Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-01-24

If the Teller-MattheWs silver resolu-
ton is to result in stiffening the back
bone of the sound money forces, the
agitation in congress will not be with
out ameliorating circumstances. AT
one time there was reason to hope that
the money question would be allowed
to rest, and that business in all direc-
tons would be permitted to revive. I'M
hampered by the benumbing influence
of struggle over the money standard
and the good faith of the government,
There are Indications that these happy
conditions are to be denied the country.
Congressman Walker lays the response
bility of the threatened conflict upon
Secretary Gage and the Indianapolis
monetary commission. But it. does not
SO much matter which side gave the
provocation. Indeed, if the free silver
forces are so easily excited, it might be
reasonably argued that the sooner. so
inevitable a contest and so unstable an
equilibrium were permanently adjusted,
the better it would be for the financial
soundness and safety of the nation.
There is a distinct advantage to the
party in having the issue sharply drawn
and in having one important enough to
create something like alarm. Such a
state of things tends naturally toward
harmony on the party We say this ad-
visedly and with a full realization of the
fact that there are both free silver mer
and bimetallists within the republican
ranks. If some of the irreconcilables
should happen to find themselves finally
excluded by more rigid definition 0.
the money issue, the party would bt
solidifed, and it would become a NOR,
efficient fighting body for that very rea
| son.
Now that the republicans seem t.
realize that there is an acute crisi.
ahead Of them, the firmness that char
acterized their behavior in the presi
dental canvass seems to be return
ing. No less an authority than Senate,
Lodge has declared that the none,
question must be the issue of tbs
approaching congressional campaign
| throughout the country, and that tn,
issue must be fought to a conclusion
without compromise or the turning o
hair. When frankly stated, as i
must be, this means simply campaign
for the gold standard, ''for fastenin;
the gold standard upon the country i
you WILL In taking this position, Sen
ator Lodge has already received tn,
support of senators and representative
who speak not only for the east, but TIN
central states, the west and the south
The commercial interests Of New Yorl
and Boston are not entirely pleased tina
tine old controversy is to be thus earl.
renewed; that after all the tension o
the presidential election and the subse
quent revival of industry the old ghos
of free silver, imitation and Reputation
has not been permanently downed
Yet, many OF the leading men accep
| the promised contest as inevitable, an,
are even disposed to welcome it, trust
| ing for a speedy and conclusive settle
ment
Let us hope, then, that there will b
no more vaporings about internationa
bimetallic agreements. which put tn
weapon of ridicule in the hands of GU
opponents, because the proposition i
speculative and impossible, and whicl
furnish presumption Of bad faith an
want of confidence In the fundamental
principle of the sound money cause. B,
the inexorable logic of facts, bimetal
aism has been eliminated from the dis
cussion.