Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-23
The Treason Of the SiIverites.

debates in the United States Senate on
the war revenue bill they must be ex-
ceedingly pleased at the traitorous
tendencies displayed by the Silvertes.
These disciples Of a debased currency
are plainly bent on giving aid and
comfort to the enemy, and seem deter
mined to devote all their energies to
preventing the government from sue
cessfully carrying on the war which
they themselves were SO anxious to
plunge the nation into. They insist
upon the eXpediency of making our
money as mean as that of the Span
iards. The voluminous and rolling elo-
quence poured forth day after day in
favor of free silver, and the deeper
deep of freer paper, in order to destroy
our public credit. which is firm on the
gold basis. and so degrade our money
as to enormously increase the ex-
penses of the war, is something that
must Iiidhc an lultlllSNiI NhNi'iS eoi4AA
from ear to ear.
What the Populsts and silverites of
tions under which the money now fur
nished the government at gold value,
less value. In other words, that gold
value obligations may be paid at some
time in the future with silver value
money, or with paper not redeemable
in anything. This is the reason why
the Senate is holding up" the meas
ures necessary to supply the treasury
with money for the war. 1t is dis
honest and a traitorous scheme. 1t is
as dishonest as any of the subtlest or
grossest form of robbery: and it is as
traitorous as the worst scheme that
could be conceived to impair the vigor
and power of the country for offensive
and defensive war. to betray it's fleets
and armies, or otherwise to aid and
abet the enemy.
Credit is the essential thing for n
nation in war, and credit can be MAIN
tanned only by keeping financial obli-
cations. To debase the money of the
country would be a crime equal to that
of furnishing worthless supplies to its
fleets at sea-and even greater. for this
last crime could in some manner be re-
paired, but the first could not. for base
currency once introduced would stay
with us and impair the credit and
working efficiency of the government
to the end The demand for free coin
age of silver, or for additional issues
of treasury notes. which could not be
redeemed on presentation, is. therefore.
nothing short of treason to the United
States; and no other act could give SO
much aid and comfort to the enemy.
There can, Of course, he no question
about the honesty and good intentions
of the government. 1t is the proper
thing therefore, for Congress to vote
what ii asks for. If there should turn
out to he a surplus, all know that it
can be judiciously applied in meeting
the nations obligations. But that is
not the worst line taken by the debate.
The old issues Of 1896 have been drag
ged in. and an effort made to rehabill-
tate them. That is not fair to the pub
lie. 1t is a disinGenuous use of the
war. The war is against Spain,
and not against the American people.
During six months of 1896 the people
stood the most terrific hombardment
that ever was known, and they buried
these old issues in doWnpour of bal
lots. They ought not to be compelled to
fight them again, and the Spaniards
too.
The singular delusion about coming
a vacuum ought to be hidden away in
war times. 1t is c0ntriEance to eX-
tltt Stly anu mn ILL., puI iIt H'OIIt
have serious business on hand just at
present, and they need solid money,
and not eVanescent whims, to meet eX-
penses. Nor is the proposal to issue
greenbacks much more substantial.
This country is able to borrow money.
1t is not compelled to make it out of
paper. Nations make money out of pa
per when they have spent all of their
gold, and when their credit is gone.
They do not do it because they want
to, but because they cannot help them
selves. But that is not the position
of the United States. 1t has plenty of
gold in the treasury, and its credit is
gilt-edged. 1t can borrow money at
the lowest rates, and borrow as much
as it wants. II is not the time for
making money out of paper.
1t seems pretty we'll settled that the
first man to volunteer, was that dash