The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-10-11
me SILVER QUESTION: AGAIN.

DoWn 10 ioiop until Whcu tlo SILVER CUl-
lar was the unit OF valle, and WHEN
was pasred that crsttily drafted bill,
known as INSTRUMENTATION Ast," 1,
was as positive apriviloge and right to
thcso citizens as it was the duty of tina
government 10 have gold coin. Rvsn
that act did not dsmon.tizs the old
silver dollar, or any of the fractional
silver coins Of standard weight issued
prior 10 1858, the year when
gold alone bscams legal
tender, excepting silver in pay
ments OF sums of $500 and io.s. The
Congress had the right TO do this, for
it may, at any time, change either the
name or weight, or both, OF itz coins,
aud thua regulate their value. But
Congregs, we csntsns, should novor
have passed th,t law. IL reads thua:
"Fhe gold coins Of tho United States
nhall boa one sollsr pi6oe, which, at
tho standard weight of . $40 trains,
shall be the unit of value. The silver
coins OF tho United States shall be e
trade dollar, half dollar, quarter
dollar and dine; providing tbss 10
other gold or silver Going shall he la
sued except as set FORTH" etc, and:
"rhs gold coins OF tho Usitod States
Bhsll be legal tendsr at their nominal
vAlue," and: "Tho silver coins ahall
be y legal tender for any
amount not exceeding five dol
lars for any ono ehyment."
1t deprived the silver dollar both OF
its legal tonder quality and its unit of
vslae quality, aud transferred the lat
ter quality to tho gold dollar. IL also
virtually abolished tho old ailvsr
dollar.
In 1878 tho "Remonotizatlo Act"
was passed, partially restoring the
white dollar by authorizing its coin
ags st 4l2la grains standard silver, ana
further authorizing a ooiuage of sill
yor OF not less than s2,0,O,OOO worth or
moro than 81, 100000 worth per month,
and making the same legal tender at
their nominal vsluo Tor oil debts and
dues.
Che original mint act which estab-
lished tho ooinsge system was passed
In 1902, which made tho silver dollar,
containing 37lH grains pure silver, tho
unit of value, tatal weight dl6 grains,
though this Was changed in 1887 TO 4l2ll
grains, or 37lA grains pure silver and
Az grains copper as alloy; in other
words, 0-10tha fine. Tho gold end all
yer legal relations by fh3 Act of 1902
wsg rs to Is. Aud ihls ws.a continued
uatil 1884, when the wei sht Of tao gold
COMA was reduced TO thsratio Of l6 to l,
In 1910 the coinage of the gsld dollar
was frat authorized, and of % % 100
grains pure metal and 25S-le0 grazing
alloy, mskingo l0Lhs iineness, or stand
ard.
Tho foregoing is substantially ths
history OF tho silver and tho gold legal
STANDARD changes. Now, Ia all thnt
long period of time, and through all
our mutations, political, OWL, war OK
tromss, etc, the white noney has
maintained it's honorable record In the
true interest OF our national welfare.
This cry Of an eXcess Of money, IL thia
coinage continues, il tho cry Of those
who arc tho crsditor neCtion, and, o,
such, are seeking for higher interes,
figures. Initiation and plethora come
only from supsrsbundance of credit
mouey,and we wlll take all the chances
Of such thing from excessive
coinage. From 1878, when the "Silvor
Coinage Act" went into operation, 10
1865, thcro We're coined OF silver dol
lars, souo S296,s00, coo, of which some
;iO,0OO,00s are now in current ust; $780,.
eOO,0tO The treasury holds IA against
coin certificates; snd some S65,OO0,C0
aa available or the payment Of gov,
ernmcnt iut~b'sdnooa. The average
coinsgo o. 7''v'r dollars for the
aev0n year ~ $23,OOO,OOo Now
the railroad usga Of tails oouu-
try Ter iuis .lr was Sl75,CO ,0Cl
paid lest ycac on total ooht OF
nearly ioOo,OOO.OOO, Thus il
eppaera we have coined silver
enoagh n y little more thar
six years to pay only d ono yosr's ran-
road intorol4 indebtedness. Need any
body, ia Wow OF such condition oil
things, be uneasy about q "plolhocs'
Of silver money?
Bat va arc told that "tho silver dol.
lar whose actual valuo Is but - cent.
with no permit 10 rodoom in gold, Is ,
irauo,n etc. Now, tho reply % this 1,
simply that the govorsneut issues noI
ona dollar worth Less chan 100 conls
The allver dollars are "gool Tor an
debts aud du0s, public aud prlVete.'
The coin Is of full weight and standard
fnenesa. But 70 IA net for tho gov
ornment 20 guarantee the pur
chasing power OF any coin. Th,
people tako thi, dollar; that is fact
and that they win continue 20 take Il
is snothor fact 20 bo certainly re.
cordsd, despite the Eastern banker,
VITA bursting vaults. Ia tho past, or
tbs bssis Of l6 TO |, silver left thi,
country, the Europcau ratio boing
l5ji TO l, or3 por cant. profit BY CA.
poTtatlon and rG.colnage in Europe
fnow ve ineresso the weight of tn,
silver dollsr, would We no, bs ssllln,
our nilvcr too choaply,and would it moi
gradually leave us9 II, after
time and truo experiment, gold
should DO still OF excessive do
msnd, and It shall bcgin taking
it'd departure, we may reduce tho rat,
OF the gold coins, say about . por cont.
TO correspond with the European ratio
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