The San Francisco call., 1898-12-18
SETTLE THE CURRENCY NOW

oE lEE ILL SONE\GifSI lfOH I the present confusion of glad sounds and the touch of high spirit and feeling, there grows a negative sentiment to the need of completing immediately the financial and currency reforms which the country expects and to which the party in power is pledged. Men who have not in memory recent financial experiences, through having been outside their influences, and politicians who are buoyant in anticipation of great things to come out of con- quests abroad saying that there is need to do anything with finances. Meantime public atten- ton and curiosity directed to the regulation of distant islands, and men are keeping tally of the offices created; the officers of the army are asking Congress for 5o,ooo soldiers to keep order in Cuba, while stability is crystallzing there and for equal number in the Philippines to domestcate civil free dom among the Malays and mongrels. While Civil War was in progress wise men foresaw what was to come through the emergency measures which had financed the nations struggle for life The legal tender had been degraded The Governments prom isc to pay had been imposed legal tender between individuals The operation of natural law had driven specie out of the country. But the majority of our people occupied with the enthusiasms, the specuations and the politics of the war had time to consider the coming day of atonement for violated financial prin- cipes. That day came, however, and its conse- quences its compromises, its makeshifts, its nshts and complexities with yet. To their elimina- ton the attention of Congress is directed by the peated pledges of the party, which the Fltty-sXth Congress will represent by a majority in both branches.
 The immediate issues of our Spanish will soon rass They will leave us with far higher taxes than before with the military spirit dominant in the Gov crnment with great army and navy to support, and ten dollars to spend out of the treasury i'll governing conquests dollar that they will return to 1t
 n revenue. When those days come we will again know by experiment the need of sounder and safer financial system. Borrowing money and spending 1t
 is always easier than paying the debt at maturity.
 Payday approaches Why not fortify the country now against the appeal that it will bring for further financial debasement and dscredit Ii the F1tty- sixth Congress do not give the pledged reforms the Fifty-seventh will not If this be not done i'll special currency session. held in 18oo 1t will not be done 1n the regular session of 1900.
 The administration stronger in 1898 than 1t will be again Faith in the intention of the Republican party to redeem its pledges of I896 and 1898 was stronger in this years campaign than 1t will be again The need of the redemption of those pledges will be continually greater in the future than in the past.
 Financial faults and disorders never correct them selves. They grow less They never stand still They propagate like microbes in culture pan. The greater our commerce, the higher taxes; the more expansive governmental responsibilities, the greater the need of sound finance.
 Napoleon found this out He took France in the midst of the wild financial theories of Robespierre and Marat who believed that statute of the Assembly could dethrone God and make something out of nothing. His genius knew the existence of natural law in finance, and he struggled with his Ministers ard agents to get France sound basis. That this was only partially accomplished by makeshift which lasted from 1893 1876 probably due to the with drawa of the Emperors attention from civil to mili- t:ry affairs, made necessary by the marching of France in the same path of military glory that is just now so alluring to the American people.
 Let be warned by so many examples. Let us re- member that sound finance IS nations only sure foundation in peace war; that 1t IS always neces- sary, and that when 1t is not provided the people always paying the penalty.
 This view is taken by the press of the Middle West The leading public men in those States, which have been held in the Republican ranks only by the partys sound money pledge, agree that there must be extra session of Congress for financial legislation, and we are well assured that indifference to this will bring consequences of the most unpleasant ture.