The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-09-25
Pertinent Admissions.

rotary Gage has made reply to
an open letter he has received
from Hon. Carl Schurz
WASHINGTON, Sept. 4.-Dear
Sir: l have the honor to ack-
ledge the receipt of yours of the
Bird inst. in which you utter some
words of criticism upon the
statements made by me, in a
newspaper interview published
August Goth, in which l express
ed the opinion that Mr.. Bryan, if
elected, could, by the exercise of
considerable "perverse ingen-
uity," put the government on a
silver basis, ruin its credit, and
bring incalculable disaster upon
the business interests of the
country.
You deny that the dangers set
forth by me in that interview
really exist and that any presi-
dent will be able to do what / de-
clare might be done, "unless the
republican party, in control of
the government in both the legiS-
lative and executive branches,
proves itself utterly dishonest in
its professed purpose to main
tain the gold standard"
You say your denial ''is not
based upon the reasoning 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 of doing
so.
On the contrary, you admit,
"for arguments sake" all say
on that point. 1t would not seem,
therefore, that there is any par
ticular difference between us as
to what Mr.. Bryan as president
could do under the law, or in
spite of the law, as it is now. II
ought to have been apparent to
you, as it no doubt was, that ]
was speaking of a possible case
under circumstances as they now
exist, but you proceed to point
how. at the next session of the
congress, which will meet in De
cember, legislation could be had
which would completely forestall
unfriendly action toward the gold
standard, even if Bryan were
elected, and should still cherish
the firm-set purpose declared by
him on September /, 1896, al
Knoxville, Tenn, where he said;
eff there is anyone who believes
that the gold standard is a good
thing, or that it must be main
tanned, | warn him not to cast
his vote for me, because [ prom.
Use him it will not be maintained
in this country longer than l am
able to get rid of it,"
You rebuke me in polite terms
for sounding a false note OF
alarm, disquieting the business
community, and especially when
uttered by one who is in author
ity. l am not at all skilled in
controversy and have had no
practice in dialectics; but I will
indulge in a few words in the
way of rejoinder to your critic
ism.
In the first place, then, nc
more serious distress could over
take this country Tin this I think
you will agree with me), than the
breaking down of the gold stan
dard and the adoption of thai
principle of money for which Mr..
Bryan contends, In 1896 you
yourself are quoted as having
said
1.-THE mere apprehension of g
possibility of Mr.. Bryan's cleo
ton and the consequent placing
of our country upon silver
basis, has already released untold
millions of our securities, to be
thrown upon the market. Scores
of business orders are already
recalled, a large number Of
manufacturing establishments
have stopped or restricted theil
operations, enterprise is already
discouraged and nearly paralyz
ed"
Since you have raised the
question of further Legislation LEI
us look a little further. If Bryan
is elected president, it is of al
things most probable that the
next house will have a demo
cratic majority. Even admitting
that the congress dating from
March 4, 1901, will not be able
to effect any changes in our pres
ent financial legislation, what
may we fairly expect will be the
effect of the continued agitation
of the question upon business
and industry set in motion by {
president bent on the restoration
of free silver at the ratio of 16 tt
1 and alected unon that Olatf0rm