Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-06
IS CONSISTENCY 4 VIZ 7UES

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The attitude of the president on the
financial question is the natural and leslt-
innate outgrowth of the doctrine that the
rs.&tive values of silver and gold should
ba fixed by the worlds e~xchanges-a doc
trine promulgated by the Anaconda
Standard, the leading democratic organ
in Montana, as long ago as the 9th of last
January, and disapproved in the editorial
columns of none of its bourbon contempo-
raries. 1t is not the purpose of the Inter
Mountain to infer that the president
gathered his inspiration from the utter
ances of the Anaconda newspaper, nor
would it be fair to assume that the pre-
siding genius of that institution picked up
his views on the financial question from
any statements made in the past by the
chief executive of this nation. The coin
cidence of belief is attributable to no
royal seizures" on the part of either,
and no deadly parallels figure in the
incident. But it is said that great minds
run in the same channels. and to this law
in metaphysics must be charged the fact
that both the president and the Standard
are committed to the idea that the ratio
Of values between silver and gold is fixed
BY the worlds exchanges.
While such a doctrine is the same in
quality and effect, whether advocated by
a republican in the city of Washington
or by a democrat in the city of Anaconda,
there is an important line of demarkation
between the parties referred to in the
matter of Judgment as to ultimate re-
suits in it's practical application. Like
the president, the Standard formerly sup
plemented it's views as to the potency of
the worlds exchanges with the declara-
ton that the ratio was not material to
the proper use of silver. Mr.. Mckinley
makes it plain in his message that he still
adheres to that idea, thereby following
the original proposition to a logical con-
~ctusion. The Standard. on the contrary,
occupies the ridiculous position of being
committed to the doctrine that the
worlds exchanges fix the relations of sill
Yer and gold. while now assuming to be
in favor of the ratio of Is to l!
For nearly a year. the Standard refus-
ed to retreat from the statement made IN
fits editorial columns as to the ir-
relevancy of the ratio, reaching that
point under apparent mental duress only
a few days ago. when Re unyielding po-
sition of the Inter Mountain as to the
logic of the situation drove it to that ex-
treme. But nc practical purpose is
served through a declaration that the
Standard is now in favor of the ratio of
1s to l. while it still adheres to the idea
that the worlds exchanges fix lie rela-
tive values of the TWO money metals.
There is an utter and wholly irreconcili-
able ~antagonism between the two propo-
sitions that Immediately suggests itself
to any man of ordinary mental capacity.
They are as wide apart as black and
white. Even the Standard is sufficiently
astute to make no effort to prove thai it's
present position in favor of Is to 1 can
be cotemporaneously sustained with it's
present attitude on the efficacy of the
worlds exchanges in the adjustment OF
the ratio. Therefore, it throws itself
back on its editorial launches, ~elevates
its nose oWard the moon, and fills in the
long dreary hours Of its existence baying
at the president for exercising the virtue
of consistency
1t is true, the Standard claims exemp-
ton from comparisons With the presi-
dent, on the grounds that it is not a ma
tional issue: but while the distinction
between the two can be readily recog-
mized without a field glass, it is we'll to
bear in mind, even in politics, the ethics
of the greatest Of all law-givers-the
words of the humble Nazarene. Jesus
recommended that the right to cast the
first stone be accorded the man who was
himself without sin. This applies to one
phase of life as we'll as to another. Unit
the Standard explains its position as to
its advocacy of the doctrine that the ratio
is fixed by the worlds exchanges, its
of a single standard democrat
United States senator last winter, and