Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-04
SCHURZ'S CRITICISM
Secretary Cages Position, 1t is Claim
ed, is Not Weakened.
ORIGINAL STATEMENT NOT DENIED
Democrats Greatly Delighted With
the Letter.
THE PAYMENT OF SILVER

Mr. Carl Schurz's letter to Secretary Gage
in criticism Of the Secretsry's interview In
which the danger Of our being put upon a
silver basis II Mr.. Bryan should be elected
WAS discussed. does rot provoke very gem
eral comment among republicans here.
From a republican point Of view Mr..
Schurzs letter in no way weakens the po-
sition taken by Secretary Gage. Secretary
Gage pointed out that the law fixing the
gold standard was not such as to prevent
Mr.. Bryan from forcing us upon silver
basis IL he were elected President and chose
To do so. It Is suggested by republican
comment upon Mr.. Schurxs letter that this
statement of the Secretary's IS not denied,
nor Is confidence expressed anywhere in the
letter that Mr.. Bryan would not avail him.
self az the opportunity to do something
for silver # he had the power.
On the contrary, they suggest. Mr.. Schura
criticises the republican party for not bind
ing Mr. Bryan's hands more securely, if
any freedom has been left him, and calls
upon the republicans to come to the rescue
Of the country by more binding legislation
between now and the 4th Of March should
Bryan be elected. The intlmation by Mr..
SEIZURE that the act establishing the gold
standard passed by the present Congress
was purpossly made defective in order to
render the reelection Of President McKin-
money basis Is generally passed over as
unworthy OF comment 1t Is spoken of as
curious commentary upon the attitude OF
the democrats and the unusual mental op-
Grafton Of the gold men who now desire to
support Mr.. Bryan that their arguments
in favor of the defeat of Mr.. Mckinley are
based on the proposition that the repubn-
cans, by wise financial legislation, either
have rendered 1t or must render it safe for
the country to experiment with Mr.. Bryan
as Chief Executive; In other words. that
while surrendering the government to the
democratic Administered ton the republicans
must take steps to protect the country
against disastrous consequences Of the
change.
Secretary Gage and some one speaking
for the republican congressional committee
expect to reply to Mr.. Schurz, but did not
have the opportunity to do so this morning
Democrats Delighted.
The democrats of course are very great
~ delighted at Mr.. Schurz's reply. The
basis Of their satisfaction Is that Schurz. a
prominent single gold standard advocate,
should feel impelled to thus publicly cham
pion the cause of Mr.. Bryan on this par
ticular point OF financial policy. Democrats
particularly dwell on the lack Of sufficient
silver in the possession of the government
to accomplish what Mr.. Gage suggests the
danger Of. and that Mr.. Gage in a subse-
Quent Interview declared that the silver
money issued by the government under the
present law is as good any other money.
They further say that one of the firm con-
tentions of the democratic party is that
the executive shall not have power to de-
terqline the standard of value by executive
action without authority of Congress.
These points however, are not made by Mr..
Schurz In his letter, which places the entire
responsibility for maintaining the single
gold standard upon the republican party
which he wants put out OF power
Mr.. schurx's Letter.
ur1otiup from
terview In The Star and calling attention
to his own devotion to the cause Of sound
money, Mr.. Schurz says in his letter TO the
Secretary:
Il empha tically deny. Mr.. Secretary, that
the danger set forth by you in your inter-
views really exists, and that any President
will be able to do what you say might be
done. unless the republican party in con-
troll Of the government in both its legis-
lative and executive branches, prove itself
utterly dishonest In Its professed purpose
IL maintain the gold standard
This denial IL not based upon the rea-
soning of those of your critics who seek to
show by figures that a President desiring
ever SO much to put the country upon a
silver basis. would lack the means for do
Ing so. On the contrary, for argument
sake. l will accept all you say on that
point. But you omit 10 mention a fact of
decisive Importance.
Alleged Flaw In the Law.
III the executive. as you say. possesses
the discretion of paying silver in settle
ment Of all interest on the public debt not
specifically payable in gold. and of making
Its daily disbursements TO It's creditors in
silver II Is owing to a flaw in the cur
rency law passed at the last session of
Congress-a law which. as the spokesman
of the republican party promised. was to
put the gold standard upon an impregnable
basis 1t was suggested at the time by
some OF its critics that this law was pur-
posely so manipulated by republican politi-
clans in the Senate to leave the pos
sibility Of the subversion of the gold stand
ard by executive action open in order to
enable the republicans in the present presi-
Dental campaign TO say that the election
OF A republican President was absolutely
necessary to save the gold standard and
In prevent dreadful economic disaster.
Whether any such scheme entered into that
legislation, / do not assume To determine.
Certain II IS. however. that this feature
az the law is now so used. and that you.
NJ. Secretary. actually do use II. for the
evident purpose of alarming the business
community and the possessing classes gen.
orally"
Remedial Liquidation.
Proceeding. he censures the Secretary for
giving false alarm and says:
'Whoever may be elected President on
November 8. there will be another session
OF Congress before he will take office on
March 4. 1901. The republicans will have
strong majorities I'm both houses of that
Congress The executive. too. will be in
their hands. They WILL therefore. be able
To make such laws as they please. They
Will thus have full power and ample Op-
portunity before the inaugurati ton of the
hext President to pass any legislation re-
quired to make II utterly impossible to
any President TO break down the gold
standard in the way you, Mr. Secretary,
describe in your interview. simple en-
actment In two or three lines substantially
providing that IL shall be the duty of the
Secretary OF the Treasury to pay In gold
or silver. at the option of the creditor, all
kinds of indebtedness OF the United States
row payable IN coin, may be sufficient"
The rest of the letter is devoted to en-
iargement upon the opportunity and the
duty Of the republicans TO make abso-
lutely sure the gold standard before Mr.