The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-11-28
The Ez.Speaker's Advice.
The Baltimore Sun SAYS :

The Baltimore Sun says:
At the annual banquet of the New
York Chamber of Commerce ex
Speaker Reed discussed the cond-
uons affecting legislation at Wash
ingtou and urged the necessity OF
making the gold standard sure during
the coming session of Congress
Hitherto, he explained, il has been
impractlca BILE to legislste because the
money question was still under dis
cusslon and the Senate was sn
obstacle, but now full sponsibility
rests upon the Republican party
because II controls both branches OF
Congress, as we'll as the White House.
"Oue party" said the ex-Spesker,
now has possession of both houses
and is responsible TO the country.
For long years we have had no re
sponsibility-the Senate was one
way, the House snother-and nobody
knew whom TO blame. Now we know
where to put the blame. II the
wishes Of our people are not carried
out, the responsibility is clear" To
the objection that it Ill becomes him
10 urge now on others action on the
question of the standard which was
not taken by the House when he had
control Of that body, Mr.. Reed
makes the reply that he WAS never in
position during all the years Of his
Speskership to settle the money
question by deciding definitely upon
the standard. Il was never so
placed" be says in my time the
Senate was given over 10 badness.
Now that the Senate is Republican.
let u.s." be continues, make sure OF
our standard. Whether anything
else should be our aim | am not here
now to discuss, but what We know
we agree on let US have" In large
country like the United States it is
d fficult to secure agreement on any
question, but now that, after years
OF lsborious discussion, vast ma
j)rity of the people have decided
upon sound money. Congress should
put the decision Of the people into
the form of stature. 1t is often
objected by timid politicians afraid
of offending sllverite constituents
that 1t is useless to establish the ex
elusive gold standard by law, for the
reason that any subsequent Congress
may repeal such law. But this mode
of reasoning, if held to consistently,
would prevent all legislation, since
all statutes are subject to repeal.
Mr.. Reed puts the matter in nut
shell II 1t be said that there is no
security that Congress may not re
peal. to that | answer: should hope
not among people still free. Are
we never to settle anything because
that settlement can be upset ! Those
who have seen how long laws lioger
which have been outgrown need not
fear that law once passed can be
90 easily repealed. II the people
wish to repeal 1t, it is their right, but
t should never be left in the hands
Of any Administration to so admins
ter the law We have that it's amply
and fully declared intent should be
frlttered away"
Incidentally the ex Spesker traced
the crude views on matters OF money
and huance recently in fashion in the
West and South to the immaturity
and inexperience Of the Western
communities in which Populism
originated. "Men in newly settled
parts of the country" he explained,
"haye been in q verv different posi-
ton from ours. We have been
through all the experiences of a false
currency and have established our
selves at last upon the basis taught
by that suff srlng which renders ex-
perience the best master. We have
our records aud do not wish to have
history repeat itself. The men In the
new country are facing what our
ancestors fsced-sn undeveloped
country, the riches of which they
long to possess. They made the same
mistake our ancestors made-thst
money was what they wanted, and
not capital money which could be
got for nothing, instead OF capital,
which costs years, and trust and
faith" But the errors due to imma-
turity generally yield to the lessons
taught by experience. Some States
formerly given oyer to monetary
error are now among the stsuchest
supporters of sound money, ana
heterodoxy occupies constantly
narrowing ares. Iowa is iustanced
as a State that was once " the home
of the bowling dervishes of rag
money" but full discussion, with the
soberiug effect of age, has at length