The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-16
EFFECT OF WAR ON THE SILVER QUESTION

Washington, d. c., April 15.-(Edito-
rial Correspondence IL Glanced TO dine
with a friend to-day at a cafe very popu-
lar with the rich New Workers who visit
Washington and to overhear their con-
versation because they talked so loud
that l could not help it unless | had been
deaf. One of the men, | was told, was
a millionaire and all of them were high
up in the wealthy set in Gotham. They
were talking about the effect of war on
money and bonds. One Of them contend
ed that the first result of war would be
the issue of five hundred million dollars
of gold bonds, and that would forever
kill the silver question. How? He eX-
small denomination and would be taken
by all sorts of folks-the poor as well
as the rich. If every man owned a bond,
he said, no matter how small, he would
want his bond payable i'll gold. 1T is a
costly way" he continued, ''to convert
the people to the gold standard but be-
cost. Unless there is some such way
to interest them, all shcol can't keep
Bryan out of the White House in 1900"
The gentleman who combatted his
friend took the ground that war would
restore silver as money and would also
cause II big issue of greenbacks. You
the history of the world is that paper
money fights the worlds battles. Gold
goes into hiding and it is paper money
tllat comes to the surface. Instead of
war making the people believe in the
gold standard, it would have Il tendency
to make them advocates of fiat money,
Bryan and Organism. People might say
1--WE have paper money now; what's the
use for silver:' Then it would be good
bye TO Bryan.
1his was the gist of an animated con
versation by two rich New Workers.
" hich one is right?
"They are digging the grave of the
Democratic party" said a member of
the House referring to the policy of the
Democratic members with reference to
Cuban affairs. I'VE ought to know that
a war would re-elect Mckinley AMI
therefore ought every one of us to do all
we can to prevent it. Instead of that
we help the Republican party to dig our
graves. OF course go along with my
party, but il is a suicidal policy we are
pursuing Iyahis true? If 50, history
contains no parallel to the unsel6sh pa
triotism of the democratic party in this
struggle. All along, when the Republi-
cans were suppressing the truth about
Cuban outrages, the Democrats were
demanding recognition of the indepen-
dence of the island If their demand
had been granted, Cubans would have
won their independence and war would
have been ayertcd altogether. Now,
that dalliance and delay have made ne
cessary warlke measures. the attitude
Of the Democrats is such as to challenge
the admiration of the country. With the
knowledge that as a rule war strength
ems the party in power, they are
true to their convictions, scorn-
ing political advantage at the
sacrifice Of what they regard their
patriotic duty The Congressman who
criticized his party in fact paid it a very
high compliment, one that is well de
served, for no minority in history has
displayed more unselfish devotion 10
the country than the Democracy in the
present Congress. Will the people fail
to see that while the Republicans have
had their ear to Wall street until time 10
act, the Democracy has been foremost
to preserve the national honor? | do
not. The reason for my faith is that the
people everywhere applaud Lee, the
Democratic Consul, and condemn Nc
kinley, the Republican President.
u