The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-15
PASSING OF THE SILVER ISSUE.

thHNS'Nb Or The SILVER ISSl T..
We printed I'm these columns the other
Cay an extract from an interview with
Congressman Siblcy. of Pennsylvania.
who In 1896 was an ardent advocate Of
free silver and prominently mentioned as
Democratic candidate for President I'm
which he said that his views had under
gone a radical change. that every evil pre-
diction which the silver people made in
1886 had failed of fuhllment. and that
therefore il would he suicidal for the
party to go before the country next year
upon a free silver platform
In the same connection we reproduced
an able article from the outlook, a publ
cation which has always advocated the
double standard in which the editor Of
that influential journal said that while he
was still a bimetallist in principle, he saw
that this country could not. alone. main
tain bimetalism and that international bi-
metalism was impracticable therefore,
he believed that this country would DO
wise through its Congress to declare for
the gold standard.
Now comes the Washington correspon-
dent Of the Baltimore sun with the state
ment that there has been much discussion
among the Democratic members of the
House. since Congress met OF the advis-
ability Of considerably modifying the
Chicago platform at the next national con-
vention. This discussion. he goes on, IS
gradually developing into a movement
toward that end which is gathering i'm
petus as it slowly takes form. lie further
declares that free coinage at the ratio
Of Is 10 is no longer considered practica-
bic. or possible, by many Of the leaders
Of the Democratic side, and that while
they believe that some provision should
he made in the platform for silver they
are Of opinion that il a proviso for the
ratio Of 16 TO be inserted the campaign
will be lost before it shall have begun
In support Of this statement he says that
"a. a recent dinner given by Representa-
tive Newlands. Of Nevada. which was at
tended by nearly all the leaders of the
House. even so strong a slverite as Repre-
sentative Bell. Of Colorado. referred 10
the silver plank in the Chicago platform
as a "putrid corpse
More recently a dinner was given by
Representative Levy. of New York at
which there was free and open discus
sion Of the currency question and the at
utude of the New York delegation TO-
wards the House currency bill
AS the result Of the meeting It was
shown that eight Of the representatives,
are in favor Of the bill. eight against it.
and two doubtful
He calls attention also TO the speech
made by Senator Daniel. at the annual
banquet of the Virginia Democratic Asso-
citation. in which he said that he did not
think the platform could be- wisely out
lined az the present time.
In conclusion the correspondent says:
From all this il is evident this move
ment is not confined TO amy one section,
but comes from the East. South ana West
alike. While the attitude of the Demo
Gratis in Congress may be Questioned ia
some quarters as an attempt 20 influence
the action of what should Toe an indepen-
dent convention, one of the Democratic
members opposed TO the free silver plank
put 10 pithilv to-day when he said; we
are not only representatives Of the people
ana party in Congress. but more or less
The leaders in the convention 70 which
many of us will be sent as delegates. We
have a right. therefore. 20 influence II in
the direction We think right
lf
Gratis in Congress. 10 is known here. is but
a rejection of what is going on in the
marty Throughout the country. Intelligence
Is almost daily coming here OF the suosi-
0tncc If the silver craze. state ana local
leaders i'm various sections are giving as
euraucc Of this a prominent ana inhuen-
tai Indiana Democrat. who was perfectly
wild for Bryan and silver M l>.". sdid
here to-day if Bryan and the Chicago plat
form were put mp again he should vote
for neither. and i'm his state there were
multitudes Ike him.
Politics is always uncertain. but this
much can DE relied upon. The people Of
this country arc in favor OF the gold
standard and trade expansion. They are
q, favor Of the gold standard because
they are unwilling. in the present state OF
r,o-nerity. TO make change IN our
financial system that will unsettle values,
disturb business and check prosperity
They are i'm favor of trade expansion be
cause our capacity to produce has III
creased 10 such an extent that We must
have foreign markets for our surplus
Any party that antagonizes these two
proposiuons will surely go down in de-
feat.
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