Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-10-22
THE CURRENCY ISSUE IN THE
ELECTION.

marked dividing line between the Re-
publican and Democratic parties.
Here in Maryland the Democratic
leaders have worked most shrewdly
TO put it into the background; it is
equally good policy for the Rcpubll.
cans to force it as much to the front
as possible.
As for the voter who conscientious.
ly inquiries into tie influence OF his
vote upon the national welfare, the
question for him to ask is. not what
face either party is endeavoring to
put upon the matter, but what may
actually De expected to be the effect
of that party's success. And upon
this point there is no difficulty what
ever in arriving at very clear and
very important conclusion, The cleo
tion of Democratic majority in the
House OF Representatives would be
an absolute deathblow to the pros.
poets Of all legislation designed to Sc.
cure the gold standard against danger
the election of any single Democratic
member would help to make such a
majority possible, and would in any
case diminish the strength OF the
sound money forces. Nor is this ALL
for it is only by flying in the face Of
oft repeated experience that any sound
money man can fatter himself that
the danger of an active cheap money
/ propaganda is over. That propagan-
da is dormant just now; but the mo.
ment that any circumstance may give
it an opening, it will seize upon the
4 opportunity with eageruess and in
sistence. as it did when the war-reve.
nue. bill was before Congress. The
sentiment of the country then com
| PEELED the silver men to yield to the
Nations urgent military need but
they are waiting their chance now as
always, and the larger the Democratic
representation in the House the more
favorable that chance will be, aud the
greater therefore the danger to the fl.
nancial stability of the country.
1t is impossible to break the force
of these considerations by pointing to
the mere personal inclinations OF in
dividual candidates for Congress; they
may be men who are personally averse
to the doctrine of their party on the
money question; but, unless they
stand in the most absolute and ex-
plicit manner as opponents of that
doctrine, their personal inclinatious
will be of no public avail, Mr.. Den
ny, in his letter of acceptance, evil
IDENTIFY strove to go as far as possible
to satisfy gold standard Democrats
yet what is the practical efficacy OF
his assurances? He begins by telling
us that the demand for the free coin
age of silver is, in his judgment, "for
the present at least" out of politics;
and expresses the curious belief that
when it comes up again it will be dis
posed of "by the demands of trade and
upon commercial considerations. I"
Having thus endeavored to minimize
the importance OF the matter, he pro-
ceeds as follows:
"But should l be elected and the
silver question become a vital issue
during ny term, candor compels me
to say that l would endeavor to re-
fleet the distinctly expressed views of
the people of Maryland. / should
support all measures tending to pro-
tect and preserve our National credit
and to secure the payment of all our
obligations in sound money, worth in
the markets of the world what it pur-
ports to be worth, and that the coin
age of silver as compared with gold
1AANAA W AdAAiboAhNd az oQ(sl IdLlO DIS
may be necessary to preserve the par
ity of value between the two metals. )"
This is certainly enough to alien
ate silver men, and Mr.. Denny de-
serves credit for saying so much; but
is there any solid satisfaction in it for
gold men' Have they any assurance
as to how much is covered by the res
ervation Should the silver question
become a vital issuep" Is it likely
Mr.. Denuy's views on the question of
the vitalncss of the issue will agree
with theirs' And supposing this diff
fcuity got out of the way, who shall
say whether proposed measure falls
or does not fall under the misty def
milton which Mr.. Denny gives TO the