The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-19
The Truth of History.

Certain conscientious papers, uHlous
them the Washington Post and The
Richmond Times-Dispatch, are doing
what they can to set history right in
one or two Important matters. The Post
has recently shown, with perfect clear
ness, that the tariff of August, 1894. had
nothing to do with creating the panic OF
May, 1893, appealing to good Republican
authority in support of It's view. That
view is entirely sound. for we suppose
there Is no one In the country, outside
Of the narrowest partisans. who does not
know that the panic OF 1893 was cur
rency panic, almost wholly the product
OF the foolish Sherman act, which was
passed by q Republican Congress and
signed by a Republican President. Yet,
obvious as all this Is, 1t is, perhaps, we'll
to make the case as clear as possible,
in order that the future historians may
not be misled. We imagine that the fu-
ture historian, II at all At for his task.
would repudiatc the theory that panic
was caused by tariff law that was not
enacted for more than year after tho
panic broke out.
But there is another subject thatsis
interesting our contemporaries. Noting
the boasting OF certain Republicans In
regard to all that their party did for the
gold standard, the Post points out that
In the campaign OF 1895 the only gold
standard party in the field was the
Palmer and Buckner Democratic party.
1t goes further. and says that after all
these years the Republicans. though hav-
Ing control OF the government In every
department. have done nothing to as
sure tho maintenance OF the gold stand
ard. It was established before THU took
office. Since then they have simply de-
clared that 1t Is established 60 IA.
Reinforcing tho washington paper, the
Richmond Times-Dispatch reminds us
that in 1895 tho Democrats declared OUT
right for the free and independent coin
age OF silver; that the Republicans ops
posed free coinage. except by inter-
national agreement with the leading ma
tons OF the world, which we pledge orr
selves to promote and until sucli agree
ment can BIO obtained tho existing gold
standard must 10 preserved" In other
words, the gold standard was to be nlain-
tanned only till something better-internn-
! lional bmetalism-could be secured. That
was the Republican attitude. It was a
! difficult matter to get the party COM
mitted to gold. With that. vigor md
rlgor which sometimes characterizas the
utterances OF our Southern contempt
raries, the Richmond Times Dispatch
sums the case up thus: 81.
There was only one gold standard
party In 1896. Tho regulnr Democratic
party came out bravcly for the silver and
gold standard. The Palmer and Buckner
came out bravely for tho single gold
standard. Tho Republican party tried to
i dodge between the two. Yet that party
is very bold. now to declare that 1t Is tho
only and original gold standard party.
Tho record speaks for itself''
1t does, indeed. We think 1t we'll to
rccur to It In order to assist our Ropub.
lican friends in developing proper lu-
mility. They have been so long and SO
firmly intrenched In power that they arc
growing rather ovarweening in their
pride. Thor party has done much. hut
1t has not done everything. II has bech
right and is right on some questions. but
not on all. Incredible as It may seem, 1t
has occasionally made mistakes, and
once in while showed soma signs OF
oowardice. And, yet, he country did have
| to rally to 1t In 1895 Jas tt 40 only organ
izatlon with which At wds possible 10
stem the tide Of FREQ silver. Tho real
criticism Is that. In spite OF tho strength
ening which the party received In that
campaign. and In spite OF the fnct$that
! the battle was fought OIL tho money
question, the party has not yat, after
ten yeara though II had full power to- do
60. put our finances IN proper shape
/ Indianapolis News,