The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-18
The Only Way to Avert the Disaster.

The Only Way to Avert the Disaster.
1t is hardly possible to believe that an
Intelligent newspaper can speak seriously
and sincerely when 1t says, as the Neto York
Times said on Monday, this:
"If tho Republican Congress and the Republican
President fail destroy the silver issue by establish
ing the gold standard this winter. and then month
after tho nominations tho is seen to be going
wrong with all the signs pointing to Populist and
free silver triumph terror will seize upon the manu-
facturers, merchants importers and bankers OF the
country confidence will DO destroyed. and business
will go to smash.
Let nobody try to comfort himself with tho fool
ish assurance that free-slver President can do no
harm long there is . sound money Congress.
The dominant fact that the country has been car.
ried for FREQ silver coinage and reputation would
possess tho minds Of men. and in their alarm they
would look forward with dread not only to the i'm
mediate bedevilment which tho executive power
could accomplish. but to the continuance and com.
petion Of Il when the legislative power also should
fall into those dangerous hands. Men do not reason
deliberately or always correctly when tho big black
clouds OF disaster are whrling toward them"
Our neighbor and everybody else who
possesses a reasonable mind must know
that it Is impossible for the Republican
Congress and tho Republican President to
destroy tho silver issue" by any possible
legislation next winter. The gold standard
is already established by law. and no
further enactment can establish 1t any
more thoroughly or prevent political as
sault upon it in 1900. Nothing Is possible
to Congress at the next session, so far as
that matter goes, except to re-enact the
Act of 1S73. which made the gold dollar
the unit OF value" and took away from sill
yer the privilege Of free coinage This Act
which Is the special object OF Democratic
attack as the Crime OF 1873" is already
the law of the land and there is no danger
OF it's repeal or amendment, except by
Democratic Congress and President.
The silver issue. so far from being de-
stroyed, would be made even more inev-
table in the next campaign than it now is
II it were made an issue in tho next Con-
gress and tho alarm produced would only
begin the earlier. The debate would make
manifest that the Democratic party Is for
silver-for disestablishing the gold stan
dard and substituting silver. 1t is not con-
ceivable that the Republicans could get any
aid in making declaration in favor OF the
established gold standard from the Demo-
Gratis. Mono OF the Democratic Congress-
men elected from the New York city dis
tricts dared to say n single word in favor
of the gold standard while they were run
ming for election, with tho support OF the
Nep York Times, and they will no more
dare to support it in the next Congress,
the Democratic caucus of which will be over
whelmingly for silver. RICHARD CROKER,
their master. moreover, has announced his
support of BRYAN. The Republican or gold
majority in both houses of Congress is mar
row-in the House of Representatives only
seventeen, because of the recreancy Of New
York city to the gold standard in s9s, with
the countenance and support Of the Nep
York Times. The Democratic silver oppo-
sition could prolong the debate indefinitely
and dangerously.
The danger of the silver issue, every
body knows, comes only from the Demo-
cratic party, for no one doubts that the
Republican party will be for gold next year,
and nothing that the next Congress can do
will in any wise diminish the danger
Democrats and Democratic papers in favor
of the gold standard, therefore, are only
inviting the Derils OF which our neighbor
speaks without exaggeration, when they
bring their guns to bear on the party OF
the gold standard instead OF training
them on the party of the silver stand
ard. II the success of the Republican party
In 1900 was assured absolutely, no terror
would g seize upon the manufacturers, mer-
chants importers and bankers Of the
country" at any time previous to the cleo
ton; instead OF there being any danger
that confidence would be destroyed and bust
ness go to smash, everybody would
go ahead undsturbed by any fear Of the
sort. Tho only danger comes from the
Democratic party and its advocacy OF the
silver standard, and the only way in which
1t can be avoided is by inducing the Demo
cratic party to turn about and advocate the
permanency of the gold standard.
THE Republican Congress and tho Re
publican President" cRnpot destroy the
SILVER lssuc.- FOR they cannot prevent the
Democratic party from raising it. 1.-THE
name, its good faith demand the immed
alto establishment OF the gold standard, ;
says our neighbor; but the gold standard
Is established already. and the Democratic
party wants to upset it and replace it by
the silver standard. No power in the Presi
dent or in Congress can prevent it from
making tho issue. The danger Of it car
only be prevented by beating the Demo
cratic party in 1900.