The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-10-03
CREENBACKS, GOLD AND SILVER.

The common expression OF writer's
on currency is that greenbacks and
silver are deprecated. This is in
comparing them with gold, or, rather,
making the estimate in gold coin in
the market. If they are compared with
the average prices of the staple COM
modities in the markets of the country
the expression would be true. The
greenback dollar will to-day purchase
more of the necessarieS ard comforts
of life than the gold dollar did twenty
years ago. The silver dollar, al
though cheaper than greenbacks in
the market. will do the same. The
truth is that gold has greatly appre-
ciated because of the enormously in
creased demand created by the vari-
Gus nations making it the exclusive
material out of which money should
be made. The increased market val.
ue of gold is artifcial--is made by
law. These laws are procured by
gold and bond rings manipulating and
| bribing the law makers. This refuteS
the idea, so often stated by specie
writer's, that the statute law has no
effect upon this gold, the mighty god
of Mammon worshippers. Their
statement is fearful mistake, a bare
faced falsehoOd.
1t needs no argument to show that
when the demand for any article is
increased, without correspondingly
increasing the supply of that article,
the price of it in the market is bound
to rise. 1t is also clear what this
point is to enhancing the value Of
gold as commodity. When this ma
terial is the only substance that can
be used to make the money to pay a
debt bearing legal rate of interest.
those who have to pay the debt are
compelled to do many more days
work, and turn over much more of the
products Of labor to pay it than they
otherwise would. A gold dollar coin,
which costs to-day ST. .O7 in the mark
ct in labor, will pay only one dollar Of
the debt that is to be paid in gold.
1t will pay no more debt than the law
makes it legal tender for. 1t is a
legal tender for one dollar in pay
ments and no more. A greenback
dollar will do the same. They are
both good for their face, and no more.
The same labor to-day that would OBJ
tain $1,000 in gold, would obtain
81 ,O7O in greenbacks. The gold will
only pay 1000 Of debt, while the
greenbacks will pay sl,070. 1t is
easier for the farmer to pay his taxes
in greenbacks than in gold; it does
not take SO much Of the products Of
his toll. 1t is easy to see, however.
that the creditor would receive much
more to the value Of the products by
forcing the payment in gold, and
herein lies the point to the efforts Of
the creditor class, who are bending all
their energies and using every means
to force payment in gold. This shows
wherein labor is oppressed. The
creditor holds demand, the value of
. which Is fixed by law, and all the pan.
les and revulsions in the world will
2 not shrink it a farthing. The pro.
{ ducer, and the business man who pro-
Y duces and deals in things Of actual
value, the necessaries and comforts
Of life, does not have that fixed value
G attached to the commodities he han
$ dies. Their value is subject to the
:. ups and downs Of the market. These
t values may be shrunk, and when
= sirunken, more of them must be de.
$ livered to pay the debt, and herein
g Is the war to-day between the people
y and the money kings, which latter are
), the fund-holders or creditors. They
= are endeavoring to absorb all that il
y possible Of the products Of the people.
t This they call honesty. 1t Is clearly
i a Inisnomer. 1t is heartIess stealing,
Z downright robbery, to deprive the
z debtors Of larger amount Of prod.
ncts, through this legal manipulation
n than would have paid the debt at the
= time ii was made.
I The payment Of every government
i bond in silver to-day would deliver ia
Y the bondholder more of the products
n OF labor than the bond called fol
4 when issued. This is more than equi
+ IL requires. 1t is all that the iax
4 can require in justice, yet such pay
!. ment is denounced as reputation
2 The party who 80 denonnces it
: however, is either non compos men
It It's or knave. To require more thar
q was nominated in the bond is dishon
= est.