The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-09-04
Currency Reforms.

The Atlanta Constitution notes the
fact that some of its contemporaries
have charged it with being the rankest
OF opportunists and confessing that the
democratic party has no other princi-
pies than to oppose whatever the re-
publicans may propose simply because
it has advised that the democracy
should play a waiting hand for the
present in the discussion of campaign
issue for next year. The Constitution
pIcnounceS this pure c~laptrap." n
goes on, at some length, in defense or
Justification of it's position. Our con-
temporary submits that it is by no
means on the democracy to
formulate issues a year in advance of
the time for building the platform. 1t
states the important fact that the re-
publican party is in full control Cf the
rational government and is responsible
to the country for it's leSlS-
lative, and judicial acts: and that a
special regular session OF
will intervene before the campaign fol
the presidency and ngresS will be I'M
der way. 1T is up to that congress. y
the Constitution contends. ito meet the
hurry-up demand, arising largely from
out the republican party, for necessary
II fully ftedged currency legislation"
And further: After congress has
shown that it can. or hat it will not.
fix up a fit currency system the coun-
try will decide upon the sufhciency OF
it. and, by the general judgment, the
democratic party will know whether
to enter new currency issues into the
campaign or to withhold Them"
1t was not many days that the
Constitution ~Suspended its waiting pol
icy long enough to commit itself dnre-
SerVedly to a currency reform plan
modelled so closely on the ines Of the
Fowler bill hat it seemed to us to be
identical with that measure. So much
in earnest was our Atlanta contempor-
airy in its advocacy of the scheme that
we began to uSpect the entire Georgia
delegation in congress was repared to
support it. Was hat an irideScent
dream? 1t would seem SO, from the
later ~utterances. quoted above.
But a waiting polio may be best for
the democracy. 1t certainly a nothing
to lose; for it's present position on the
| national currency. as defined by its
latest national PLATFORM. is so bad that
any change must be for the better. And
there are many possibilities OF gain to
the democrats growing out Of republic
can discussions on the question of cur
rency reform. The m party is
DIS hluCu. QlNlueQ lOudy ol ILLS SuDptSl
as it was in 1900. when it passed a fatal
ly defective gold standard act and at
tempted to palm it off on the country
as having assured the stability of all
our currency on a gold basis. While
our financial position is much stronger
today in most respects than it ever was
in the past. our currency laws have not
been improved since the defeat OF
Bryan in 1896 prevented currency de-
basement. They are not a system, but
a h~oGge-Dodge. "a thing of shreds and
patches,' safe enough for fair weather,
but utterly unfit to bear the strain of q
financial storm. The gold is
still gust where it was seven years
ago. in the hands of the executive de-
partment, and so long as it remains
theresa long as the standard IS not
completely fortified against panics and
beyond the reach Of any power rIce<t
hat of legisIation-the first step in cur
| rency reform will not nave been taken
The pr0si.Ccts for the performance OF
this work by the Fifty 'el51in congress
| are not eminently cheering. WI the
democracy devise a scheme for its &C
complishment. and make that an is
SI,e.'-WaSn:r gton Post.