Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1900-07-20
ChanqInq Front.


fixed tie currency on a permanent
basis, by the passage of the financial
bill. 1t was pointed out that it
would be impossible to disturb this
settlement for four or six wears; and
therefore, that the country might
tnrn its attention to other questions
of national Importance.
Now, what do we see? Republican
leaders are changing their tune, and
are lifting up their voices TO proclaim
that the battle of the standards must
be fought over; that the campaign OF
1900 is to DC a repetition of the cam
paign OF 1896. What has brought
about this change of tactics? Is it
that the Republicans fear TO 90 be-
fore the country on the issue of I'M
perialism, which the Kansas CITY
platform emphatIcally declares to be
the paramount issue Of the campaign?
1t is true that the Kansas City Con
vention reailirmed the Chicago plat
form and inserted a special declara
ton in favor Of the free coinage of
gold and silver at the ratio of six
teen to one; but now does that alter
the case? The Republicans posi-
lively assured the country that their
financial bill ended the battle of the
standards and that the election of
a Democratic President could NOT
disturb the settlement already made ::
and therefore the business of the
country might 90 on undisturbed by
any apprehension of a financial crash.
The country accepted that assurance
in good faith Even the Kansas
CITY convention put the silver plank
in subordinate place as an express
sion of opinion without present prac-
teal Importance. With true states
manlike instinct the real question of
the day was declared to be the para
mount issue and upon that issue the
Democrats would make their fight
and appeal to the people for verdict.
The Republicans, by attempting
to push free silver to the front again
are going back on their own profess
ions, and seeking to obscure the real
issue of 1900 by exciting the appre
tensions of those who advocate a
gold standard. President McKin-
ley, who is chiefly responsible for the
imperial policy, is leading his party
in the backward movement. In his
speech at Canton the other day in
response to the notification of his
nomination he used the following
words:
INTERCHANGEABLE threat of 1896
has just been renewed by the allied
parties, without abatement or modi-
fication. The gold bill has been
nounced and lis repeal demanded.
The menace of sixteen to one, there
fore, still hangs over us with all it's
dire consequences to credit and con-
hdence, to business and industry.
The enemies of sound CURRENCY are
rallying their scattered forces. The
people must once more unite and
overcome the advocates of repudla-
ton, and must not relax their
energy until the battle for public
honor and honest money sh all again
triumph"
Can the voters be made to walk
into the trap thus set for the unwary?
Can they be persuaded that a vote
against Imperialism will vitalize the
silver issue, though they know that
The Senate stands in.the way Of any
change of the standard? The most
ardent advocate of free silver coin
lge cannot hope to see his wishes
during his presidential term
u the event of Mr.. Bryan's election.
The most earnest opponent of free
'llver does not fear that the gold
will be disturbed in the
went of Bryan's election to the
Presidency. All we'll informed men
It all parties know that the silver
question is not an issue in the pres
mt campaign, and all the OF the Re,
big and little, to make it
ne predominant ISSUE, must fail.
they are only kicking up dust to
hind the voters. No real Demo-
rat whatever may be his views on
urrency, should be driven FIR I'm his
arty by the cutlery, and prevented ,
rom casting the weight of his vote
the scale against Imperialism, .