The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-13

feet the credit of the
Government?
Most dissStrotsly,
have no doubt.
You concluded the Interview of July Is
by saying that the law might indeed he
subjected TO a severe strain from the No
vember day that MIR. Bryan's election were
made known until the Treasury WAS turned
over TO him on March T. and that the
present Administration would probably
have to use to the uttermost the powers
conferred by the new law 10 maintain the
gold standard, owing TO possible appre-
tensions that might be created among the
business community, which, however, does
not impugn your previous statements as
to the safety of the gold standard under
the law as il stands.
Thus II is Mr. Gage who brings against
himself the charge OF spreading false
alarms In the one column we hear you
as the financier and the conscientious pub
lie officer who feels It TO be his duty not
to excite but to allay unnecessary dis
quietude. II il be suggested that Mr..
Bryan, II elected. might announce his pur
pose TO pay interest on bonds and the cur
rent expenses of the Government in silver,
and thereby gradually bring us on the sill
Yer basis, the conscientious public officer
answers: DO not excite yourself about
this Even il Mr.. Bryan were ever so
much so inclined, he would under the law
not be able to accomplish this mischief.
And II there be a furry OF apprehension in
the case Of Mr.. Bryans election. always
remember that the gold standard will find
protection under the law anyhow. Be not
unnecessarily frightened, but 20 quietly
about your business. In the other column
we hear the partisan. who, in order to ter
rify the public for the benefit OF his can
didate. describes all manner OF deviltry an
trouble that may happen under ;he law
who, when way to strengthen the law
is pointed out TO him, as ! did point it out.
lightly puts that aside as impracticable:
and who-an almost unheard of thing even
in our political warfare-suggest that the
possible successors of the present Presi-
dent and the present Secretary of the
Treasury may intend deliberately to vio-
late the Law by the exercise OF 'perverse
ingenuity-all this to put the people into
panicky mood, and thus 10 drive them tc
Mr. Mckinley as their only savior from
a vague sort of disaster
"Of the same color Is the prediction TIA:
the sound-money majority in Congress
may be wiped ont. and that then the gold
standard law will be repealed. You know.
Mr.. Secretary, that this is no more likely
TO happen than "A heavy snowstorm in July
in The latitude of Washington. Ii is ad-
majority in the Senate for at least two
years longer. And IT, in two years, the
gold standard should appear to be in the
slightest danger, is IL not absolutely certaI:.
that then the same forces that carr ed the
election OF 1896 would be on hand TO cleo.
a sound-money House OF Representatives?
there can be no doubt of this
mo candid person can have watched re-
cent political developments without con.
plufinp A ,s
Representatives. elected under the influence
Of the present public sentiment, would al
ways have sound money Democrats enough
in it to prevent a subversion of the gold
standard. You need only observe the pres
ent condition OF the Democratic party TO
become convinced that the silver movement
has lost its vitality, and that the tall, about
silver now is mere rafting with dry
bones, Kept up on one side to have an ap-
pearanee OF consistency, and on the other
to frighten people into forgetting all other
questions and voting FOR Mr.. Mckinley.
And this, Mr. Secretary. is the task you
arc now performing. II is an attempt so
to terrorizc the American people with a
threat of business disaster hat they may be
deferred from considering any other ques-
ton and from casting a vote which would
amount to a condemnation of Mr. Mckin-
ley's imperialistic policy.
Il. for one, refuse TO be so terrorized
] am certainly as anxious to maintain the
gold standard as you are I say this as
one who. during more than a quarter OF
century, has made the advocacy of
sound monetary system one Of the prin-
cipai parts Of his public activity; who looks
back upon that feature OF his work with
especial satisfaction, and who. if he has
somewhat. however little contributed to
the accomplishment of good results, would
not lightly expose those results to jeop.
ardy But | am convinced that the battle
fo- sound money is substantially won and
that whatever apparent danger 10 the gold
standard may still arise, il must and can
be overcome without the people subjectlng
themselves 10 a moral ihraldom keeping
them from Independent and conscientious
action upon other public questions OF equal.
and even superior. importance. And |
may assure you. Mr.. Secretary that there
are such questions with regard to which
many American citizens have very strong
convictions of duty.
Very respectfully yours.
CARL SCHURZ."
Bolton Landing, Lake George. y. Y,
Sent II.