New-York tribune., 1898-01-22
THE ANSWER OF THE SENATE.

Nobodv supposes that the vote IN the Senate
n, 4be bond resolution offered by Mr.. Teller
means that II has a possibility Of passing ex-
cont in that body. 1t disturbs the minds or
those only who are seeking some disturbance.
There are many Of that sort, however. and as
the vote in favor Of silver on Mr.. Vests motion
is as timely now TO put prices down as was the
vote four years ago, which then pushed Sugar
stocks ND. men will do their own guessing.
The fact remains that no Senator imagines
the vote on the resolution can affect the course
Of the Government IN tie slightest degree 1t
has 10 other meaning than as an answer 10 the
recent efforts Of Secretary Gage and others ror
O formal declaration of an opposite character
AS Mr. Gage is citizen Of experience and
wisdom II may be presumed that he never e1-
tectcd any bill to pass embodying his proposal
Still. he thought Il wise 10 propose, and the
silver men in the Senate think II well to answer
Months ago The Tribune pointed out that the
effort to secure action widely different from
that which the President recommended could
not succeed. but would result IN stirring up
the aniagOnism Of all the advocates OF silver
and producing a controversy on the money
question which would not help the trade or the
industries Of the country The silver men Know
tia: In this Congress they can accomplish
nothing. Tndisturbed or met only with pro
Icsals 70 which some OF them could readily as
sent they might have attempted nothing Inc
natural result OF Mr.. Cages elaborate pro
pcfals has been q revival OF antagonism IN the
Senate TO all plans not In accord with the
wishes Of the silver men, who were known 10
constitute its majority. IL did not seem TO
The Tribune months ago that such cOntro-
vcrsy at present could do much good. 1t does
not now seem likely to accomplish anything
unless Il be the defeat OF such steps as the
President has recommended.
The speech Of Senator Wolcott on this sub
tcct properly refraned from treating the course
Of Secretary Gage as evidence Of any insn-
rcrity on the part Of the President His own
deliberate judgment has been stated by HIM
self in defining the act which he recommended
Congress TO adopt. without hindering an express
sion Of opinion by the Secretary in favor OF
much more extensive changes But II Is pos
slble. without intention on tho part Of the Sec
rotary that his efforts have tended to Increase
opposition to any measure such as the Presi-
dent has favored The Tribune read the sit
ua,ion in the Senate exactly as President Nc
K,nley read IT, when in commenting upon his
Message we said that the one chance for advo-
Gates of sound money to accomplish anything
during this Congress was TO unite upon the
course which the President proposed. 1t was
obvious then, as It is now, that any attempt to
bring about radical changes might have ten
dency to prevent any improvement whatever. II
IL as true now as Il was then that. unless those
who want TO secure Improvement Of some sort
can unite in support OF the measure proposed
by the President, their failure TO unite is likely
20 make IL impossible to accomplish anything.
There Is no argument in the statement that
twenty or thirty years ago President Mckinley
himself, with many Republicans, voted for n
measure which, through the great decline In
the value of silver, has come TO bear now an
entirely different meaning, and TO involve con-