The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-11-11

IceOuTCcS vi Cne IIOcky mountain regions II
our land was of itself sufficient to spur tn
Government and it's representatives t,
employ all their wisdom, experience an
diplomacy in securing such action by thos
conferences as would lead to the establish
ment OF a bi-metallic currency which would
be accepted as a fixed value everywhere.
The adoption OF some suck plans as hav'
been recommended by the United States il
the only means that the country can escap'
from the dilemma, into which the rapidly in
c~reasing annual output OF our silver mines
has plunged it.
Silver, like every mineral or metallic sub
stance, except gold, has had and will have
a mere speculative value, until it's relative
purchasing properties with the most costly
metal, used for coin, is definitely liked
Much complaint has been made by silver
mining operators because Congress has not
taken steps to settle the value OF their
product, and they are very loud in their
denunciations of the authorities whenever
it happens to be rumoreo that the coinage
OF Bland dollars is to be discontinued. Con
gressional legislation upon this subject
would prove of as little effect as the Pope's
bull against the moon, for the reason that
it would keep all the silver extracted from
our mines in the country, and besides that
it would cause all the silver mined in other
parts OF the world to flow into America.
Such action would necessarily fix the
value OF silver at a higher figure than
it is worth elsewhere. 1t will, therefore, be
readily seen that relief by that means would
at the best be merely temporary. The de
mand for export having ceased the
great influx OF the same commodity from
abroad must depreciate its value. What
then will be the result? Nothing shorter
than q financial deI.. ~
hal any other experienced since the III
nation OF the Government.
The coming and issuance of silver dollars
after the home demand is supplied will also
depreciate the value of that coin unless
there should be an exchange price for it
abroad corresponding, or nearly so, with
that at home. This is a very plain and
simple proposition. The coinage willdoubt-
less be continued for some time to come,
because it has been clearly %demonstra ted
that the demand is far from being supplied
II the per cent. per C a pita in foreign coun
tries in excess OF the circulation in ours is
any criterion. The fixed value OF gold ali
over the world is owing to the fact that it
has been regarded for centuries as the
standard OF exchange between nations. and
ii, therefore, silver can be made by agree
ment or compact between the principal
governments, to stand side by side with
gold there will be a stop put to it's fuctua-
ions to crafty the grasping desires O fspec-
An English pound was originally |
The value OF a pound OF silver, which was
equal to $40 pennies, but it is now merely
regarded as a denomination in the currency
ables OF that country, just as the dollar,
and cent are in this country. Its
'alue was fixed long before the silver mines
II South and North America commenced
pouring their rich products into the laps of
great maratime nations. 1t is now es-
lmated in value by the gold standard.
Metallic money, other than gold, coined
n one country, has no greater purchaseable
vi CAtu Uuc substance |
Il which it is composed is intrinsicallv
'orth, except where it can again be en-
loyed as a medium OF exchange with the
overnment which issued it, or it's mer-
IN the payment OF obligations due
Ii it is admitted that such is the s
ase and there seems to be no reason RI
eny it, then there can beno remedy forthe !
1ectual settlement of the silver question :
lher than that OF the establishment OF q I
currency, which will fix the value /
that metal abroad as well as at home. I
The journals OF the Republican party l.
aving, it appears, no other excuse +
growl, have been busily employed g
'er since the defeated Mr.. Blaine. p
attempting to fasten the RESPONSE $
lily OF the unsettled condition Of =
value OF silver upon the Democracy. Tn .
is they have failed, just as ingloriouslv as
es nave IN every other effort made by
EN- to cover up their own stupidity. Mr.. I
eVe'and had scarcely taken the oath Of
nce ana assumed the responsibilities of the
than he commenced to CON-.
'er ana ADOPT the only feasible conrse ;
al would lead to a permanent settlement :,
the question. Early in Nav last ho " "
pntlzed Hon. Manton Marble of New in
a gentleman Of culture, well versad tt
monetary matters, to proceed to Eurona tt
u confer with the authorities in England d d
"n'e ano germany, and ascertain their -,
rposes In respect to the establishment r. st
OF the fixed relative v,lra &c
tween the two metals, gold and s;lvar in
- was done In order that the President :.
gnu De fully advised as to the probabilitv ~
'h''Se'ng the cooperation of those Gov.
ie.'S ~ some practical plan to carry pr
. MIS- cherished design of a bimata11;, Re
which in his judgment can alone ia
~ the anxieties and remove the ao,I.o ~
4 uncertainties prevailing in the minds ~
OF miners in this country. Mr.. Marble
,e'ufheo' n the President, throuoh s
9e'fe'ary Oh State, has been informed Mi
'ne results OF his confidential mission w
valuable information will enahle NJ. int
'e'and to submit, in his first massaao4 G Gu
r.ss, soch valuable suggestions and tic
, lamentations, which, il needed. viii -
: 20 legislation, that will meet +ha
-, lanus OF the whole people depend;ns
- the silver industry, and rena, +hs -
ers'ons OF his political opponents an me BA
w mat the President ia on ~ '
~ OF blmetallic union, such 90 :
! to that precious metal a nerm oan E.
tly fixed value. perma-
can buy seven 49,. - on