The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-09-05
Secretary of the Treasury Re-
plies to German Leaders
Open Letter Criticizing His Re-
cent Utterances.
QUOTES FROM BRYAN
To Show That He Will Abrogate
the Gold Standard
As Soon as Lit Becomes Possible
to Do So.

Washington, Sept. 5--Secretary Gage
has made the following reply to an open
letter he has received from Carl Schurz
of New York:
Dear Sirs:-I have the honor to ac-
knowledge the receipt of yours of the
Sd instant, in which you utter some
words of criticism upon the statements
made by me IN a newspaper interview
published August 26, in which express
ed the opinion that Mr. Bryan, if elected
could, by the exercise of considerable
'perverse ingenuity put the government
on silver basis ruin its credit ana
bring incalculable disaster upon the bus
mess interests of the country You deny
that the dangers set forth by me in that
interview really exist and that any pres
ident will be able to do what 1 declare
might be done, unless the Republican
party in control of the government in
both the Legislative and executive
branches. proves itself utterly dishonest
in it's professed purpose TO maintain the
gold standard
You say your denial is not based up
on the reasoning of those of your critics
who seek to show by figures that pres
ident, desiring ever so much to put the
country on a silver basis would lack the
means Of doing So
ION the contrary you admit for argu-
ment's sake all say on that point 1t
would not seem therefore, that there is
any particular difference between US as
do under the law or in spite Of the law
as it now is
1T ought to have been apparent to
you as it no doubt was that / was
speaking of possibilities of the case I'M
der circumstances and conditions as they
now exist. but you proceed TO point out
how, at the next session of congress.
which will meet in December. legislation
could be had which would completely
forestau unfriendly action toward the
gold standard, even if Mr.. Bryan were
elected and should still cherish the firm
set purpose declared by him on Septen-
hearm NJ
he said If there is any one who be-
lieves that the gold standard is a good
thing or that it must be maintained, I
want him not to cast his vote for me,
tanned in this country longer than am
able to get rid of it
You rebuke me in polite terms for
sounding false note of alarm. dfSquiet-
ing the business community. and espec-
tally when uttered by one in authority
Il am not at all skilled in controversy,
but will indulge in a few words in the
way Of rejoinder to your criticism
In the first place, then, no more ser
ious disaster could overtake this coun-
try Gin this / think you will agree with
mel than the breaking down of the gold
standard and the adoption of that prln-
ciple of money for which Mr.. Bryan con-
tends In 1886. you yourself are quoted
as having said The mere apprehension
of a possibility of Mr. Bryan's election
and of the consequent placing of our
country upon the silver basis has al
ready caused untold millions of our Sc
curities to be thrown upon the market.
Scores of business orders are already re-
called, a large number of manufacturing
esta blishments have already stopped or
restricted their operations, enterprise is
already discouraged and nearly para
are the effects of a mere apprehension
Of a possibility, what would be the eff
feet of the event itself There is scarce
~ an imaginable limit to the destruction
v he hrs
disturbance that Mr. Bryan's election
would cause
Il am unable to perceive why the same
consequences in minor degree perhaps
would not ensue now, which you so fore
IDLY foreshadowed then
Now when consequences so great as
these are involved, the forces operating
TO fnaUgurate them should be resisted at
evesy point
Even the possibility Of danger should
be avoided 1t is a familiar fact and
one altogether too much in evidence.
that an sed1zliniStra tive officer flse-t with
hatred and cont empt of a particular
law car. b. peTyerse ingenuity practi-
cally Duilify It's operations. You point
out in our letter that if the cours' in
dicated bv me in the interview referred
to should be contemplated by Mr.. Bryan.
the Republican congress which meets
in December next could in advance re-
strain him by new and more effective
mandatory provisions. The proposition
that in case Of Mr.. Bryan's election the
present congress car tie his hands so
that he can not give effect to his ex-
pressed intention appears to me to be
fallacious- 1t would require new legis-
lation by party whose policy has been
rejected by the people through their
last expression at the polls Further
than this. the next session will expire
by operati 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 procedure
to prevent such legislation and against
such tactics Affirmative legislation such
as you suggest would be probably i'm