The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-09-18

lNOnVluuCu IlOUn Ihgc IL
TO restore and maintain bimetallic level of
prices. and in order that there may be no un'
certainty as to the method of restoring bimIt-
alllsm, the specific declaration in favor OF tce
and unlimited coinage at the existing ratio OF
Ii to !, independent Of the action of other
nations, is repeated In 1896 the Republican
party recognized the necessity Tor Dnnctalllsln
by pledginE the party to an earnest effort TO
secure an international agreement for the free
coinage OF silver, and the president, immedl.
atcly after his inauguration, by authority OF
congress, appointed commission composed of
distinguished citizens to visit Europe and solicit
foreign aid. Secretary Hay in a letter written
to Lord Adcnham, in November, 1sJS, and at
tCrwards published in England, declared that at
that time the president and majority of his
cabinet still believed in the great desirability
Of an international agreement for the restoration
OF the double standard, but that il did not
seem opportune to reopen the negotiations just
then. The financial law enacted less than
year ago contains concluding section declaring
that the measure was not intended to stand in
the way Of the restoration Of bimetalism, when
ever it could be done by cooperation with other
nations The platform submitted to the last
Republican convention with the Endorsement OF
the administration again suggested the posi-
bility Of securing foreign aid in restoring silver
Now the Rcpubllcan party, Tor the trSt time
openly abandonS its advocacy OF the double
standard, and indorses the monetary system
which it has 80 often and SO emphatically cen.
dCmncd. The Democratic party, on the con
trary, remains the stCadaSt advocate Of the gold
and silver coinage Of the constitution. and is
not willing that other nations shall determine
for MS the time and manner Of restoring silver
10 its ancient place as a standard money. The
ratio Of IT. to ! is not only the ratio now OK
isting between all the gold and silver dollars
in circulation In this country, ratio which
even the Republican administration has not at
tempted to change, but il is the only ratio
advocated by those who are seeking to reopen
the mints. Whether thc senate, now hostile to
bimralism, can he changed during the cam
pdign or the campaign Of 1902 can only be de.
tornincd after the votes are counted, but nCth.
er the present nor ;nc future political com.
plcXin Of congress has prevented or should
prevent an apnoncCmou. Of the pary'S posi-
tioa upon this subject in uneQuiNocal terms.
The CurrcnCv bill which received the sanction
Of the house and senate. iu,iitcs the wdrnit .
then predicted that tie Republican party would
attempt to retire the grccnbacks although the
party and its leaders studlousN concealed their
intentions That purpo~" is now plain and the
people must choose between the retention Of the
grpcnlaCEs. issued and controlled In volume
ly the go"Cmwrut, and national bank note
currency issued by hanks and controlled II!
their own interests Vi the national bank notes
are 10 be secured by bonds the currency system
now supported hv the Republican party involve
q permanent and increasing debt, and, 50 long
as this system stands. the financial classes will
hc tempted to throw their powerful influence
upon the side Of any measure which will con-
tribute to tho size and pcrmauency Of 4 national
debit Ii is hardly conceivable that the Amer
can PEOPLE will deliberately turn from the debt
paving policy Of the past to the dangerous doc
tliuc of perpetual bonds.