The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-02-01

Ahe shifting, ShambIing Nature oS
'he Republican Financial Policy
betrayed by This Action-Tbe
Party Now Stands just Whore
Cleveland Did Three yc.rs
"USH'n9ton bltecu St. Paul Globe, J
Coreoron Building.
Special to the st. Paul Globe.
NASHlNGTON. d. c., Jan. 31-uad
MI. cleveland waited until TO-DAY bIs
recent remark relative to the strange
thlhgs that happen in these stranSa
times' would have been all the mora
applicable. taken in connection with
the proceedings in the house of ranra-
sentatives.
Under the lash of the party whip
Republican majority was forced n 90
oept the Identical position assumed bv
fresident Cleveland three years ago.
"hen he sent special message to con-
sress showing how the government.
could save the sum of S16.174.770 II the
ponds then in process of printing.
should be denominated gold bonds.
ihls special message was sent to con-
gress on Feb. s. 1895. and the ont,on
was left open for ten days. Mr.. Cleve-
land urged immediate action and Hon
William L. Wilson, as chairman or
ways ana means committee, within
SNORT time after the special message
was submitted, reported a Joint reso-
tuition embodying the presidents vIews
ana denominating the bonds which
were to be issued as gold bonds. Every
republican member west Of the Alle-
sheny mountains voted against tba
gold bond proposition.
speaker Reed, who was too shrewd
TO be caught with the rear guard ~
the free silver forces. was. however.
po"erIess to hold his party In line for
G me wilson resolution. Such men as
cannon, OF Illinois: Grosvenor. of Ohio.
Dolliver. of Iowa, and his colleagues
Gen. Henderson and Col. Hepburn, and
every Republican member of the Min
nesota delegation, viz: Fletcher
McCieary. Tawney and Kiefer
voted with Bland, Bryan and
hartman and took the posi-
@ tion that the Stanley Mathews resolu-
tlon providing for the payment OF
bonds in coin was good enough and
strong enough for Western Republi-
cans.
But in February, 1895, Tom Reed
was not in the speakers chair. and.
as matter or TACT, he yielded to tho
Western men because an opportunity
was aI1orded them of sharply critics.
Ing the administration A great deal
or campaign literature was manufac-
tured during the discussion and Presi-
dent Cleveland and Secretary Carlisle
have been branded and denounced
and illuminated by Republican press
and politicians which were forced upon
the country by the mismanagement OF
the former Republican administration.
But the vote today is a vindication- for
the financial policy of Grover Cleve-
land and 1t comes at the hands OF
Republican house.
When the Wilson Joint resolution
was before the house Feb. IA 1895, Mr.
Hopkins, of Illinois, said: 'I am op-
posed to this resolution because l am
opposed to this government at this
late day In our financial transactions
changing It's policy with reference tc
the issuance of bonds"
Today Mr.. Hopkins voted and spoke
rather lamely in favor of putting the
former financial policy Of the Republi-
can party forever to sleep when he
voted against the Stanley Matthews
resolution, the legislative creation OF
the Republican party.
Cen GroSVenor, now the personal
representative of the president in the
house, speaking In opposition to the
gold coin resolution, said with great
emphasis on Feb. IA, 1895: IF you vote
in the negative here today. and the
majority is found that way, no obIiga-
ton of the government will be forfeit
ed. and the only difference will be.
that in the one case. the bonds Of the
government, under this new PROPOSE
ton, will be put at a lower rate OF in
terest. in consideration of which we
stipulate to pay in gold coin That IS
all there is OF It; and there Is no ques-
tion Of honor; there is no question OF
integrity, there Is no question OF faith
involved 1t is a simple question OF
what we prefer to do. Shall we stand
by the long established precedents OF
this government, now grown hoary and
time honored with age, or shall we for
a reason that does not amount to suf-
fcient justification change the entire
policy Of the government"
And yet the silver -tongued Grosvenor
of 1895 was not heard today in sup
port of the Stanley Mathews resolu-
ton, which Is three years older than
1t was when Gen. Grosvenor spoke as
above.
Today's history in the house only
furnishes one more instance Of the
shifting, shambling policy of the Re-
publican party on the financial ques-
ton.