The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-12-16
TIM DISCRIMINATION AGAlNsT
slLvEN.

The literary bureau Of the Indianapolis
monetary conversion Cpntinles, Under the
management or auspices Of Chairman n. II.
Hanna. to send out its stirring appeals 70
the eoid Standard agencies To clamor for an
extra session Of congress and to * the
gold standard 10 securely by specific en-
actnptnts that no administration can aues-
tion II.
In the latest emanation from this lit
erary bureau significant admission -
made OF fact that was warmly contested
in 1895. The silver forces ccntended that
tho gold standard had virtually been fas-
tened upon US without Warrant Of law. and
through the usnirpation Of authority BY
secretaries OF tho treasury. The democracy
charged that an unjust discrimination was
being male against The legal rights and
standing Of our silver money by these treas
airy officers who we're holding that they
had no discretion nor alternative but TO pay
out gold for redemption OF greenbacks and
for interest on the debt.
1t was rare that the gold men would adj
init the correctness of these propositions.
They insisted that custom had fixed the
law, that we had gone TO a gold standard
and that no man would have the right to
act otherwise than the treasury was acting.
They claimell that to exercise any sup
posed option OF the government and pay
out silver wnild be criminal.
Now comes Chairman Hanna. the high
pr.est Of the gold faith. and begs the gold
men to have congress act at once in fixing
the single standard by ''act OF law" so
that no future secretary Of the treasury
can exercise this option of using silver for
gold for redemption purposes! Mr.. Han
ma saws:
It is highly important that the supporters
OF sound money should endeavor, by placing
a proper law upon the statute books. to re-
move the reasonable apprehension that SIM
pie change OF administration might drive US
to a silver basis, or at least TO n deprecated
paper basis. 1t Is obvious that notwthstand-
ing the large sound money majority In the
next senate, a president or secretary Of the
treasury favorable to the free coinage OF sill
yer. could redeem the greenbacka In silver
and pay the interest on our bonds in silver
This Is a clear confession THAT the law
of this country does not now warrant or
authorize single gold standard, and that
the power exists In the treasury depart
ment to maintain bmstalllsm by the exer-
else cf a simple administrative act. which
the splldt anil, Indeed. letter OF existing
lzms intended should be exercised.
Now that no election is pending the gold
men xlre ready TO admit that tine gold stand
ard is established simply through the fav-
oritism and high-handed usurpations OF
cabinet officers. The chosen representa-
lives OF the people have never fixed this
discrimination against silver in the policy
CT the government by statute. The Han
naorats. in order to secure the legislation
they desire. confess that their cabinet rep
resentativas have been virtually commit
ting a crime in office by refusing to do
what the law authorized them to do and,
indeed contemplated they should do.
MIR. Hanna ia right II congress fails to
enact new laws the country remains theo-
reticnlly and legally at least on double
standard. though practically now on gold
standard. The Democratic secretary who
would exercise his option to make silver
the equal OF gold In d.scharging the obi ga
lions OF the government. wuuld not be a
| revo,rtionist, nor a repudtaltor. but strictly
within the law of the land. And this fact
was emphasized only the other day by a
dl:risEon In favor of silver In Federal
court, The men who are now enforcing a
gohi standard are simply usurping con-
| spiratcrs In the interest of the money
| bower