so that the party lead
ers will become familiar to consider
able extent with details,
The fact that the treaty of peace is
not yet signed and will not be ratified
until late in the session. should 1t
be presented to the present senate,
will preclude any possibility Of legis-
lstion in any way affecting the new
possessions of the United States, even
were there time for it before the 4th
of March next.
1t is also doubtful wheth er any at
tempt will be made at financial legis-
lation Of any kind, though possibly
some attempt may be made to carry
out the presidents recommendation
regarding the paying out of redeemed
greenbacks only for gold. His hint
that this is not the only legislation
needed on the matter of finance is one
that ought to be taken by congress in
a way that will result in some good in
the near future, though Of course
nothing can be accomplished this win
ter. But with the next congress Re-
publican in both branches something
ought to be accomplished.
And upon this question Of finance it
seems to the Free Press that the par
ty leaders and it's representatives in
congress ought to come to some I'm
Outstanding during the coming win
ter as to what will be done. While
the party is not pledged by its nation
al platform for 1896 to legislation re.
forming the currency and banking
systems, it virtually is so pledged by
the position it took in the campaign
following. But the fact that this su b.
j CT was not before the country at tie
time the Republicans met in their ma
tiunal convention, so as to draw forth
an explicit expression thereon in their
platfnrm, gives chance for many
leaders and papers to oppose any legis-
laJlon being enacted aloLg the line
marked out by the McCleary and 9th
er bills, for this purpose. But there
is one point upon which there ought
TO be no murmur of objection from
any true Republican. And thati is for
legislation that will firmly maintain
the gold standard. The Repu olicans
declared that it should be maintained
until such time as an international
agreement could be brought about for
the free coinage Of silver. 1t has
been demonstrated that such an agree
me1t cannot be secured.
But those who oppose the proposed
legislation along the line Of currency
aud banking reform, assume the posi-
Gion that our money is good enough
new, and should not be touched We
will agree that it is good enough, and
could it be guaranteed that the Re-
publican party would always remain
An power, their statement that no
further legislation is needed might
go. But matters have not been
changed a particle from what they
have been for the past six years, dur
ing which time it has been sufficient
ly demonstrated it would seem. to the
duliest mind, that man in the presi-
Dental chair, believing in free coin
age. could turn this nation to a silver
blsis lie spite of itself, and cut values
of all Kinds directly in two.
1t is to guard against any thing of
this kind that some provision should
he made. Upon the question of cur
FencY and banking reform, there is a
chance for discussion and honest diff.
ference Of opinion, as to the step to
he taken, but in, this matter there
so1ght to be but one voice in the Re
publican party, and that is to prevent
the overthrow of the sold standard.
Some move for this purpose should be
taken at the earliest opportunity pos
sable, so that our money standard NAV
he in less danger of assault.