New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-16
sIBLEY's CHANGE OF VIEWS.
CONVINCED BY PROSPERITY THAT FREE
SILVER is FALLACY.

| CONVINCED BY PROSPERITY THAT FREE
SILVER is A FALIACY.
Washington Dec. Is (SpeciaD-No speech MADE IN
the debate in the House on the Republican caucus
Currency bill has attracted more attention than
that constructively delivered the other day by Rep
resentative Joseph c. sibley. OF Pennsylvania. Mr.
Slbley has served in two Congresses. the Lid and
IVIth as fusonist in politics, owning allegiance
TO both the Democratic and Populist parties. be-
sides INDUCING In some varied and picturesque opn-
ions exclusively his own. In 1896 he ardent
advocate Of free silver coinage and OF the election
OF w. j. Bryan on the Chicago platform. To-day
Mr. Slbleys views financial needs and remedies
have undergone radical change. Mr. Sibey's
speech as II appears In The Congressional Record "
will show how little confidence he retains in the
availability OF free coinage as Issue In current
American politics. Among other things Mr. sibley
sad
platform my views were stated with all sincerity
that we were then lighting one Of the worlds DC.
of public opinion the merits Of the bimetallic cause
and that then lost il was lest S fGrsvsr Viewing
one / can rejoice with them that do rejoice" even
II cannot OBEY the command to weep with them
The future status OF silver as money, In my opin-
ion. VIII not be determined by the result Of some
great political campaign. but rather by the con-
current consent OF the worlds Industrial and COM
While believe that violent fluctuations in value
are less liable with two metals than with one,
nevertheless | am constrained to the opinion that
silver at the ratio Of IS to I Is not and cannot
again again be an issue Of overshadowing Importance:
Events which have followed, due to the wisdom OF
no political party, have changed conditions that
a cause that was sacred In 1886 may be ridiculous
viewing the magnificent prosperity which to-day
abounds seeing the commercial instinct and genius
Of America engaged in the peaceable conquest OF
the markets Of the world; beholdng every Ameri-
can furnace stack blazing, every forge glowing.
with every loom clicking and every spindle hum
ming urgent drafts upon the treasure stored in
mines Of coal iron lead copper and all the precious
producers OF petroleum, cotton wool and other
products of the soil which has lifted the burden OF
care and enkinded hope In tens Of thousands Of
American factories and American workingmen
more than $3.50 0000 900 last year. with our revenues
even In the presence of extraordinary expenditures
for suppression Of revolt in our newly acquired
possessions promising to yield a substantial sur
plus, witnessing every locomotive and every car
taxed to Its limit and every vessel laden 10 the
a prosperity not bounded by parallels of latitude
by mountain range or sea; reading only last week
Of twenty thousand operatives in the wooen in
dustry and reading Of these advances every week
days work for sale finds within the reach of his
highest price ever known in history: witnessing
every man in the enjoyment OF the God given right
retaining the most vivid recoections OF the soun
houses maintained To prevent the starvation Of
support or which many of us were called upon 10
contribute; for one have no pride OF political
e Tm WhSh ay w p P3 ace barrier impede
With American homes bathed In the golden sun
SHINE OF prosperity my craftsmanship shrives as it
ought and my patriotism exults. as II should
Though he did not aude to the fact in his sneacn
in the House Mr.. sibley has also reached the
conclusion that anti-expansion offers as little ma
teiial for Democratic campaign purposes as does
the exploded issue OF free coinage