The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-09-06
GAGE 10 CARL SEIZURE.
The Position Of Free Silver In the Gem
paiga.
GAGE CONSIDERS II OF HUGH IMPORTING
IL. Expresses the Belief thot Bryan,
II Elected, May Be Able 10
Change Monetary Laws.


Gage has made the following reply TO an
open letter received from Hon. CAL
Schurz Of New York.
Dear sir.~-I have the honor to acRnowl-
edge the rece pit OF yours Of the 80 instant,
in which YOU utter some words upon III
statements made ny me in a neNspa, 81
interview published August 26, IN wnicn
expressed the opinion that Mr.. Bryan. Il
elected president, could, by the exercise OF
considerable "peryerse Ingenuity" put the
government on a silver basis, ruin IT'S
credit and bring incaioulable d.sas or upon
the business interests OF the country. Nod
deny that the dangers set forth by me Ia
that Interview really exist and that any
president Will be able to do what l dc
clare might be done unless the republican
party In control OF government In both tae
leg slative and executive branches proves
Itself utterly dishonest In It's protesSed
purpose TO maintain the gold standard
You say your denial is not based upon
the reasoning Of those OF your critics
who seek 10 show by figures that presi-
dent desiring even so much TO put the
country on a silver basis would lack the
means OF doing So"
On the contrary. you admit "for argu-
ment's sake" all say ON that point. II
would seem, therefore, that there is not
any particular difference between us as TO
what Mr.. Bryan, as president, could d.
under the law or in spite Of the law as Il
now Is.
IL ought to have been apparent TO you
as 1t no doubt was, that | was speaking of
possibilities OF the case under circum-
stances and conditions as they now exist,
bur will proceed 10 point out how at the
next SESSION OF congress, which Will meet
nvig hn In
which could completely forestall un-
friendly action toward the gold standard
even II Mr.. Bryan were elected and should
still cherish the firm set purpose declared
by him on September 16, 1896, at Knox
Vile. Tenn, where he said: IF there is
any one who believes that the gold stand
ard Is good thing or that 1t must be
maintained. warn m not 10 cast his vote
for me, because promise him It VIII not
be maintained 10 this country longer than
am able to get rid of It,"
You rebuke me in polite terms for
sounding a false note Of alarm disqu citing
the business comuun ty, and especially
when uttered by one In authority.
( 1 am not at all skilled in controversy
and have had no practice in dialecllcs, bat
viii indulge in a few words in the way
OF rejoinder to your criticism,
In the first place, then, no more serious
disaster could overtake tn county In
this | think you will agree with mel tn m
the breaking down OF the gold sanda d
and the adoption OF that principle of money
for which Mr. Bryan contends. In 1896
you tyoursolO are quoted as having said.
1.-THE mere apprehension OF possibility
OF Mr.. Bryan's election and OF the con-
scquent placing or our country upon tde
SILVER, bas 6 has already caused untold
millions OF our securities to be thrown
upon the market. Scores OF business or
der ares already recalled, n large number
or manufacturing Establishments have a.
ready stopped or restricted their opera
tons; enterprise Is already discouraged
and nearly paralyzed. And II
these are the effect OF mere apprehen sion
OF a possih lily, what would be the eject
Of the event itself2 There lis scarcely an
imaginable limit to the destruction GER
tain Go be wrought by the business dis
turbance that Mr.. Bryan's election won d
cause"
am unable to perceive why the same
consequences In minor degree, perhaps
would not ersue now. which you 10 forci-
bly, foresh4 dowed then.
Now. wnen consequences so great ~
these are ievolyeu 'ho forces opera Ing
TO lnalgurate them should be reasted 4
every point.
Even ne possibility or danger sho Id
be avoided. II is a familiar fact anu one
altogether TOO much IN evidence. tnaI All
admipi tratlve officer filed with ha 81
ana contempt OF parti ular las eau by
perverse ingenuity practically nudity rs
operations. You point In your letter thai
II the course indicated by ne In the
Interview referred 70 should be contem-
plated by Mr.. Bryan the republican con
gress witch meets in December mex
could n advance restrain him by new ana
more effective mandatory provisions This
proposition that IN case OF Mir. Bryan:
election the present congress- can lie hif
hands so that he can not give eject ?,
his EXPIRE sed Intentions appears 10 m L
be fnll3clous II would require new leg
islaton by a party who's policy wOul'
have been rejected by the people through
their last expression M the polls Eur
Their than this tho next session VIII ex
pire by operation Of law on March 4. in0i
The free silver minority would be iueti
fed by heir constituents In using all Thu
resources % dilatory procedure 10 pre-
vent such legislation aud agaipst such tac'
tics affirmative legislqtlos such as yoI
suggest would be probably inpossihe Ca
any one doubt that Mr.. Bryan would urg'
action BY -fis friends In congress % pre-
vent the further strengthening OF TIL
DoIirv which be dennunces as crimlnali
| our FcHdkh upOH Aiil9 f'iAN -
indicate that YOU rely upon the republlcai
nary 10 prevent the country from expo
riencing disasters which Mr.. Bryan VIII
n he can. bring upon us. May ! not sug
gest that the way TO secure safety Is no
10 take power from those upon whom yo
rely for protection and confer Il up9l
those whose action you may have good
caure TO regret
since you have raised the question 0
further legislation, let us look ltj'
further forward II Mr. BRYAN Is electe
president Il f. OF all things the most prob
, able that the next house viii have demo
cratic majority But even admitting thu
congress, dating from March T. 1901 WI
mot IN able to effect any change In OH
! present finargiai legislation. what we ma
) fairly expect will 10 the effect OF tn
: continued agitation set In motion BY
| president bent upon the restoration Q
free silver al tho ratio OF IL TO am
3 elected upon that platform?
, Yos end your letter by suggesting ina
J I retracs what have said. in falrnes
TO the busInegs community 'ihieh sAoui
not be unnecessarily disqu'eted, and psi
> ticularly by one IN authority Thinkin
: az | do that the election Of Mr.. Bryal
would be real menace to the eonmerci'
and Industrial interests Of our people DC
cause Of the purpose be cherishea and IN
power he would possess. % not isei
= 49,