The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-10-31
THE STANDARD or BRASS.

We have already referred to the
singularly inept sneer OF Mr.. John
Hay at the part taken by Judge Par.
ker in assuring the gold standard TO
the country. IL shows the risks run
by a literary man ana even a states
man when he stoops to partisan
level so far below his ordinary range,
II should have been known to the sec
rotary Of state that the danger of
disaster and disgrace from repudia-
ton sprang from the Republican sill
yer legislation with which the pass
age of the Mckinley law was pur
chased. and II should have been
known to him that only the stout will
and unselfish devotion to duty OF
President Cleveland defended the ma.
tion from that catastrophe. He may
explain the obfuscation of his mind
AMI memory as to this phase of the
matter on the ground that he was at
the time engaged in other and more
alluring things. that he had ceased
to be historian and had not yet be-
come statesman. and that he had
adopted the story his
party friends had conspired to palm
on the public, He cannot SO explain
or excuse his misrepresentation Of
the character of Judge Parker's ser
vices.
III Mr.. Cleveland established tho |
gold standard against the huckstering |
Of the Republican par
ty, Judge Parker by one decisive act
saved 1t from being the football OF |
parties. took it squarely out of the |
and, to the great chagrin |
IF the Republicans. made ii unavail.
ible for their partisan uae. We be- |
ieve that his action in this matter |
vas inspired by the highest motives,
)ut Mr. Hay may attribute it to any /
motives he chooses to invent or ac- |
'ept; 1t still remains one of the most /
olid and signal services rendered to /
his nation, Ii was the purpose of /
he Republicans TO employ the cur /
ency issue, as they have continually /
Employed 1t since 1t became impor-
ant. as an aid in carrying out the
ystem of legislation for private in
erests from which they obtain the
hief part OF their campaign contri-
ntions. Having. as we have said. I
ought the Mckinley law by the Sher-
nan law. which made the failure of |
old payments absolutely certain,
md reused the passions of the Popu- |
lists. they used the victory of 1896 !
which they gained on the silver issue
~ the support of gold Democrats, TO
nact the Dingley tariff. and they |
'ere prepared this year again to |
'lunge the country, If they could. in |
. struggle over the currency. This
Judge Parker prevented. The Repub-
cans did not wish the issue to be /
helved. and could not have shelved |
II they had wished. Jndgo Parker,
y his simple message to the conven- I
ion OF his party, put 1t beyond all
oubt out Of the campaign.
For that service he deserves the
of every sincere friend OF
ound money. He deserves at the
cry least the candid respect of his
oiiticai opponents. II was 10 be ex-
ected that the small fry of the Re
uhlican press would fail in their
uty in this matter 1t was not To
g expected that Mr. Hay would fail
his. Nor can he he thought to be
snorant and thoughtless. He has
cen in the thick of the party contest.
lie has entered the arena as the
hampton of the president. He IS
harged with knowledge of the ma.n
acts in regard to one of the most
questions the country
as ever had to deal with. A fin
ant sheer, based on complete con
addiction of the truth. calculated TO
errer and to do substan.
al injustice to a political opponent.
not the contribution we had a
ght to demand from him to the dis.
nssion. He should have left that
ort of thing 10 the small orators
hose standard Is neither gold nor
liver but hrasg --New York Tiuae