The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-06

| ufS, mas addressed the following reply to
the open letter of the Hon. Carl schurz.
which was published in The Times few
| days ago:
| Washington. d. C.,
| September ). 1900.
| Dear Sir; l have the honor TO ac-
| knowledge the receipt of yours of the Sd
inst, in which you utter some words
of Criticism upon the statements made by
| me in a newspaper interview published
| August 26. in which / expressed the opin-
| ion that Mr. Bryan. If elected President.
| could. by the exercise of considerable
| 'perverse ingenuity, put the Government
| upon a silver basis, ruin its credit. and
bring incalculable disaster upon the bust
| ness interests of the country.
You deny that the dangers set forth
| by me in that interview really exist, and
| that any President will be able to do what
| 1 declare might be done unless the Re-
| publican party in control of the Govern
ment in both the legislative and executive
branches proves itself utterly dishonest IN
its professed purpose to maintain the gold
standard. You say your denial is not bas-
ed upon the reasoning of those OF your
critics. who seek to show by figures that
a President desiring ever SO much to put
the country on a silver basis would lack
the means of doing So On the contrary.
you admit for Arguments sake all l say
fore that there is any particular difference
between us as to what Mr.. Bryan as Pres
ident could do under the Law, or in spite
of the law as ii now is.
at ought to have been apparent to you,
as it no doubt was. that l was speaking
of the possibilities of the case, under.
circumstances and conditions as they
now exist: but you proceed to point out
how at the next session of Congress,
could be had which would completely
forestall unfriendly action toward the
gold standard. even if Mr.. Bryan were
elected. and should still cherish the firm
set purpose declared by him on Septem-
Der 16, 1895. at Knoxville, Tenn. where
he said: If there is anyone who believes
that the gold standard is a good thing. or
that it must be maintained, l warn him
not to cast his vote for me, because l
promise him that ii will not be main
tanned in this country longer than l am
able to get rid of it
You rebuke me in polite terms for
sounding false note of alarm, disquiet-
ing to the business community, and espe-
cially SO when uttered by one in author
ity.
Il am not at all skilled in controversy,
and have no practice in dialectics, but
viii indulge in few words in the way of
rejoinder TO your criticism
In the first place, no more serious dis
aster could overtake this country lin this,
think, you will agree with mel than the
breaking down of the gold standard and
the adoption Of that principle of money
for which Mr.. Bryan contends. In 1896 you
yourself are quoted as having said:
% The mere apprehension of possibiii-
ty of Mr.. Bryans election and of the con-
sequeat placing OF our country upon the
silver basis. has already caused untold mil
lions of our securities TO be thrown upon
the market. Scores of business orders are
already recalled. large number of manu-
featuring establishments have already
stopped or restricted their operations. en-
terprise is already discouraged and nearly
paralyzed. And If these are the
effects Of mere apprehension of possi-
bility. what would be the effect Of the
event itself? There is scarcely an mag
Unable limit to the destruction certain TO
be wrought by the business disturbance
that Mr.. Bryan's mere election would
cause
Il myself am unable to perceive why
the same consequences, in a minor degree.
perhaps. would not ensue now which you
SO forcibly foreshadowed then.
Now when consequences SO great as
these are involved, the forces operating
to inaugurate them should be resisted at
every point. Even the possibility of dam
ger should be avoided. 1t is a familiar
fact. and one altogether too much in evil
dence that an administrative officer filed
with hatred and contempt of a particular
law can. by peryerse ingenuity, practically
nullify its operations. You point out in
your letter that If the course indicated by
me in the interview referred to should be
contemplated by Mr.. Bryan. the Repul lie
an Congress. which meets in December
next, could in advance restrain him by
new and more effective mandatory proyis-
ions The proposition that in case of Mr..
Bryan's election the present Congress can
tie his hands. so that he cannot give effect
to his expressed intention, appears to me
to be fallaeious. 1t would require new
legislation by a party whose policy wou''
have been rejected by the people thri I-
their last expression at the polls.
Further than this. the next session WI.
expire by operation of law on the 4th OF
March. 1901. The free silver minority
would be justified by their constituents in
using all the resources of dilatory proceed
ure TO prevent such legislation, and against
such tactics affirmative legislation such as
you suggest would be probably impossible.
Can anyone doubt that Mr.. Bryan would
urge action by his friends in Congress TO
prevent the further Strengthening of the
policy which he denounces as criminal.
Your remarks upon tnls point seem 10 IN
dictate that you rely upon the exercise of
the power already conferred upon the Re-
publican party TO prevent the country from
experiencing disasters which Mr.. Bryan
will, II he can. bring upon u.s. May ! not
suggest that the way to secure safety Is
not to take power from those upon whom |
you rely for protection and confer 1t upon
those whose action you may have good
occasion to dread?
Since you have raised the question of
further legislation. let US look a little |
farther forward If Mr.. Bryan is elected |
President, it is of all things most prob |
able that the next House will have a |
Democratic majority. but even admitting |
that that Cong ess, dating from March 4, !
1901. will not be able to effect any change |
in our present financial legislation, what |
we may fairly ask. will be the effect Of
the continued agitation of the question |
upon business and industry set in motion |
by President bent upon the restoration |
OF free silver at the ratio of 1e to ] and |
elected upon that platform?
you end your letter by suggesting |
that / retract what / have said, in |
TO the business community, |
which should not be unnecessarily dis |
quoted. especially by those in authority. |
as / do that the election of Mr. |
commercial and industrial interests OF
our people because of the purpose
he cherishes and the power he would
possess, l do not feel at liberty TO act |
upon your suggestion feel II my duty to
at least wait until after Mr.. Bryan him
self has retracted his statement of 1895.
IN