The great West., 1889-12-20
ST.. PAUL, MIMI, DEC. 20, 1889

OF secretary WlnOOm prOpOSlIlOn
to settle the great silver question
feeling that he had practically offered
to put the currency into the hands OF
the bankers of the nation. Before it
was put in type the following vigor-
Gus article was received in the Waseca
County Herald. 1t speaks our views
precisely, and at less length. 1t is al
so free from the burden of tables and
statistics. SO we adopt it and re-
publish. When Mr.. Childs gets down
to write he generally wR1TEs-and
the following analysis is not the
least vigorous OF his editorials. We
have divided it into heads for the
greater convenience of the reader:
Mr.. WINDOWS Plan.
The Secretary of the Treasury, in his
message or report to congress, sub
mits a plan for the solution
of the silver question. 1t is no
doubt the result of much study,
and is summarized as follows:
"Issue treasury notes against de-
price of silver when deposited, pay
able on demand in such quantities of
silver bullion as will equal in value,
at the date OF presentation, the num-
ber of dollars expressed on the face
OF the notes at the market price of
silver, or in gold, at the option of the
the option of the holder. Repeal the
compulsory feature Of the present
coinage act"
There is no man in this country for
whose opinion we entertain higher
respect than for those of Mr.. Win
dom, and yet we can not quite see
the justice of his position nor the
soundness OF his theory.
His main proposition, that is to
say, the issuing of treasury notes
based upon silver or gold bullion or
coin is admirable. That must event
ually be the solution of the ''money"
question: in this country. The people
will not much longer permit few
men to control their money" but
will insist upon controlling it them
selves through the government.
That part Of his proposition is emf
nently sound.
But is his other proposition, name
ly, "to issue treasury notes against
deposits of silver bullion at the mar
ket price of silver" sound one IN
finance? Is it morally just or honest
for the government to do it's best to
depreciate the price OF silver or gold
bullion?
Mr.. Window is in favor of main.
tanning the value of silver, and rn+
by this plan, 1t SEEM s~o'
ernmep+ Is to us, the gov
. will do it's utmost to get
silver at the lowest rate.
PAY DEBTS AS CONTRACTED.
Let us look at the facts as they ex-
ist. We have an immense national
debt, state debts, county, city, town,
school district and private debts,
amounting to billions of dollars, every
cent of which to-day may be paid in
silver dollars containing 412h grains
of standard silver. That is our con-
dition as a people.
WAR AGAINST HONEST MONEY.
A few men, called capitalists, hold
the bonds of our people. They have
asked and still demand that silver
shall be demonetized. When they
commenced their battle against the
silver dollar it was worth from one
to three per cent. more than the gol(
dollar.
What have they done?
They have compelled las Mr.. Win
dom's own report shows) Germany
Denmark. Norway, Sweden, Eng
land, Portugal, in fact all Europe, tt
demonetize silver. 1t is and has beel
a conspiracy on the part of gOl,
gamblers to destroy silver and there
by rob the labOring millions of thei
productions.
What is Mr.. Windom's PROPOSE
ton?
Virtually this: The United State
will take advantage of this cOnspil
acy, reduce silver to a cOmmodit
and buy it in at as low a figure a
possible.
Would not that policy, on our part
be the straw that would break tn
camel's back and cause utter finaI
cial ruin?
Take another view; is it honest
This great nation proposes to jOi
the gold gamblers's conspiracy b
refusing to coin any more silver do
lars, thus "bear" the market an
buy silver bullion at a rate far belO,
it's ''mOney value"
THE GOVERNMENT AND NOT THE
GAMBLERS TO ISSUE MONEY.