The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-21

then, and IL is impossible now, for the Re
| publican party to end those troubles, 30
long as the Democrats are disposed to make
them. Nor has 1t kept the question
OPEN" The question has been kept
open solely because the Democratic party
opened 1t, and 1t cannot be closed until the
Democratic party closes it. Tho Republi-
cans closed It 30 far az IL could be closed
by passing the Act OF 1873, making the
gold dollar OF 25.S grains the unit OF
valued" or the monetary standard, but
in 1895 the Democratic party opened
IL by denouncing that act as criminal and
demanding the free coinage Of silver at 1 o
to1.
Now. exactly what did the Republican
party pledge when II came into power2
Here Is all the Republican platform OF 1896
said on the currency question. and 1t should
be read carefully, for other Democrats than
Mr. SHEPARD are trying to manufacture q
pretext for supporting BRYAN by misrepre-
senting II:
Tho Republican party IL unreseryedly for sound
money. 1t caused the enactment of the law pro-
viding for the resumption OF specie payments in
1879; since then every dollar has been as good as
gold. We are unalterably opposed to every meas
uro calculated to dehase currency impair tho
credit Of our country. We are therefore opposed
to tho free coinage of silver except by international
agreement with the leading commercial nations OF
the world. which we pledge ourselves to promote.
and until such agreement can be obtained the exist
ing gold standard must be preserved. All our silver
and paper currency must be maintained at parity
with gold. and we favor all measures designed to
maintain inviolsbly the obligations of tho United
States. and all our money. whether coin paper at
the present standard. the standard OF the most
enlightened nations of tho earth"
No pledge to end the currency troubles I"
appears in that declaration The only
pledge is to maintain the existing gold
standard and to oppose the free coinage
OF silver without international agreement.
Such an agreement was proved impossible,
and the Republican party has kept its
pledge. The single gold standard has been
maintained against the opposition OF the
Democratic party which demanded the free
coinage OF silver at g to 1. without waiting
for the aid or consent of any other nation"
Never since the Republican party came into
power in 1897 has there been any honest
doubt in any intelligent mind on the subject
OF the currency. All business has risen from
depression and moved ahead prosperously
pecduSe OF Sucn rellance. Assurance That
the Republican party in 1900 will stand
resolutely for the existing gold stand
ard Is the cause OF the confidence
which still prevails. The only doubt,
the only cause OF currency troubles re-
naming, comes from the apparent certainty
OF the denomination Of BRYAN next year, and
the revival Of those troubles by the Demo-
cratic party. That party alone has kept the
question open and keeps it open. Nothing
possible for the Republican party to do can
prevent Its keeping it open, for this is a
land OF free discussion. The sinister lack
OF patriotism" Of which Mr. SHEPARD
talked is therefore in his party only. 1t
alone Is making trouble, and it will not
cease to make trouble until it follows the
example OF the Republican party and comes
out fatty for the existing single gold stand
ard.
Every man in the whole Union OF any in
telligence knows that such is the actual
and Mr.. SHEPARD cannot change
the obvious fact by political pettifogging.
He wants and intends to vote for BRYAN in
1900. Let him do 80 like a man and not
try to humbug other people and his own
conscience by fabricating fimsy excuses
with which to pretend to justify himself.