The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1898-01-01
A RATHER FINE DISTINCTION

S0udCOr w OlCObts IL Is FCpOTGcu, Will
soon sever his relations with the re-
publican party and follow his colleague,
Teller, into the ranks of the silverites.
From the point of view of the mere
politician, Wolcott must do this, or
completely abandon his faith in free
silver coinage and become convert
to the gold standard. As q fearless
statesman, Wslcott would stand higher
than he ever did before, if he should
abandon the cause Of free silver at
once and place his resignation in the
hands of his constituents. as did Sena-
tor Lamar. of Mississippi, when he de-
cided to vote against the Bland-Allison
act Of 1S78.-Oregonian.
In this the Oregonian draws rather
q fine distinction considering its atti-
tude toward Senator Mitchell. If
Senator Wolcott would completely
abandon his faith in free silver and be-
come a worshipper OF the golden calf,
be would in the eyes of the Oregonian,
high in the estimation of the people.
Even Wolcott, one of the greatest and
most pronounced advocates of the sill
yer cause, and senator from the
"rotten borough" Colorado, as the
Oregonian has so often called it, would
be forgiven all his sins of commission
and omission, and rise to the high
elevation of great statesman were he
only to renounce his former prin-
ciples and endorse the aviews of the
Oregonian and the administration.
In fact were he to do just the thing
Mr.. Mitchell has done, he would be
transformed into little god, and no
longer be known as "silver LOOM"
But with Mr.. Mitchell IL is diff
ferent, at least SO far as the Oregonian
Is concerned. We do not desire to be
judged as pleading Mr.. Mitchell's
cause, for We have not the slightest
desire to ever again see him reelected
to the senate, but desire to ascertain
where the difference is between him
and Wolcott, should the latter endorse
the gold standard.
When Mr.. Mitchell entered the
rational campaign Of 1895 he endorsed
the St. Louis platform from beginning
to end, and so far as the financial
question is concerned, abandoned silver
to its fate and accepted the gold staud-
ard. Though once al advocate of free
coinage and supporter of bimetalism,
he rsaounced his former principles
when be took the Stun p for Mckinley,
and became just as much of an advo.
cate of the gold standard as the Ore
gonian. Since the national campaign
no word or deed Of Mr.. Mitchell's has
indicated change of heart, or that he
is anything but a pronounced "gold
bug"
Still the Oregonian insists that he
is ''silver IDIOT" that the republicans
of Oregon cannot trust him to stand
by the administration in case of vote
on financial legislation being taken
in the senate were he returned to that
body. Though il Mr.. Wolcott were to
do tic same thing Mr.. Mitchell has
done he would at once become a
thorough "sound money" man. What
is the distinction? The act required
by one is an act performed by the
other. Is it that the deeds or word of
q Coloradoan are more binding than
those on an Oregonian? Or is it that
there is personal feeling against one
that is not harbored against the other?
We fail to see If Mr.. Wolcott could be-
come a great statesman and carry
favor with the powers that be, simply
by declaring for the gold standard,
why Mr.. Mithell has not accomplished
this by already accepting the declara-
lions of his party platform. Certainly
40 silver advocate or bimetalist sees
n Mr.. Mitchell friend of silver, and |
,is allegiance to the gold standard is
,nly questioned by the advocates of
yold.