Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 53:212 (Oct 1896)
Article: The Question Of The Free Coinage Of Silver
Author: Edward W. Bemis

BSac 53:212 (Oct 1896) p. 728

The Question Of The Free Coinage Of Silver

Edward W. Bemis

ALTHOUGH the subject of this article was selected at the request of the other editors, the writer desires to state that, because of his absence in the East while writing it, he does not know how far his views may be in harmony with those of the other editors, so that any fault that may be found with the positions here taken should be visited upon the writer only. It is not the aim, however, in this necessarily brief discussion to take any dogmatic stand upon questions that few are prepared to reason on at this time of political passion. Rather the aim will be to give some basis for independent judgment on the part of those that are still in doubt.

It is hardly necessary to say that, where the American people are almost equally divided, it is very unwise as well as unjust to use the harsh epithets that are in such common use in this campaign. It ought to be entirely possible for one to act on his honest convictions, whether favorable to gold or to silver, without being considered either a Wall street conspirator or an anarchist.

But, coming to the main issues, it is to be noted, in the first place, that, contrary to the expectations of a few weeks ago, the tariff is not the main question. If Mr. Bryan is elected, the need of more revenue will almost necessitate the increase of the tariff, until, at least, the slow process of change in the Supreme Court renders that body more favor-

BSac 53:212 (Oct 1896) p. 729

able to an income tax than now. The increase of the tariff indeed, with Bryan as president, would, probably, not be along protectionist lines as much as if McKinley were elected. In the latter case, however, the free silver majority in the Senate is almost sure to prevent any tariff legislation, as in the last Congress, until some compromise is reached on the silver question.

Neither is the generally recognized incompetency of the Democratic party in Congress the past four years, nor the popular dislike of large bond issues in time of peace, as serious a matter as it would have been had not the Chicago convention exhibited a greater denunciation of all this than is usual even among Republicans. The Democratic plank upon the civil service reform, denouncing life tenure of office, seems as weak as the Republican demand for a restriction of immigration by an educational test seems strong. But popular interest centers about two portions of the Chicago platform,—the demand for free silver, and a series of demands for railroad legislation and different court decisions in taxation and labor cases which are all animated by one spirit, and may, to some extent, be classed together. It is only proposed, here, to consider free silver....