The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-09-06
Claims He Made No Mistake
in Statements in Interview.
Still Insists That Bryan, if Elected,
Gould Put the Government on
a Silver Basis.

apprehension OF possibility, what would
be the effect OF the event itself? There
Is scarcely an imaginable limit 10 the
destruction certain TO be wrought by the
business disturbance that Mr. Bryan's
mere election would cause.
II myself am unable 20 perceive why
the same consequences, I'm "A minor de-
gree perhaps would not ensue now,
which you so forcibly foreshadowed
then.
CAN NULLIFY LAW.
Now. when consequences so great as
these are involved, the forces operating
10 inaugurate them should be resisted at
every. point. Even the possibility OF dam
ger should be avoided. IL is a familiar
fact. and one altogether too much I'm evil
dence. that an administrative officer fill
ed with hatred and contempt OF partic-
ular law, can by perverse ingenuity
practically nullify it's operations.
You point out I'm your letter that if
the course indicated by me I'm the inter
view referred 10 should be contemplated
by Mr. Bryan. the Republican Congress,
which meets i'm December next, could In
advance restrain him by new and more
effective mandatory provisions.
THE proposition that, i'm case of Bry-
ans election, the present Congress can
tie hands so that he cannot give effect to
Ills tADItcStu lHitiitlOis aDDtdiS W tiit W
be fallacious.
1T would require new legislation by a
party whose policy would have been re-
jected by the people through their last
expression at the polls. Further than this,
the next session will expire by operation
OF law on the ith OF March, 1901
'"rhe free silver minority would be JUS
titled by their constituents i'm using all the
resources Of dilatory procedure 10 pre-
Ant fala ton nsaA erafn
tactics affirmative legislation such as you
suggest would be probably impossible.
WOULD URGE ACTION.
"Can any one doubt that Mr.. Bryan
would urge action by his friends in Con-
grcss TO prevent the further strengthen
ing of the policy which he denounces as
criminal? Your remarks upon this point
seem to indicate that you rely upon the
exercise of the power already conferred
upon the Republican party TO prevent the
country from experiencing disasters
which Mr.. Bryan will. IL he can. bring
upon us May l not suggest that the
way 10 secure safety is not to take power
from those upon whom YOU rely for pro-
lection and confer II upon those whose
action you may have good occasion to
dread?
"Since you have raised the question OF
farther forward. II Mr.. Bryan is elected
president, II is. of all things. most proba-
bile that the next House will have
Democratic majority. but even admitting
that the Congress dating from March T.
1901 Will not be able to effect any change
I'm our present financial legislation, what
we may fairly ask, will be the effect of
the continued agitation of the question
upon business and industry set in motion
by president bent upon the restoration
OF free silver at the ratio of 16 TO / and
elected upon that platform?
You end your letter by suggesting that
/ retract from what l have said in fair
ness TO the business community. which
should not be unnecessarily disquieted
especially by those in authority Think
ing, as / do. that the election of Mr.
Bryan would be "A real menace to the
commercial and industrial interests of
our people, because of the purposes he
cherishes and the power he would pos
sess, do not feel at liberty TO act upon
your suggestion. i feel IL my duty at
least TO wait until after Mr. Bryan him
self has retracted his statement OF 1896
that IL (the gold standard) Will rot be
maintained I'm this country longer than
am able to get rid of it, Very truly yours,
LYMAN A. GAGE"
ITO the Hon. Carl Schurz, Bolton Land
ing, Lake George, N. Y"