The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-14
SATURDAY, MAY "A, 1898.
a DESPERATE STAND.

The Chicago party, born in the
summer of 1896. was voted 10 deaih III
November. 1896. though the infatuated
men who have since held the reins In
that organization have seemed TO be
utterly unconscious that they and their
organization were put TO death on that
memorable day of November 1886. They
we're none the less dead. however, even
though they did not know It, But what
ever sparks OF life were left IN them
were extinguished last Wednesday when
their majority of the Senate Committee
on Finance struck from the war-revenue
bill the provision allowing the Treasury
Department 10 sell bonds OF the govern
ment to raise the revenue necessary to
conduct the war and inserted in its place
a provision for issuing another hundred
and fifty millions Of dollars Of fiat green
back notes and coming and putting upon
the public forty-two millions of addi-
tional silver coins worth eacn about a
cents but stamping them as dollars, and
providing that men TO whom dollars were
due should take these coins as dollars or
take nothing. The Senate, having a ma
iorlty composed Of Chicagoists win
very probably pass the war revenue bill
as the Finance Committee has reported it,
but the House OF Representatives will, Of
course refuse to pass It in that form, and
this will make a deadlock between the
two houses We hope most sincerely and
doubt not. that the House will stand firm
and leave the government without reve-
nue. with which TO prosecute the war
rather than 10 agree TO the de-
structive measures Of the Senate, Let
these gentlemen so before the country
with the responsibility Of starving the
government while in the throes OF war,
OF Of overturning what was settled an
1896. and upturning the new revival Of
business that set IN when the country
learned that we were 20 have a stable
standard Of value. They are already
will put the headstones upon
their graves.
We DO not for one moment believe that
the Senate will stand the fire If the
House makes a sharp issue with it. II
will inglorlously retire from the foolish
position in which what il calls its 'princi-
pies" have led il. But whether #
does OF not. the House should force IL to
the alternative Of retreating or or fac
ing the outraged American people when
. Z
Senate have blocked public legislation
and have put the country in peril Of the
Spaniards because they will not allow the
government tho money necessary for pro-
perly conducting the war That is the
issue. and that s. the issue they should be
forced 20 face. Let them stand by their
principles ~ any man can define them
but let them AZ the same time be forced
20 account at the bar Of public wrath for
subjecting the American people TO dan
ger at the hands Of Spanish gunners
The President can make out TO carry
the war on after a fashion. even II these
gentlemen do place this obstacle In his
Path. lie has authority under the law
nary expenses Of government. and he can
sell bonds under the law as II now
stands 20 replenish the gold reserve. lie
should not hesitate 20 do both Of these
things with an entirely free hand II they
become necessary. II woul1 undoubtedly
be a departure from the spirit and inten-
ton OF the law. and such a departure
should never be made except under the
severest stress OF circumstances. But
this case would present that stress 1t
would present the question whether ne
should allow Us 20 suffer at the hands OF
tho Spanish upon the one side or whether
he should allow us to return 20 tho flnan-
cial chaos from which the election Of 1896
rescued us upon the other
With this alternative before him he
should not hesitate to gave US from
both. He should pay out the gold re-
serve without moments question and
sell bonds 40 replenish II as new gold was
wanted.
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