The Mineral argus. [volume] (Maiden, Mont.) 1883-1886, 1886-03-25

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To be more exact and taking the last
estimates Of the siatisticians and bringing
them down to this year. by adding the
output Of the II ines to that date. the
amount of money in the world Of the two
metals now is respectively ms follows:
Gold. ....... ......................S3 ,5l3,U0M0
silver ...-.. ....... ............ a,'"'NU'""
This gives about ~ per cent Of gold and
52 per cent of silver as the worlds ratio.
Since their first discovery there never
has been any great disparity 10 the output
of the two metals. Sometimes the annual
production Of the one exceeded the 9TH
er, but Ultimately about the same proper
ton is found in both The fact is not al.
together strange: they are bound together
in their native or primitive state by an in
diss0luble tie. No instance Is Of record
where one was discovered without the 9TH
er was present. In some degree they ere
chemically combined, wherever found and
this Is suggestive of an important fact 10
the consideration of this question.
assert II to Ike true that one fourth of
the gross value Of our silver ores il gold
chemically combined with silver. and one.
fourth il copper chemically combined with
silver, and that the cost ard expenses of
extracting either would not justify its min.
ing and production where this condition
exists, ii 1t were rot for the value of the
other. This is factor that seems 10 have
escaped the attention Of the monOmetallists
In their attempt to establish gold stand
ard. What is the certain and inevitable
result? While the gold mopOmetallists are
tightening their grasp upon their gold by
destroying silver they are strangling and
eliminating 25 per cent of the production
of their fsvorite metal, which they pro-
pose to make the yardstick of commerce,
thereby adding 81 per cent more to the
purchasing power of boarded gold. But
these are not the only elemeats which go
to enhance the value Of gold. As shown
by the report of the Director of the Mint,
nearly the entire annual production of
gold goes into the arts and manufactures,
thus increasing the purchasing power OF
coined gold.
Later on We will see who has the gold of
this country and whose fortunes will be
multiplied while millions of the debtor
class gfoan and toll and sweat under the
contraction which must follow. if unhap-
PLY they ever succeed in their unholy pur
pose.
Our legislation on this subject ought 20
Dc Ill tCttIu Will tuc StuStltutlbu
That instrument mentions only gold and
silver as real money. 1t does not discrim-
mate against either. A fair aud honest
administration and enforcement OF exist.
ing laws would long since have gone far
to demonstrate the perfect equality of
value between gold and silver as "a circu
laing medium. There is community of
interests among the people ia uphOlding
silver against the control and manipulation
of those who would destroy il. Their
words are but the echoes of those who
stand behind and direct q crusade, the sue
cess of which would be as destructive rs
the fatal touch of the upas. These obser
vations find support in the fact that this Is
undeniable.
A SILVER, WHEAT AND COTTON PRoDUc-
ING COUNTRY.
Demonttize silver, or what Is equivalent,
suspend its coinage, and even under exist
ing law our currency Is contracted S2i,-
600 0C0 annually and the price Of silver
would fall % per cent The price Of cot
ton and wheat would make the same de-
cline, because the price obtained for the
surplus fixes the value of the whole crop,
and the price of the surplus sold in foreign
markets would be reduced by the compe-
VI tuc anu COttcu III
the Orient purchased with silver which
the British bankers and merchants have
obtained at discount Of % per cent. from
the miners of the United States. because
the suspension of lis coinage decreases the
demand. Let US pause for a moment and
inquire who have originated and conceived
this proposed annihilation Of silver.
IL can find no well-guarded support in
those whose aims and aspirations are To
promote the public welfare: no voice of
encouragement is heard from the great
grain or cotton producing sections of the
country. No representative or champion
of labor or Of the toiling millions rises in
this forum to join in the cold -blooded leg
islative assassination of this twin sister of
gold. From whence, then, comes this
alaim? Is it not patent that the capitalists
of Great Britain and their allies in America
have been instrumental in directing this
attack upon silver producing countries
with the view of reducing the cost of our
great staples Of production? In other
words, the less the price of silver the less
the cost of wheat and cotton raised in
India and Africa for British consumption,
and which would be taken in exchange
for our silver purchased at q deprecated
price.
1t has been fairly estimated that the
debt paying power, or In other words the
purchasing power Of wheat. cotton and
silver bullion. would be reduced fully
500, 0OO, 600 If suspension of silver coin