The times., 1901-06-14
MIR. Chandler on His Party.

Q
/ ing for those Republicans of this day
/ and generation who in their own minds
/ settle every disputed question Of ma
tioual policy in favor of the Republican
party by a reference to the greatness
4 and goodness of Abraham Lincoln. Mr.
F Chandler, as is well known. has for
years been an outspoken advocate of
bjmetallism. Notwithstanding this fact
. =. las also been very earnest and ag-
gJY>Sive supporter OF the Republican
party. No member OF that organiza-
uon has any warrant for believing that
Mr.. Chandler would falsely accuse the
party Of fraud or misconduct OF any
kind. His shrewdness and thorough
familiarity with national affairs are
also perfecu- well known. Therefore
any statement that he may make con
cerning the party's policy and methods
should carry weight with every Repub-
lican who has the slightest disposition
To be fair.
Last summer Mr.. Chandler offered a
reward Of one hundred dollars to the
person who, as a delegate 10 the Re
publican Convention at st. Louis in
1896, inserted the words which we
promise to promote" in the financial
plank of the platform after a reference
to the free coinage Of silver. It was
finally ascertained that these words
were interlined in the concluding draft
of the platform in the handwriting of
Senator Lodge. Accordingly Mr. Chan
dler has forwarded to the Massachu-
sets Senator a check for the amount
promised, accompanied by a letter the
body Of which reads as follows:
BY reason OF the premises you should with
out heSitancy accept the one hundred dollars
as Tlghuuiiy yOur money. All wise know
that Mckinley and Hobart would not have been
elected u the platform had not, while declar-
ing opposition 10 the free coinage Of silver
cept As the result OF international agree
IneHt, also declared that the Republican party
favored such international agreement if it
could be secured. II Mckinley and Hobart had
not been elected in 1896, Mr. Mckinley would
not have been reelected i, 1900.
Therefore those six words were OF priceless
value, and ! trust that when all the facts are
known my humble Offering Of one hundred dol
lars VIII ne supplemented by such generous
donations not only from many members OF the
hepuliican party, but 2s well IRON Democrats
who have much treubled at every prospect
Of the election OF Mr. Bryan as TO Adequately
recognize the Sasaglty and courage which led you
into thC platform of l-y6 concerning bimCtallisu
the words which we pledge ourselves to pro
mote
That immortal declaration twice made Mr
Mckinley President, and the fidelity with which
the pledge has been fulfilled the world knows
The peculiar significance and value of
this letter lie in the extreme probability
that every statement contained in it is
literally true. That this pledge was in
serted to conciIiatc the silver men in the
Republican party and hold them to the
support Of MI Mckinley is beyond any
question. That il was employed as an
argument by Republican orators and
newspapers in every locality where
there was a substantial silver element
in the party is one Of the best known
facts Of the campaign Of 1896. That it
influenced a sufficient number Of votes
in the close States of the Middle West
and the Pacific slope to be decisive in
8IcKinley's favor is so extremely prob
able as fairly to justify the declaration
that he owed his first election to the
promise to promote the free coinage Of
silver by international agreement That
there never was the slightest purnase
on the part Of the Republican leaders
TO carry out that pledge in good faith
was even then apparent TO those who
fully realized the extent 10 which the
Republican party was dominated by the
great moneyed interests of the country
It has since been proved with a Ger
tainty that amounts 10 a mathematical
demonstration.
What does a pledge "to promote" a |
certain thing mean? Clearly to use alr
proper efforts 10 bring about the end |
in view. Such a pledge is not satisfied |
by a single attempt but the party |
promising 10 promote must keep on try |
ing until it becomes evident that all ef- |
fort in that direction is bound TO be |
fruiuess. This is the principle that |
would govern in private affairs. and it !
is one that should commend itself to |
every right thinking person. StnI less
is the moral obligation Of such a pledge |
removed by q single effort, not made in !
good faith and never intended to sue
ceed.
If anything in our political history is
perfectly clear, then is it clear that the
sending Of the WoIcott Commission TO
Europe was farce and a fraud-a mere
perfunctory and colorado carrying out
Of campaign pledge made to catch
votes, and for no other purpose. II was
50 regarded in Europe, and Senator
W0lcott's statement in the Senate vir-
tually laying the blame ot failure at the
door Of Secretary Gage showed plainly
that the chairman Of the commission
had reached the same conclusion him
self
And this conclusion was a just one;
for while the Wolcott Commission was
Iaboring to convince England and
France that the United States Govern
meEt earnestly desired a return 10 BIZ
on the basis Of the free coin
age of both gold and silver at an agreed
alto, the chief financial officer Of the |
Government was making gold standard
speeches 10 boards of trade chambers
Of commerce. and other associations Of
business men in various parts Of the
Not only this but he actually
a gold standard bill, which
was laid before the Cabinet and ap-
proved. More important still. before the
Wolcott Commission had fairly com
pleted its Iabors. the President sent a
special message TO Congress urging leg
station along the lines Of the plan of
he indianapolis Monetary Convention,
which. as everybody knows, was for the
rold standard v,-Ifl,,rlt raea,.,-a lion