The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-06

who oppose the issue of bonds maintain
that it is unnecessary TO incur so large a
debt. This Is possibly true. No one. how
ever. can measure the cost of the prosecu-
ton of the war We have had nothing
but rough approximates thereof, and in the
very nature of the case can have nothing
tificates of Indebtedness and bonds is not
TO incur debt of that amount. or for any
secretary of the treasury with authority
TO issue to this limit II, in the protection
of our vast coast defenses, or in the sup
port of our army and navy, 1t should DO
found necessary TO do so. Cannot we rely
upon the officers charged with the duty OF
prosecuting the war to exercise sound Judg-
ment as TO expenditures? They have our
confidence; they have in special degree
the confidence of the American people
The opposition disavow any purpose 10
withhold needed support TO the govern
ment, and in this / believe they are. sim
cere They have. during the progress or
fngness TO vote whatever is reasonably re-
CURED. What sound objection can there be
to granting authority to meet the fiscal
necessities which may arise curing rea-
sonable period I'm the future? The pro-
ceeds OF the bonds TO be issued cannot be
used for defraying ordinary current eN-
penses of the government. Their issue IS
distinctly and absolutely limited TO the pur-
pose of meeting war expenses. What these
will be rests I'm any event mainly in the
sound judgment of the officers charged
with the conduct OF the war. Their iudg-
ment must ultimately largely control; and
il seems to me that we are doubly strength
ened and fortified by placing within their
reach ample means / have no fear what
ever that the discretion reposed in the sec
rotary OF the treasury will not be exer-
cised in the utmost good faith and TO the
very best interest of the government
NO DECEASED CURRENCY.
1t would seem from the attitude of some
of those in opposition that they demand the
oapitulaton of the gold standard the
price Of voting the necessary means for
prOgecufinu tho preSant NVar Sir we should
lao sooner debase our currency than We
should weaken our coast defenses. We
should no more think of introducing unsound
currency into our money system than we
should think of weakening the steel armor
plates upon our great battle ships which
calamity withstanding the storm of
Spanish shot. The protection and preServa-
ton of the soundness and integrity of our
currency is protection to the masses of the
workmen. merchants, manufacturers and
farmers of the country: and above all this is
protection to our gallant soldiers and sailors.
Their money must be gold or its equivalent.
This is one OF the great duties which is laid
upon us in the present severe emergency.
Ills generation has not forgotten nor will
it soon forget, how tedious the way
from paper currency back to the resump-
be obliged to traverse it again.. 1t will not
be necessary to do unless the opposition
shall be able to force an issue of paper and
treasury will be unable to maintain their
interchange ability with gold.
We had hoped that the free-silVer adVo-
Gates might meet the present supreme emer-
gency in a purely patriotic spirit: that they
would not in this critical moment, whens
the Spanish fleet Is seeking to destroy our
own, pray upon our commerce and place our
Atlantic seaboard cities under contribution
endeavor to force the country to a depre-
ciated. free-sver currency basis. Sir. the
sharpeSt assaults of Spain cannot. except
in the deplorable loss of life, do us hall the
injury which the authors of the pending
proposition would inf1ict if they were able to
secure the adoption of their present inflated
currency plan.
The treasury is in pressing need of funds
to support our army and navy. which are to
win renown for us upon land and sea- With
out prompt and ample aid we but encourage
the enemy and Offer him opportunity to re-
inforce his own treasury and supplement
his naval and military forces. But all this
does not weigh against the unpatriotic de-
mands of the free-silver forces. Free silver
makes it's stand in the American Congress
and demands the surrender of the prssent
gold standard as the price of its support
of our army and navy-a navy Which has
made obscure Manila as famous as Trafal-
gar. and an army which must add even Sd-
ditional luster to our conspicuous achieve
ments.
1t seems to me that this is an hour where
we may repeat one of the proudest achieve
ments of the country when. without debate
and without dissent. we voted to the Presi-
dent for the national defense a which
would have beggared many governments It
has seemed to me that the advocates of free
silver might have deferred their bold at
tack upon our currency and credit until we
had emerged successfully from the smoke
of war Now is the hour when past diff
ferences should be forgotten and patriots
should strike hands. We should stand to-
gether upon a higher platform than any
party ever decreed. Whoever seeks to gain
mere party advantage to force upon the
people unsafe policies in this critical mo-
ment is out of harmony with the present
hope and aspiration of the American people.
1t seems TO me that whoever attempts TO
rekindle the embers of past differences in
this patriotic hour for the purpose of maxi
ing party capital is less patriotic than par
tiSan.