The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-12-20
COLUMN
EDITORIAL MISCELLANY.

The tree Silver aglUdllOH Has AoS
been an entirely unmixed evil. 1t IS
often the case that people must be
brought to the brink of disaster in
order to appreciate the blessings they
enjoy. During the hard times of 1893
people looked anxiously about to find
on which to lay the blame
A scape-goat was necessary. To ex-
plain suchsa thing as ''hard times" by
the natural workings of canse and effect
was too simple; people are much more
easily persuaded to believe in far
fetched and unnatural causes than in
simple business reasons. 1t is much
easier to persuade a man to take some
patent medicine than it is to get him to
take good care of himself. 1t was this
weakness of human nature of which
the demagogues took advantage to
foist the free silver theory. 1t is but
repetition of number of political
heresies which have blazed up, flickered
and gone out during the century of cur
national history. The good it has &C.
complished is this; it has been proven
that the people can be trusted, that
while they may be carried away for the
moment by fervid oratory and heated
invective, their sober second thought is
sound and good, and that the simple
principles of business safety and bust
ness honesty will prevail against ap-
peals to prejudice. Another good ac-
complished is found in the almost uni
versal satisfaction which now exists in
regard to our monetary system. There
are still advocates of free silver, but
their numbers are growing fewer every
day. The East never did believe in 1t.
The South accepted it only as means
toward the greater end of placing in
power party in sympathy with their
policy of negro debasement and olsen
reimbursement. The Central West has
repudiated it, as have the Pacific states
and even in Colorado it totters on the
throne.
The feeling is now almost universal
that our monetary system is, with some
alterations, the best possible. The
alterations are all in the line of conser.
vatism. There are no startling innova-
tions; all that is demanded by the peo-
pie is that sufficient safeguards be
placed about our currency to secure its
present stability. The people favor the
s'existing gold Standard they wish to
see it made secure; they wish stop put
to any s'endless chain" business by
which the gold reserve may be depleted
but this is all they ask, and the govern
ment will be wise if it does not try tt
exceed the wishes of the people.
During the campaign of 1896 many
men of both parties left their former
political associates and joined witt
those of opposite faith in some matters
in order TO vote as they deemed wisest
in the matter of currency legislation
The great mass of these people we be
lieve to have been honest in theil
change of party, and to have done 81
through deep-felt conviction. It is I'm
fortunate that these great revolution
in public thought are always made U.s.
of by the selfish and unprincipled an,
vainglorious to force themselves int.
notoriety and prominence.
= x
With all due respect to our churcl
organizations, we would ask if yo
have not noticed that frequently tn
man who during the revival season j
the loudest in his protestations of
change of heart and the most sensa
tional in his testimony is the one mos
apt to back-slide before revivals com
again? Have you not heard such pee
pie, and have you not detected the not
of insincerity and self-aggrandizement
All this Is nothing against revivals
either religious or political, it is simpl
fact to be noticed and guarde'
against. We have had many example
y.