The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-06

Mr.. MckinleyS Philipplne policy can
be defended upon one theory only,
namely, that the people of the Islands
are absolutely subject to our dominion
to do with as we please. This is
principle never before invoked in le-
tense OF territorial expansion by the
American republic, and it is utterly in
consistent with Mr.. McKinley's lofty
declaration with reference to our "sa-
cred" duty to Cuba. Why is it a sacred
duty to insure self-government to the
Cubans, IL the same boon Is to be de-
MED to six times as many Filipinos?
Mr.. Mckinley suggests no plan what
ever as to the future of the islands. He
be put down. Beyond that he is ap-
parently as innocent of any knowledge
of how the islands should be treated
as if he had never heard of them.
The presidents recommendations upon
the money question will be cold COM
fort for those alleged silver men who
for months past have been singing his
praises and paving the way for return
to the republican party.
The last vestige of a bimetallic dis
euise is dotted, and William Mckinley
the erstwhile defender of the consttu-
tional money of the country, stands be-
fore the world an outspoken champion
of the gold standard. Repeatedly and
with emphasis he insists that the pres
ent gold standard must be upheld go
ing the full length of urging that the
secretary of the treasury be empowered
to sell gold bonds for the purpose.
While his statement is very general
it must be taken in connection with
the oft expressed views of Mr.. Gage,
and the currency bills that have been
prepared in pursuance of his advice
These are well known to have the presi-
dents approval. They not only seek to
make gold the permanent standard, but
they effectually destroy silver as re-
demption money.
The bill of the republican caucus COM
mittee, first makes gold the standard,
and then reduces the silver dollar to
the grade of a greenback by providing
that the secretary of the treasury may
exchange gold for any other kind of
money, including the silver dollars,
whenever necessary to maintain the
parity. This simply means that when
silver dollars are presented at the treas
ury and sold demanded, it will be paid
upon the old plea, heretofore urged that
If the gold were not paid out on de-
mand, the other forms of money would
depreciate and the parity contemplated
by the law would be destroyed.
The president also favors the i'm
pounding of the greenbacks as they
come into the treasury and only pay
ing them out again in exchange for
gold. The purpose of this Is to create
a scarcity of paper money, and pre-
pare for the issuance of bank notes
upon their general assets-which in
clude their deposits.
The senate bill does not go quite so
far in this respect, but . it goes far
enough, in providing for, the refunding
of our outstanding bonds into gold
bonds, and then allowing the banks to
issue notes up to their par value in
stead Of only ninety per cent, as now.
But the two houses will get together
all right, they will agree upon meas
ure intended to fasten the gold stand
ara upon the country for all time, and
giving the banks a very liberal advance
upon the privileges they now enjoy.
And no matter what kind of a bill is
passed-no matter how extreme it may
be, William Mckinley will sign it. His
| message leaves room for not even the
shadow of a doubt upon this point
Thus the issue is squarely made, and
it has gone away beyond the mere
proposition for free coinage at the ratio
of sixteen to one. 1t now becomes a
struggle to prevent the virtual destruc-
ton Of the silver we have already
absolutely controlling our money sup
ply through the issue or non-issue of
notes at their own will. And this with
| a man in the executive chair who
| throughout his whole life up to the very
| day upon which he was nominated for
the presidency had posed as bimet-
| allist-nay, who has been claimed as a
| "bimetallist" by his leading organ in
! this state, within the last two weeks.
| Beyond his treatment OF these main
| questions, there is very little in the
message that requires any spe-
cial notice. There are minor points
of more or less interest, but of no strik-
| ing significance. He lays much stress
| upon the prosperity which abounds
and, as in his Thanksgiving proclama-
ton, as well as his other political
! speeches, he is manifestly anxious that
it should all be ascribed to him and his
| administration.
But space will not permit more ex-
tended review at this time. 1t car
safely be left for a full discussion by
, congress. which We do with the predic-
ton that in some of its features, al
| least. it will be rddled bv both demo-