St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-02-11

further go among the law makers.
Conditions are entirely different from
twenty years ago, when senator's
were lined up, some OF them, con-
trary to their convictions now. The
country is now, they urged, in Pc
Rod Of prosperity. Confidence in
every direction is reestabished, and
it is short sighted policy that will
certainly work mischief if the friends
of unrestricted coinage of silver re-
CARELESS Of economic demands, or OF
international agreement, persist in
the agitation. Senator Lodge OF
Massachusetts very happily rein
forced his argument from the XXI.
chapter of Macauley's matchless his
tory. The condition of the currency
OF England in 1895, when for practi'
cal purposes the country possessed
no measure of value, and could in
the nature of things, have no daily
transactions in business without end
less dispute, and the disasters which
everywhere overlook every one ex-
cept the speculator and the banker,
were cited by the senator to prove
the mischief that was likely or liable
to follow debased currency. 1t is a
singular commentary upon human
wisdom, that times of debased cur.
rency offer the speculator the very
opportunity he most desires, to en-
nance his possessions. For the
greater risks he secures larger profits;
of course at the expense of all classes
and conditions of men.
Much OF the material of the debate
is already ancient history, the relics
of the campaign OF 1896. 1t follows
that the old straw is to be threshed
over and over again.
1t would be mistake to say that
great speeches were made either for
or against Mr.. Teller's resolution.
The occasion was not great enough
to bring out the senator's best work.
1t was clever work, with several
speeches rising above the plane Of
clever work. Mr.. Daniel of Virginia
and Mr.. Thurston of Nebraska were
in good voice and both have rich
full voice, and may be considered
among the few orators of the senate.
The best arguments upon the gold
side, or the only practicable bimetal-
lie basis, as might be expected were
from New England. The speeches of
Senators Hoar, Lodge, Gallinger,
Hawley. Aldrich and Platt Of Con.
necticut embraced about all that can
be reasonably said against the un-
limited coinage OF silver at the pres
ent time. The economic reasons
against it were perhaps best urged
by Messrs. Hoar, Lodge and Aldrich.
The supporters of the measure
brought invective and denunciation
to their aid; the banker and bond
holder being especially held up to the
execration of silver men. Senator
Teller distinctly declared his prefer
ence for silver if the country should
permanently come to a monometallic
basis. He further declared his pur.
pose to do all in his power to break
up the republican party in 1900. 1t
may be we'll to note that of the 81
democrats who voted for this reso.
luton, Is served in one form or an.
other in the confederate army OF
navy. This is said with no purpose
to bring into the dispute the memo
ries of an unhappy civil war, but to
emphasize ones wonder that human
beings with the experience OF the
confederacy in inflated finance behind
them should still be found willing to
enter upon dangerous attempts a,
financial legislation. There is only
one solution to the enigma-politics
S. O. TODD.
Washington, Jan. 81, 1898.