The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-12-06
The Silver States.

1t is agreed by ard between Da.
kota, Washington and Montana that
their representatives in congress shall
unite with anybody and everybody to
secure the passage of a law which will
authorize and compel the secretary of
the treasury to coin an unlimited
amount of silver dollars. 1t was ex-
pected that they would take silver into
their confidence b cause the metal has
tirmer hold on the average citizen Of
the late territories than the average
citizen has on silver. But there are
other citizens living in the region of
gold mines, aid others who exc ont a
splendid existence on National Bank
notes, who are opposed to silver for
reasons more plentiful than dollars of
any kind in the pockets Of needy bor-
rowers.
The patriots in the gold mining dis
tricts assume the high and lofty posi-
ton that silver is base metal unwor-
thy of fellowship wi h the yellow coins
which the government manufactures
for the benefit of the owners of gold
mines. Those nearer the Atlantic sea
! oard who deal in Natio al bank is
sues are alarmed least the country NAV
be overwhelmed by a redundant issue
of m 'ney and pauperized in thus get
ting more silver dollars than the peo-
pie would know what to do with. As
to the objection raised by the "gold
bugs" the sllverites treat it with cold
contempt; but for the purpose of
quieting any fears which may exist on
the scare of an over coinage of money
which would impoYerish the people of
the eastern states should it be unload
ed upon them, they have scheme, old
it is true, but yet one well calculated
to ''6x things"
This scheme 10 ease the treasury, is
known as "the harbor and river i'm
provemens policy which, if carried
our, will leave the treasury vault as
empty of silver as the most reckless
silver worshipper could desire. There
are number of places in the north
west where there are available sites
tor rivers and harbors but which for
lack OF moisture are going into decay.
There are countless gorges and canons
steep enough to hold the largest ships;
they continue for miles and miles are
well protected from cyclones and trade
winds and in fact have every advant-
age except that OF water which never
comes except when it rains. There
are other streams not so deep nor so
wide, which, at times, have too much
water and then at other times are so
dry that the dust raised by the salmon
on hunt for drink becomes SO thick
as to imperil the lives of navgators.
Now, as these northwesterners saw.
why should these rivers and places for
rivers go dry and be dry wien the
government under the general well
fare clause" in the constitution could
make them 'roll, Jordan, roll 2" and
what kind OF a government is it any.
way that cannot make a few rivers
and hRrbors TO encourage the infant
industries of new born states?
What action congress may take in
the matter it is little premature TO
discuss at this time; but it is painfully
evident that the politicians of the new
states have firm grasp on the repub-
lican idea of paternal government,
and should congress fail to provide
them with water enough to gil up
their canons, gorges and gullies there
will he gloom galore sin the land of
the Dakotas, in the land of the way
offers. - Patriot