The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-19
THE corr STANDARD.
support of It Must He Made the Peremp-
tory Condition of tho support OF n Party.

Support of It Must He Made tho Peremp-
tory Condition of tho support OF n Party.
To THE EDITOR or The SuN-Sir: II ls so
plainly essential TO the prosperity OF this coun-
try. and more especially OF New York. that the
gold standard should be maintained. that / am
surprised to see that there should be any divl-
sion among conservative men and newspapers
as to the only means by which the end can be
accomplished. They must keep together and
fight together for gold against it's adversaries.
II any doubt arises as to the Issue OF the con-
flict between the advocates OF the existing gold
standard and those who are seeking TO replace
II with silver. our whole present tide OF pros
perity will be set back. and next year will be n
gloomy year indeed. II. however. all those who
favor the permanence OF the gold standard
make II plain that they will support with their
votes only the party and tho candidates who
pledge themselves to maintain that standard.
no such catastrophe can occur. Doubtas to the
subject can have no other foundation than the
manpuvres Of politicians and the perversity OF
newspapers which arc supported by the COM
munity most vitality concerned In the preserva-
tlon OF the gold standard.
On such an Issue. OF course. there can be no
division on the old partisan lines. and
all discussion OF It which proceeds on that as
sumption is perncious. II the Republican
party comes out for gold and the Democratic
party for silver or refuses to advocate the
gold standard. every man In favor OF gold Is
on that issue Republican for the time being.
It is a matter OF too vital Importance for any
body to he governed by the old sentiment.
spirit and prejudice OF partIsanship in deter
mining on which side TO vote.
discover no indication OF any purpose In the
Democratic party to reverse Its position OF
1885. and come out in favor OF gold. Ap-
parenty. as you have said repeatedly. In no
Democratic quarter is there any expectation OF
1t. 1t seems to be foregone conclusion
that Bryan will be nominated in 1900, in which
event, OF course, any reversal OF the Chicago
platform OF 1893 Is impossible: but even II
another candidate for the Democracy is put
up, have yet to find man or to see news
paper with the least expectation that gold
platform will be adopted and. OF course. II 1t
is not for gold 1t will be for silver.
remember the hard struggle In 1890. made
by certain timid and tme-serving Repub-
Leans. to keep out the word gold" from the
Republican platform adopted ut st. Louis but
1t went in and II carried the election. Yet
how to keep out both the words gold" and
silver" from the Democratic platform in 1900
seems to be only hope Of Gold Democrats.
have yet to see one OF them who ventures
to demand an express declaration in favor OF
the gold standard. though that Is the test
which all gold men must apply to party.
Are you or are you not In favor OF maintaining
the gold Standard is the question to which
every intelligent citizen must demand cat
egorical answer and every newspaper. what
over its political complexion. should make IT'S
support OF a party absolutely conditional on
such an answer. 1t 10 too vital a question to
everybody's prosperity to be quibbled over.
1t is dscredtable to New York that there is
in 1t a single newspaper. single individual.
conscious Of the disastrous consequences which
would follow the overthrow OF the gold stand
ard. who Ia capable OF allowing nero partisan
prejudice to stand in the way OF such de-
mand. 1t should be made by every Democrat
and every Republican and made peremptorily
and persistently as the first condition OF his
support OF his party. That Is the way to pre-
vent the peril OF silver domination and to re-
move all fear OF it from business.
Doubtless other questions will arise In the
campaign OF next year or be lugged into 1t,
but none OF them will lessen the over-shadow-
ing i'm portance NJ the issue OF the monetary
standard. Neither imperialism" nor Anti
Imperialism could save US from the dis
aster which would result II that controversy
was not settled by the election. but was left to
disturb all business. Even II people do not see
this now. they will wake up to its tremendous
reality year from now.
Sensible men are not going to vote next year
for Reputation and impoverishment; they are
not going to vote for any party which does not
declare explicitly how 1t stands as to the gold
standard. and the sooner they and their news
paper representatives so say to both parties.
the safer the future will be. MERCHANT.
NEW YORK. Aug. IT,