The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1882-03-01

passed the mt coinage act, and under
its provision the lirst standard silver dol
1ar Of 4l2} grains was coined. This Was
the dollar Of our daddies, !" and It held
it, place in the metallic currency Of the
country - an honored coin. At that
time and for many years afterward the
country was prosperous and happy and
knew neither national hanks. nor bond
holders. No one found fault with the
silver dollar. 1t was the measure Of
value for all commercial transactions,
gold not excepted. The gold dollar was
not known until lS49 or lS50,-we will
not be positive as to the exact date
The act which authorized its issue sta
ted that It should he of the value of u
dOllar-that is it shOnld he Of the value
Of the standard silver dollar of 4l:!!
grains, or in other words the amount OF
gold to be placed in tina: dollar was reg
ulated according to the value of the
gold bullion az measured by the silver
dollar. The ''dOllar Of our daddies' v a.
still the unit of value and held an hon
ored position beside the other royal met
al-go]d. In 1861 u great war broke out
over the land which destroyeda million
lives and absorbed billions Of treasure.
! TO meet the great demands made upon
its treasury the Government sold its
bonds to the amount of billion or two
of money. During all the long years of
strife and bloOdshed the silver dollar
maintained its proud position as the unit
Of value. 1t was the poor mans money
and the rich man did not discard it.
The war closed in 1865, and the pet,-
pie took u breathing spell. They began
to post up their books and make out
their balance sheets. They found upon
the one hand preserved union, but
on the other thousands ct desolatc
homes and a national debt vi nearly two
billion dollars hanging over them.
While the hearts Of the People were
drowned in sorrow over the loss .; loved
! ones the br2iE: Of the hGELnit;crs were
active in tevising plains to ::,sten this
Debt upon the people for :n indefinite
period Of tine. The FIRST st< = Was to OBJ
tain pledge fron! the nation that their
bonds should be aid in coin. This
pledge Was obtained 10y an act Of Com
gress in 1869. The next step was 10 de-
monetize silver ard thus make their
bonds payable in gOtd coin. The mat
ter was preached occasionally by al Or
gan or two Of the money power, but tho
idea Of demonetizing silver was met by
the people with such al outbu,s: Of
Indignation that the prime movers
were compelled to accomplish by fraud
or a rick, that which they found
it Impossible to compass openly. Tie
silver dollar WIS ut Il premium and in
all monetary transactions the measure
Of value. But this made 10 difference
to The money kings. Ii silver could he
struck down the pur. lia<in:: power Of
gold would lie increased and the nation
al hanks and the EOh,lllOldcts would I've
the gamers, anil hence their t@,!s resort
ell to one "ftbe most contcnlt;b!ct tricks
known in the history Of parliamentary
bodies to gain that end.
i;nw the trick was performed was
shown in the MIHE;: ct the 18th OF
january. We rcp,:.!i*h what we then
Said-nct for the benefit ii the i.f".'
li0"niv'H which Processes IN ''',.:vr
shrewd doubts" that we cv. + published
the 18th and 18th scrtion, "i the bill ~
itrrts! to--t!lat the rc:n!rr Ea,E he nh,il.-
died. Hfan episode i'll t:'.' history n:,:t
silver dollar Is tli>,:rcA F;,i t. ,!,e author.
ot the trick that .icnr'n.ti*cd il. as it
WAS disastrous to tie country. CHs:tr
the caption. "fiow Silver was DcMO,,r-
tiMd" tie Mt>Er said:
II Is well tx refresh our E,..:.tvie-
occasionally with Il mention ~. Tie nia::-
ner in which; silver w..S 'lrnlrslri.ZeG i'll
this country. We have seen the STATE
nleni made in uninfu;ine.! Journals that
the bill WAS under consideration for
three years. Thi-; j. untrue Coinage
bills were ',ytE,:.;n.l in Congress- tor ~nhi..
tiIn' previous to 1873. ;,ut wee i:c:d j.,
the is;:cl; ,yrp,:ad hy !hr;: prudent ,:,r-
ayers, who saw that tn. hour for the
cn",' was no: yet c',,c. Tic ni.: w!.i"I
finally did pass was Su.:HeH!>' >nrunv ,
tl,rn tn" committee. uEr az the Nit Nj
btrS Ct the committee G;c:.r:n: in Ga.
House, That i!r lau; never ,.r., tie III.
and Was sire i, was !,us :,.o,:r., 1T :,
FIJI: meeting. Il WAS rcvrr :.;.l in ~.
House. ami y vain warning. was ;:iv>,
"f an ell'ipavnr /" p..>s i: without the !.
House ;;ilDW!'lI what 4 N:l$ a:":ut. \
determined cisur: was ,,i:;i;. in the Sr.:-
ate. also. to prevent its i.:in;n There !
WAS no such debate uim! il as is inn ;
pOrtancr demanded, and there Was no
examination Of its mc:i.- in the public !
press. II Wa. forced :!r;Ms. ~ Y;.;.iuly :
and quietly rs l,:s~ii,!c. i; *.r:.:.., ~ !;
have been drawn wiz, the cxn:,>> rur-
lr'st Of ui~'.Msis.Gi..y vXn:nin:.. ION. II
WAS not entitled "A i,ill-to Dc:iunct.:c :
S;!vtv" that would lay. :,l::n.sd the ,
country ''li:>r:. fire bell il, the n;:.n' >" ;.
1t was entitled ~ BIZ! Relative to AS
SAYS and Mint:'--:in ..:,stru>. subject !
and ll"i calculated ~ ;.tE;,t attention. !
IT wa~ Il ~ II, IS the record shows, al ;
most as long as the c:;l.iis:' itself il Ia.i !
siNiy-ninc sections. rs n l@l!:nt IL lie ;
sc neral reader as an ed volume ct Pa ,
tent Office reports. CAREFULLY hidden :