The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1886-02-06
THE SILVER QUESTION-THE
QUESTION OF THE HOUR.

QUESTION OF THE hOUAa'
EDITOR KEYSTONE In a recent
issue of one of the HALEY papers
Ketchum is urged to wheel into
line on the Chinese question, give
John his walking papers and bid
him peremptory God-speed to
other "fields and pastures fair. 4"
Our town has been somewhat slow
to move in the matter, not because
it fails to appreciate its importance,
but possibly, because the odious
Heather are not numerous enough
here to dignity an agitation against
them. The sentiment of this COM
munity, l take it, is-as it should
be in every healthy American COM
munity-undoubtedly anti-Chinese,
and ready to discontenance any
class, from whatever quarter OF the
globe they may hail, whose only
object here is to drain the country
of much of its wealth and leave
nothing in return therefor but their
hideous vices; who are here with
no intention of becoming citizens
and whose precepts and practices
are inimical to our institutions.
Admitting all this, is there not
question of greater and more press
ing moment, which Ketchum might
well agitate at this time? l refer
to what is commonly called "the
silver question" Among many
weighty subjects of legislation now
pending in Congress there are none
half SO important as this-none so
fraught with veal or woe for the
nation. It's significance is not fully
appreciated Briefly, the question
is this: Shall a few money hand
lers of Wall street control the
finances of the Government, and
for their personal gain expand or
contract its currency at will, or
degrade silver money that gold
money, of which they hold the
! bulk, may acquire an abnormal
value and purchasing power-to
the serious harm and impoverish-
ment of the people; or shall the
people, through their representa-
tives in Congress, regulate then
finances? Shall the fiat of these
moneyed nabobs determine just
how much bread and meat the dol
lar Of the laboring man shall pur-
chase; or shall Congress give &
stable and unhuctuating value tc
our money? The question is 6
momcntous one and the adversary
, alert and powerful. It therefore
: behoovcs every city, town and vii
lage in the land to bestir itself, anc
J not sit with folded hands, silen
\ tongues and impressive front
watching the conflict. Rousin9
meetings should be held plain ant
! emphatic resolutions adopted anC
. speeches ringing with no uncertain
s sound delivered. Such means vii
:, give a strong moral aid and sup
port to our champions in Con
gress, nerving them to the fray, and
ut the same time, have no mcal
= bearing in checking the disastrou
Ito the people, game of the Wal
. street conspiritors. We, here il
: Ketchum, are vitality concerned i
the matter, for, in addition to tn
other considerations, silver minin
: is our chief industry and silver on
:, mainstay and support. If, there
fore, agrecably to the behests c
the Haley paper we should ag
IL tate any question, by all means, IL
u it be the silver question.
It ORLANDO b. BATTES.
l. KETcUUM, February 2, 1886.
The area embraced in the limit
-, of Union county seems to be ric
:, in precious stones, minerals, an
n substances of every kind. Beside