The daily gazette., 1878-01-24
ST. LOUIS, Jan. q, 1873

G. p. johnson, Esq, Ed. Del. Gazette:
DEAR SIR:-Your own valuable paper
for sometime past has had some very able
articles on the financial question, and
l thought it would strengthen the cause
if you insert in your columns the
following article. They are the
views of distinguished Democrat of the
jackson school, and l think it very ap-
propriate that they should re-appear in a
paper among, if not the oldest, Demo
cratic journals in the country.
don't wish to appear as correspon-
dent but send the enclosed for the pur-
pose indicated and request that the article
appear in your next weekly. / cut the
same from the st. Lous Christian Adyo-
cate, a paper in the interest or the NJ. f.
Church South, edited by DIR. d. r. Nc
Anally. Yours truly.
THE SILVER QUESTION.
So deep and vital are the interests of
the whole people on this question that,
as q public journalist, we do not feel at
liberty to be silent until it is disposed of.
If the people will only arouse themselves,
examine, read and think, they may learn,
among others, the following facts: l..
That outside the United States there are
fifteen countries which use gold as cur
rency, or in which gold is the standard of
value. These fifteen countries, which are
Great Britain, Canada, Australia, Portu-
gal, Turkey, Persia, Brazil,t Argentine
Republic, Egypt, German Empire, Swe-
den, Denmark, Norway, Chill and Japan,
have an aggregate population of 180, ,450,-
900 people. Then there are thirteen
countries in which silver is the standard
of value; these are, Russia, Austria, Gen.
tral America, Ecuador, China, India,
Mexico, Per II, Columbia, Tripoli, Tunis'
Holland and Venezuela, and these have
an aggregate population of S76, 100000.
Then, thirdly, there are seven countries,
Belgium, Bolivia, France, Greece, Italy,
Spain and Switzerland, that have BIZ
metallic standard, both gold and silver;
and these seven have an aggregate popu-
lation of 9O, ,500, 900. Now let us add the
United States to the bi-metalic countries
and the case will stand thus:
Population under gold. ....... .18O, ,450, 900
Population under silver ........8 .876, 200 600
Popu'tion under gold & silver. 1872, 800 600
So YOU perceive that while 1870, ,45O 900
people use gold only as the standard of
value, and / 1,009, 200 900 people who use
mixed standard, or silver only.
We have made out these estimates
fIom data believed TO be correct and ~
liable; and if they be correct, as we<se-
ieve they are, then what shall we think
or say of those who tell u> that gold is
the standard of value for the world?
Are they ignorant OF the facts in the
case? or are they trying to impose upon
us? 1t is clear that the great mass of
mankind use silver as the standard of
value; and even in those countries where
gold is only the standard, silver Is coined
and used in all the daily transactions of
life.
Mexico, South America and Asia use
silver exclusively I; and these are the
countries in which we are at present
most interested for the extension of our
trade. Yet the remonetizing of silver in
this country Is violently and persistently
opposed. Why? A cotemporary jour
nal answers the question in the following
language, and more pertinent or true
answer could not be given:
"The opponents of silver oppose 1t, not
because it is not in common use through
out the world, but because its remoneti-
cation in the United States would cut
down the profits of the Eastern money
lenders, by making metallic coin plenty
and accessible at cheap rates to all who
desired to turn 1t to productive account.
That is the true secret of their opposi-
ton"
That is the true state of the case and
let the people now demand of their rep
resentatives and servants in Congress
that they at once remonetize silver or re-
sign and give place to others who will care
more for the public veal This the peo-
pie must do at once, or prepare them
selves to become the "hewers of wood
and drawers of water" to monied oil
garchy There is no time to be lost.
Bank presidents, money lenders, bond
holders and spectators in gold are ear :