The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1899-09-06
THE DAILY JOURNAL
THE REPUBLICAN, PARTY AND
THE GOLD STANDARD.

A we'll known Oregon Democrat
writes a private letter to the editor Of
the Oregonian, in which he says:
There is a long session Of congress TO
ensue before the presidential election.
In both house and senate the Repub-
Leans have substantial majorities, not
counting distinctive silver republicans.
The majority in the senate cannot be
changed within less than six years.
With the approval Of the president, the
congress 10 convene in December can
enact laws placing the government
firmly upon a gold basis that cannot be
disturbed by the succeeding admins
tration." And the Republicans, II they
are sincere in the claim they make,
that Mr.. Bryan's election ~"threatens"
the country, will take the necessary
steps to insure against all risks. This
same Democrat says TO MIR. Scott: at
is believed in intelligent quarters that
the party influence that controls the
Mckinley administration does not desire
any effective legislation upon the cur
rency question; that il intends there
shall be none; that the question shall
remain 10 distract the Democracy and
thus insure the continual a~scendency Of
the Republicans. Is there not reason
for this belief"
The truth is that the Republican party
~ IA party, has no financial policy,
When We speak Of that party as a gold
standard party We are giving it credit
for unity aud honesty OF purpose which
IL does not possess.
The last national Republican platform
was not u gold standard platform. It
pledged itself to promote" pn inter
nationl agreement for the ir , coinage
Of silver, II was either a bimetalic plat
form or il VAS n rank fraud. Mckinley
was always a silver mP1 until lac sold
his convictions 10 a syndicate. The
campaign was made with the argument
that the Republican party would prove
a better friend to silver than the Dem
o%cratic.
There was never a whisper 10 hint
that the Republican party proposed TO
adopt Cleveland's idea Of retiring the
greenbacks, and substituting a bank
currency founded ON gold, or that il was
proposed to make the gold standard
permanent and, 50 far as possible, IT.
rcyocable by "giying it the vitality Of
public law"
The Republican party today is not
unitedly for the gold standard, Even
the leaders cannot agree. Such men as
Wolcott. Chandler and Thurston still
profess to be bimetalists. VIM. Me
kinley and his friends are not nm.
tied on the currency proposition, such
men az Hanna aud Elkins aud Quay
have NO convictions ON any question OF
craftsmanship,
Their principles are purely utilitarian
and they win adopt any course which
sccms 10 promise continuance in office,
Tor themselves or their tools.
Ii the Republican party were united
ON the question Of standard, they need
not delay 10 pass any legislation they
see III. They need not put it oA
any longer than il would take to call
congress together. Ii the panic from
which We are just beginning 10 recover
caused by the lack OF legislation
the Republican party wishes 90
,nact, why leave this great aud glorious
open 10 another such disastrous
Why not 'put this country
lrmly on the gold basisf' No one is
them,
The truth is that the grand old party
.as fallen into the clutches Of cahal of
ricksters, who have mother principles
or convictions on any subject aud who
eep faith with no one. They have be.
the bimetalists who votel the
epnblican tk,ket on the strength of
10 promise ,o promotean International