The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-04-12
WEDNESDAY, APRIL p, 1899.
WHO STARTED THIS FOLLY

What Is this nonsense cabled from
london that Mr.. John Hay. Secretary Of
state Of the United states. has been writ
ing letter TO governor Of the Bank OF
England that Mr.. McKnley's cabinet is
omen 10 consider the question OF a new
ratio for the coinage Of silver? We have
never heard chr. Hay accused of being
a fool. and We are slow to believe that
he has written any such nonsense to
England. There are a number Of rea-
sons why this is so. In the first place
MIR. McKinleys cabinet has nothing
whaiever to do with the subject.
Whether there shall be any coinage OF
silver at all, and If so how much. and at
what ratio 10 gold. are questions be
longing exclusively 10 the Congress OF
the United States. and Mr.. McKinleys
cabinet would be engaged in an utterly
useless waste of time to take the sub
feet under consideration. 1t had just as
well take under consideration the ques-
ton whether Philippians will ever change
their color.
In the next place Mr.. McKinley's cabi-
net consists Of very sensible gentlemen
who are all thoroughly convinced that
all talk Of the free coinage OF silver IS
the purest folly. They are all thorough
going gold standard men and nothing
could induce them to connect themselves
IN any way whatever with movement
10 reopen the question Of tho free coin
age OF silver They look upon the whole
matter as settled and ended: they re-
joice that it is so. and not one Of them
could by any possibility be induced 20
connect themselves with a movement for
reviying a discussion Of it,
But above all, Mr.. McKinley's cabinet
along with all observanr and discerning
men see what a marvellous. almost
magical. change has been wrought in
the business and financial conditions Of
the people OF the United States by the
overwhelming defeat Of free silver in the
Presidential election Of 1896. and nothing
could induce 80 TO take one step that
would tend 10 raise a suspicion that that
defeat is not final complete and eternal
In our judgment there Is no enemy OF
the people OF the United States who could
do them the injury that the man could
do them who should instll into the pub
lie mind a suspicion that free silver still
has some vitality in IT, Business every
where In the United States is rushing
forward. now that it knows there is
fixed standard OF value. with an impetus
that has never been oquahed before.
The lsboring men are all employed at
excellent wages. enterprises OF all sorts
are starting up everywhere. and popu-
lation that four years ago was cast down
into the sloughs OF dependency is now
buoyant with hope and laboring with
expectations OF great rewards. Yet all
OF this would disappear like mist before
the sun II a suspicion. even. should get
abroad that there was probability OF
free silver being made a successful issue
We know OF one enterprise now nearing
fruition which will bring millions Of dol
lars Of capital 20 Virginia and will build
I'D an industry here that will spread
plentv and rejoicing over wide area
n, ,erritorv. Yet II Mr. VIM. J. Bryan
should suddenly appear az one OF the
deliberations of the projectors Of this
enterprise and wave his wand over them
with the prophecy that his dogmas would
lie sanctioned By the American people In
the next Presidential election, the meet
Ing would adjourn IN dismay, the enter
prise would be abandoned and those
waste and desert places IN Virginia which
VIII soon be blooming ana happy would
remain the same waste places they nave
ever been since the wlld Indians trod them
IN the solitude THAI free silver would
restore