Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1880 — THE FINANCIAL QUESTION. [ARTICLE]

THE FINANCIAL QUESTION.

- Remisgtox, Ind., Dec. J 6, 1879. V.Bitters. Esq., Editor of Retiblicax, Dear Sir:—l am plcaseo with your paper ao«l approve Kenerallyf}-eiir editorial*, but I pray you nqt to commit yourself to a gold standard or to the demonetization of silver, as your article in the XErriLicis of the 2C*h iast. seems to Indicate. The Republicans of the west, 1 think, are a nnit in maintaining the enrrency as it is, and consequently are opposed to retiring the Greenbacks 'or restricting the circulation of silverItappears to me that the ]>osition of the Chicago Tribune on the financial question is the true one. and will be tlte policy of the party in the coming campaign. You will excuse this freedom, as I have not the pleast;re ot an acquaintance. Trulv Tours, W. H. Snaw. No apoldgy* needed, Mr. Shaw. It is not only the privilege, but we believe it to be duty of every reader of bis party-paper to present .bis views arid opinions lespeclingj tbe tenor of its editorials and the |

persons It should support for office. The financial policy of the Republican party as carried out by John Sherman we believe to be the most correct and successful that coaid have been adopted, and because of this we are willing to trust the wisdom of the party and the man for tbe future. The editorial which you refer to simply expressed Sherman's fears that at tbe raleat which silver is being coined the country would soon be flooded with it as it was with greenbacks at the time of the passage of the resumption act, and thereby become depreciated and fall below the gold standard. Foreseeing the peril of a silver deluge that will again create a premium on gold, and possibly on greenbacks, he wants a law* passed limiting tbe amount of silver that shall be coined into money, all of which seems most reasonable and just. Sherman’s only object is to keep silver, greenbacks, and all mediums of exchange on a par with gold, which is tbe true financial policy and the one that should receive the support of every intelligent citizen. The danger of a silver deluge arises from the exertions made by men interested in silver miuing, who, desiring ,to find sale for their metal,advocate the lree coinage of silver, and consequently confront Sherman’s ideas of what the financial [lolicy of the government should be. As we said last week this is the foundation on which the Democrats have boilt their hopes of a Republican split on the finauecs, and before tbe Democrats got control of congress the Republicans prepared the means by which the admirable results now on record were obtained. Our congressmens hould be careful not to assist the Democrats to the I ' . <- advantage of Republican coniusiou on tbe eve ol a presidential election. It is so plain that the country is satisfied with resumption and its consequences that it seems equally plain there can be no popular support for the measures that tend to defeat Mr. Sherman in maintaining

specie payments on a gold basis. To flood tbe business of the country with depreciated silver like the contemptible Blaud dollars is one of such measures, and the Republicans who advocate it are disturbers for the benefit of tbeDemocrats to the exteut of their advocacy. But we have every confidence that the party will come to a hearty support of the secretary during the remainder of his terra of office, because of the fruits of his policy already enjoyed, and because to destroy them now would be just the folly the Demo crats are longing for. Betweqp a swindle by paying debts for which gold value is due in depreciated silver, and a.swindle by paying them in depreciated paper, there is not any difference. And the Republican party cannot afford to be concerned in a swindle.