Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-11-27

it's dilemma, we will require it to explain
it's statement that there can be no hi
metallism without free coinage, by ask
ing why democrats like Cleveland and
his associates preached bimetallism in
1892, only to repudiate free coinage in
1896, as IN innovation which they could
not endorse.
AS the Standard supported Cleveland,
it will doubtless be able to explain the
matter. after it's equilibrium shall have
been fully re-established.
1t is professedly a democratic belief
in the west that the declaration of one
national convention becomes rule of
faith until the next one is held.
1t follows, then, that the democratic
bimetallism of 1892. With free coinage ex-
Guided, was sound doctrine for that
party until 1896, receiving the support
of the national democracy-including
Grover Cleveland and the Anaconda
Standard. = 4"
Yet our contemporary is unwilling to
accredit President Mckinley with being
a bimetallist, though he was elected in
1896 on a platform that recognized the
propriety of International bimetalfsm,
and he sent a commission to Europe to
bring hat condition Of affairs about. ~
From the presidents established by
the democratic party, it is clear that a
man may be a bimetallist without being
in favor of a free coinage "atio; but,
after practicing that sort of a thing for
years, the Standard reached the conclu-
sion yesterday that it would establish a
new line of de,narkation.
Somehow. it has finally grasped the
idea that it is the proper thing for it to
recant in part without losing any more
valuable time.
While it is possible for a man to be a
bimetallist without being in favor of a
free coinage ratio, as the democrats We're
from 1892 to 1896, and as the republicans
true that the system of bimetallisrn
which ~re1egates the regulation of values
to the worlds exchanges is wholly in
consistent With the free and independ-
ent coinage of silver by this nation.
That is why the Inter Mountain cam
not give it's assent to the financial ideas
set forth by the Standard on the 9th OF
January, and so warmly endorsed by the
-.l 49, ;@,ot, L ;e%e ~ Tho +
type.
Inasmuch as the democrats have de-
graded silver from it's former position
as a paramount issue, substituting "anti-
Imperialism in its stead, and thereby
relegated it to an inconseuuenlial place
in the rear, the question as to whether
the Standard goes back on it's former
declaration. as to values being fixed by
the worlds exchanges, is of very little
concern from a national standpoint.
But as it intends to work the Tree coin
age racket in this state next yedr, ce-
spite the fact that its party has avoW-
eddy chosen a new paramount issue, the
Standard should lose no time in getting
onto a free coinage basis, by proving
that it told a falsehood when it said that
values are fixed by the worlds ex-
changes.
Unfortunately, Montana alone cannot
bring about the recognition OF silver,
and as the attitude already assumed by
the national democracy makes flee COIN
age at a ratio of 16 to 1, by the inde-
pendent action of this nation, an impos-
sibility, sensible people have turned their
attention from the bloyiating of local
political bunco steerers on the silver
question. to other issues of national i'm
portance that are pressing forward for
solution in the forthcoming campaign.