The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1899-11-18
One More Chance for the Republicans
From the baltimore Sun. Nov. Is.

From the Baltimore sun, NOV. 10.
At the coming session of Congress the Re-
publican party will have an opportunity to
fulfill its ante election pledges and establish
the gold standard. 1t had the same oppor-
tunity at the last session and failed to improve
it. Again there is Republican majority in
each house of Congress to support the Repub-
hean Executive. Another failure and the
people will be justified in doubling the sin
cerity of the party in It's loud professions about
maintaining an honest dollar and the honor of
the Government. People will be disposed to
Judge the party by its fruits rather than its
promises after opportunities TO fulfill the
promises have been presented and neglected.
At every election we have the same campaign
cry on the gold standard and after the election
is over nothing is done.
People are not ignorant of the fact that I'M
der existing law large portion of the obliga-
tons of the United States can be paid in sill
yer. These obligations are made payable in
coin, and if the Executive is so disposed they
may be paid in silver coin as well as gold.
The Sherman act declares it TO be the policy
of the Government to maintain the parity of
the two metals at the existing ratio. But that
is the only law which squints toward the gold
STANDARD. On the contrary, the laws recognize
the double standard, which has been shown to
be an impossibility at the present price of sill
yer with its constant fluctuations in value.
What is now needed is law making the OBJ
legations of the Government payable in gold
at the option of the creditor and establishing
the single gold standard. The enactment CT
such a law would establish confidence and
avoid the danger Of panic upon the eve of
the Presidential election. With such law
on the statute book tine election of Bryan even
could not greatly disturb the business of the
country, because he would be powerless to
bring the country to the silver basis. The
Senate is safely Republican for the next four
years at least and the House of Representa-
tives can easily be composed of majority OF
sound money men at the will of the people.
Without a law fixing the payment of Govern
ment bonds and notes with gold, Mr.. Bryan,
if elected, could at pleasure bring upon the
business of the country all the woes Of the sill
yer standard and drive gold from circulation.
If the Republican party fails TO avert tins by
appropriate legislation next winter II opens
itself to the suspicion that IT does not want 10
lose an effective campaign issue by settling 1t.
In other words, tina; the party would prefer to
risk silver to parting with party advantage.
Ii j. all the more necessary to redeem this,
the principal, pledge Of the Republican plat.
form, because the silver question may not avail
to hold the Democratic and independent gold
men to the Republican party at the next cleo
ton. Carl SchurZ, one OF the most able and
ardent supporters OF the gold standard, has
recently said that there are some things worse
than 10 TO /, and Mckinley's policy OF ina
perialism is one of them. Bryan, with all the
tremendous odds against him, Polisd IN 1896
an enormous vote If Mckinley's policy Of
war. standing army, war taxes and impeu-
alism is to drive such men as ScharE and those
whom be represents away from the Republican
party, gold standard or no gold standard, II Is
not SO certain as 1t was in 1896 that Bryan can
again be defeated. A patriotic regard, there
fore. for the best interests OF the country de-
mands the settlement Of the curreacy question
at the next session Of Congress.