Show CURRENCY REFORM AGITATION There is more or less dubiety in Republican Re-publican quarters as to what would be the effect of any attempt just now to deal with the currency question The more it is considered the greater the difficulties surrounding it are seen to I be It means very much more than the maintenance of the gold standard It means the reopening of the question of free silver plus the complete overhauling over-hauling of bur hotchpotch monetary system Many want it overhauled but they are fearful that in the overhauling some pet portion will be destroyed and I yet it is because of these same pet portions por-tions being so numerous in our currency cur-rency system that it is so in need of reform The major part are excres ences Perhaps the pet of pets is the greenbacks There are people who think the greenbacks an improvement upon the ten commandments These people cannot bear to think of reforming reform-ing the currency laws lest the greenbacks green-backs mav have to go But there is an argument against any currency law tinkering at the present pres-ent time that has some weight and is thus stated by the New York Tribune It would obviously be a grave mistake mis-take to start a new agitation on this subject without reason to believe that important practical good could be accomplished ac-complished The agitation would in any case do much harm It would involve in-volve prolonged excitement and uncertainty uncer-tainty would disturb money markets and business and interruPt to some extent the develonment of industries under a new tariff During the first year under new duties it would be most desirable that trade and manufactures should be as free as possible to adjust themselves to new conditions without any needles dlsturbance of money markets To produce such a disturbance disturb-ance without reasonable prospect of accomplishing anything would be a serious ser-ious mistake But it is also true that the chances of accomplishing any ben r eficial monetary change would be much I greater ater busiriess had itself it-self to new duties and public prosperity prosper-ity had been restored It is in times of depression and trouble that all sorts of unsound theories find most support Hard times drive neople to notions of inflation free silver fiat money and repudiation just as trouble drives some men to drink But with the return of prosperity with labor well employed at fair wages with a wholesome demand de-mand for products at fair prices cheap money agitation always fades away At such = time there would be a vastly better chance of securing any change calculated to insure the soundness of the currency and to guard against disasters dis-asters and panics in the future It is to be expected that the Tribune will make a fling at silver whenever opportunity offers but it is true that an agitation over the money question started now would have a disturbin effect on business We do not believe the new tariff will bring the prosperity its promoters anticipate yet it is highly desirable that this new tariff have every opportunity to prove its worth and this as free as possible from anything any-thing that can be construed as militating mili-tating against it And the excitement that would follow the discussion and agitation consequent upon any attempt at-tempt to reform the currency laws would have a bad effect on business and of course the tariff The country has prepared itself for a dose of tariff medicine to cure the ills of the body politic Let it take it and see what the effect will be before trying any other kind of medicine |