The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-09-10
PASSING AWAY.
Business Men Are BuyinE War bonds
and Forgetting All About
Free Silver.

There are many indications that the
free coinage of silver at the ratio OF
sixteen to one, as political issue, is
passing. With Mr.. Cable and other
gold democrats on the democratic
state committee in Illinois, by vote
of the convention, it is evident that a
decided change has taken place. The
report that Il large majority of the
state committee of Illinois is opposed
to mailing sixteen to one an issue in
1900, but favors free coinage without
any reference to the ratio, is entitled
to credence. That is the common
ground upon which the democracy OF
the country can get together in 1900,
Those who call themselves democratic
leaders in Indiana may not see it now,
but they have never had the reputa-
tion of leading the procession.
There are other indications, The
representative of an industrial paper
published in Baltimore has recently
been through the south to ascertain
the sentiment of business men in ref
ercnce to free silver and the ratio of
sixteen to one. He reports that while
those who make politics business are
protesting undying devotion to Bryan
and sixteen to one, the business men of
the south, who represent its trade and
industries, are opposed to the silver
issue and are using their influence to
repress the agitation of the question.
The fact that n million people, includ-
ing an element naturally timid, sub
scribed for five times as many bonds
payable in coin" as the government
has called for without a question as to
the meaning of the word is another evil
dence of popular feeling. If there had
been any general fear that by the free
coinage of silver at the ratio of six
teen to one the United States would
pass to silver basis there would have
been no rush to subscribe for three per
| cent. bonds. Four years ago there was
such doubt that the government had
to issue four per cent. bond where
it could have fioated three per cent.
| gold bond Gold is no longer boarded,
| Two years ago less than ten per cent.
of the revenues were paid in gold.
| During the past few months from rs to
7S per cent. of the customs duties were
raid in gold For months the treasury
has been paying out nearly million
dollars day in excess of the revenues,
but even before the passage of the
revenue and bond act that fact
caused no uneasiness lest the gold in
the treasury be drawn out by an "end'
less chain" During the past three
months several financial papers, in an
alyzing the causes of general bust
ness activity. have declared that the
| general conviction in business circles
| that the coinage issue of Organism Is
dead and can never be galvanized into
the appearance of life is the leading
cause of the present generally i'm
proved business conditions.
In this state and some others the
democrats will insist that sixteen toont
is an issue now and will be in 1900. but
leaders of discernment will have as lit
tie to say in advocacy of it rs possible
knowing that in 1900 the silver issue
with sixteen to one proviso will not
be emphasized in the national demo
cratic platform. The electoral vote oil
New York. which Tammany will prom
Use, and which the democrats mus
have in order to win, is of more i'm
portance than the electoral votes O.
the silver-producing states twice over
Besides. the silent conviction of the
country against sixteen to one is much
more positive now than it was in No
vember, 1so6.-Tndianapolis Journal.