Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-12-29
CHAMP GAKS LETTER
Christmas Season Loos-
ems Purse Strings.
BLESSED JOYS OF GIVING.
Senator Vest Retains His Force
and vigor.
BLESSED JOYS OF GIVING
DELusIOss OF TIE eOLDBUas.

Believe They Can Assure the Perma-
nenee Of the single standard-Mc-
KInley'n Mean Treatment of Colo
mel W. }. Brxss-IsS'w Lineoln Acted
In n similar Case.
Especial Washington letter.
All over Of ability. courage, honesty
and brillianoy in public service will be
glad to know that Senator George Ora.
ham Vest has recovered his health and
is at his post, which is always in the
forefront Of the battle line.
last summer some newspapers had
him sick unto death, and others had
him resigning. When these reports were
carried 10 the senator, he said with that
grim humor for which be is famous;
81 shall neither die nor resign. | will
disappoint them this tima." And be did.
So that those Missouri patriots and
statesmen who have been losing sleep
thinking of how his senatorial toga
would adorn their shoulders, and how
pleasant it would be to ioll away the
hours in his curule chair, and who have
been p~rscticing before a looking glass,
training their mouths to say, "Mr,
Presidentr' in graceful and effective
manner, can now put pulverized ice to
their oerebellunis and resume their
usual vacations. No doubt as they read
Senator Vests great speech on our pro
posed colonial policy, with which he
signslized his restoration to health,
they clearly realize the truth of the old
saying, Hope deferred maketh tbs
heart sick, but they must grin and
bear it as best they can. OF course tc
ease themselves of pain they can retire
to some quiet spot and make a few
grimaoes or tear their long hair and in.
terview themselves in their personal or,
gsns. waiting for dead mems shoes
has never been a performance which
commended itself to the admiration Of
right thinking people, especially Mis-
Eourians.
Senator Vest tells an amusing anec.
dote of his sojourn at a Virginia health
resort. He says there was an old vir.
ginia colonel down there who didn'i
seem to have anything in particular the
matter with him, So one day Vest said,
Colonel, for what ailment do you seel
these healing waters?" The ancient
colonel drew himself up proudly an6
replied Ny dear senator, the disease
n am suffering from is ammo Dominil'
II the would be Missouri senators could
hear Vest tell that tale with all the
frills and scallops and see him chucklt
over il. cold chills would creep up and
down their spinal columns, for they
would conclude from his flashing eye
and vigorous manner that they will
contract the Virginia colonel's fatal dis
ease Of anno Domini before they enroll
their names upon the list Of oonscripi
fathers.
The Rapids Are Below.
The most thrilling part Of oneof John
B. Coughs Temperance lectures was
where he dramatically represented a
boat floating down Niagara TO destruo-
tion and a man on shore roaring: "Ship
ahoy, there The rapids are below your
II appears that the Washington Post,
independent and goldbuggish, is re-
peating to those olamoring for 'our-
rsncy reform" the same warning which
Coughs man On shore shouted to the
needless people In the doomed boat, az
witness the following editorial from
that paper:
Before the work Of reforming the currency
is seriously undertaken 10 would seem TO b
in order for those who propose 10 perform
that task to qualify themselves for 1t by get
ting rid Of at least one wild delusson, BY com
ing 10 some understanding Is 10 what they
will do and by nscertAining as far Is posEibla
whether their plan is likely 70 BE- Endorsed by
the people in the next general election.
That wild deluEion has many victims among
the statesmen on Capitol hill and in editorial
control Of q large number Of newspapers. We
have seen 1t every day for months in inter
views and editorials. Various congressman
have given 1t uttsranoe in the last few days,
and two or three meetingso Of sound monsJ ad-
vooates In as many cities have put il forth. II
IL the impression or belief "thHt the perma-
hence Of the gold standard can be assured by
act Of congress" More than one congress
man Is on record with the declaration that the
Ffty-sixfh congress is bound to put this mat
Ter in such shape that the Democrats, If they
get control Of the government, viii not be
able 10 disturb it. Il is strange that 20 trans
parent q delnsion should have gained eredencs
anywhere. Whatever party has control Of leg
islation can do whatever 1t wills with cur cur
renoy. There is no Limit 10 the authority Of
congress in this respect except the veto power.
Both houses of congress and the president
could, il 20 inclined. not only usher In free
coinage, but practically sbolish metallic cur
rency by issuing billions Of legal tender paper.
II the Fifty-sixth congress should pass 3 cur
rency act that would not stand the test Of an
appeal 10 the country. q subsequent congress
might overthrow that act AID make the situa-
tion far worse than it now is or Is likely to be.
They Cant Agree.
Having thrown of the delusion that an act
Of congress lie all that is needed 10 insure the
permAnence Of the gold standard. the next
thing for our reforming friends 10 do lie to get
togethsr-to agree upon the details Of some
plan. They win oppose and be opposed by a
solid and united forcs Of no small magnitude
lat least all the elements Of the great Bryan
combination Of 1888 VIII stand up IN solid ar
ray against them. At this time there Is no
plan Of reform as to which the gold tandArd
advocates are agreed. The widest possible d.
yerRonco Of opinion is showing up even among
the experts The secretary Of the treasury and
that bright and brsiny young man from Hi
nois whom the president placed IN charge Of
the Office Of comptroller Of the currency are
leagues apart in their opinions Of the bill now
pending In the house Of representatives, We
refer 10 the McCleary bin, and 1t Is not going
too far 20 say that Comptroller Dawes has
pretty eneetually disposed q any chanee that
MEASURE may hase had Of becoming 8 law.