Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-09-19
GOLD AND SILVER.
A Strong Argument For the Single
Standard Basis of the Me-
tallic Currency.

The following from the Overland Monthly
Is the strongest and most complete argu-
ment IN favor of the single standard doc
trine that has yet come under our notice.
The REGIsTER, while not an advocate Of
this doctrine, desires to get at the truth
and presents to its readers this important
question in al its aspects:
EDITOR OVERLAND MONTHLY: The deter
mined opposition of most of the newspapers
of this Golden State" to the gold standard,
and their unWilingness to give q fair hear
ing to their opponents, has induced me to
address you, feeling sure that with your
well known sense Of justice, you will not
deny an honest advocate OF the gold stand
ard q limited space in which to argue his
side ofths question.
The confusion created (often intention
ally by the double standard champions, in
discussing financial affairs, by ~confounding
bimetsllism With double standard, coin with
bullion, money with wealth, etc, etc. the
harsh names which they heap on Us poor
gold-bugs; the prediction Of ruin to
every nation that does not implicitly
believe in their silver doctrine;-make
it difficult to calmly argue the case with
them; and | warn these silver enthusiasts
that any party using yituperation and proph.
ecy instead OF sound arguments, 10 doomed
to final defeat.
So many ADLER pens than mine have dis
cussed the matter, that / do not expect to
bring new or original arguments; but | will
try to set forth in plain language q subject
that should be understood by every man,
woman, and child, as it enters into q thou
sand daily transactions Of both rich and
poor.
The functions of the precious metals lex
cept what is used in the arts) are twotold:
firstly, as they serve as standard measures
of value; and secondly, as circulating me-
dia Of exchange, { E., money.
In their first capacity they may be COM
pared to other standard measures; for in
stance, 10 the standard measure of length,
the ward, or the standard measure Of weight,
the pound. These standards are clear and
simple, are understood by everybody, and
cannot be altered or doubled without great
inconvenience to the public. Anybody who
should propose, in the interest OF the public
welfare, to have two different ysrdstcks,
one, say, SO inches in length, the other only
30 inches: or two different pounds, one
weighing l6 ounces, and the other IL
ounces, would be looked upon with great
suspicion. Suppose that in answer to the
suggestion that this would lead to great
confusion and uncertainty, without CORE
sponsing benefit, this same person should
exclaim: Not at all Let the United
States Congress stipulste By
law that the 36-inch yard and the 30-inch
yard shall be equal in length, and that the
i6-ounce pound shall be equal in weight
to the l2-ounce pound, and al will be well"
We believe such q person would be consid-
cred ripe for the insane asylum.
And yet that is exactly what the advo-
Gates Of the double standard do say, when
we are told that the people need two differ
ent standard measures OF value: q 4l23
grain silver dollar, now worth about So cents
gold (by the laws of supply and demsnd)
and q rs +5 grain gold dollar, worth 100
cents in thessmarket of the world; and that
Congress can, By Law, make the two equal
in value. Congress can only keep silver or
paper money at par with gold as long as 1t
is willing and able to exchange the same for
gold on demand.
True, the 4l23 grains Of silver have at
times been equal in value to rs grains Of
cold, and even above il, and one Of the San
Francisco papers assures rs IN all earnest
ness II will be restored to its old value
again" II that well posted paper had kindly
gone a step further, and told US when that
t1ue would come, how long silver viii re-
main at the old value" when it gets there,
and what that "old value" is, thst would
certainly have been Q great help IN settling
the pending question. But there 8 the rub;
and even should an international commits
siou undertake to settle the relstive value
OF the precious metals, 1t would have to
adopt one of the metals as 9 stand
ard BY which to measure the other
in r~earrsnging this proportion from time to
time. Practically, therefore, We will never
have more than one standard at a time in
any country, and may as vel make up our
minds whether we prefer the gold or the
silver standard. Eventually, OF course,
trade and wages adapt themselves to any
standard; but the first effectof depressing
the standard is to place the lsboring and
salaried classes at q great disadvantage, as
tney CANNOT lnCLcocSlnon uohy . -
monthly salaries as quickly or as easily as
the merchant marks up the price of his
goods to correspond with the loWg none
tsry standard.
And now comes the question: Why
either gold or silver standaf2
Why not copper, or iron, or sTen
wheat or anything elss2 The answer i:
hat the hest skandsrd of value Ia that arti.
Gle which is east subjectto change in value
itself. If ~implSaaald be found ALSO
lutely free-b the most ~goo0stions Of supply
and deml b. Kings New DIE the ideal
standard Coughs aud Coda val arti
Gle Of unc $slh and save iie s9d 'ag,
tie most stem to the afflicted. Not oss
times 10 al t6vely cure ConsnmS4aon. bui
standard. IA Bsoachitis, Arioru Hosrse
skin as STAN affections GO New ct Ches!
and orpamef Weld at oncs f6@s9akoudsrfn'