The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-02-20
Is q "Akomlnable 2"

While the currency reform bin IL IN
coHfereace-being put into shape for final
adoption BY the two Houses Il Congress
preparatory 10 its assured approval by
the Presldent-its effect on the prospects
OF parties in the Presidential campaign is
being widely discussed This paragraph
from the Hartford Courant illustrates one
phase Of the discussion:
Certain Democratic newspapers are al
ready attempting 10 use against the Re
publican party Its honorable and coCr-
ageoUs action In passing the gold bin.
They say IL removes the country from
danger from Eryau's heresies on the
money question. and 50 makes II possible
for men 10 vote for him who would not
30 so If there was any doubt about the
currency II this is not abOminable poll
tics. what is"
What IS there "abominahle" in telling
the truth, or what one believes to be
true? The Pos. is not a Democratic news
PAPER IL opposed free coinage in 1886,
and advocated gold standard legislation
as soon as the change in the Senate made
such action possible. But The Post. while
Urging the Republican majority In Con-
Cress to put the existing standard into
the statutes. and TO provide for its main
tenance. diI not hesitate to express the
belief that such action would probably
bring back into the regular Democratic
organization some Of the boilers Of 1886.
j. IL not a fact indsputable that this
honorable and courageous action Goes
remove the country from danger from
-
and so makes IL possible for men 10 vote
for him who would not do so If there was
any doubt about the currency" Not until
the advocates of l6 20 ! can secure full
legislative power will any President or
Secretary Of the Treasury be able 10
shake the nations finances by offering
silver as standard money in payment Of
rational obligations If Mr.. Bryan had
come In as the result Of the last Presi-
Dental election, he could and would have
put our finances on the silver basis. II
Mr.. Bryan should come In as the result of
the next Presidential election he will take
an oath that viii require faithful execu-
ton Of all the laws, including the gold
standard law about TO be enacted.
It ought not TO be impossible or ex-
tremely difficult for the Courant TO I'M
derstand how natural il is for a Demo-
cratic or a Republican boiler TO get back
into his old political home when the cause
Of his boiling is removed. 1t seems TO
us more natural-far less of a strain on
natural incliEatiOn-for gold standard
Democrats to vote for Bryan, when the
IS TO l obstacle Is put out OF the way,
than it was for a million of tariff re-
formers" 10 rally 10 the support of Nc
Kinley In 1896. The Post, not being an
organ. owing no allegiance 10 any party,
is treating this question from the stand
point OF independence. 1t can easily see
the possibility OF an honest support of
candidate under certain conditions by
men who honestly refused to support him
under widely different conditions.
But it is good politics for the Repuhli-
cans TO pass a gold standard bill Failure
10 do so would have cost the party more
than il viii lose by the exit OF Democratic
allies. The trend Of events, political and
financial. since 1896 has not only justified,
but commanded such action, and II the
Republican party had turned a deaf ear
to the call for gold standard legislation
nv the Fifty-sixth Congress it would have
forfeited the confidence OF the business
-, 90 tho country