Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-13
Crushing the Toilers.

reducing its volume, so that when the gold
mines of California and Australia were pro-
duclng the largest yield it was proposed to de-
monetize gold. The motive of demonetization
In the case of silver as well as of gold was, Mr..
Jones said, to aggrandize the creditor class of
the world and to contiscate. so far as practical
Die. the rewards Of the hardy toilers
He spoke of the demonstration of silver by
Germany after her war with France as having
lnnlcted greater evils on her people than her
armies had inflicted on France: and said that
when it began to have its effect yeritabIe he
gira OF the German population began to take
place. II surprise were felt at the selfshness
t. oi sne privileged classes in Europe in demone-
tzing silver. what he asked, was to be said
In defense OF the United States in demonetiz-
ing silver? No such stupendous act of folly
and injustice, he said, had ever been perpe-
Lrated by the representatives of free people.
The United States was not a creditor nation.
Its people didn't own thousands of millions in
foreign bonds, so that they would be paid their
interest IN appreciated money Instead of that
demOnetlzatlon, helping to rob the credit or for
elgners, 1t helped them to despoil the debtors
IN America. In view of all the circumstances
In view Of the herculean difficulties with which
the nation was surrounded in 1879, the demone-
tization of silver by the United States had to be
regarded as one of those historical blunders
that were worse than crimes. 1t was the child
prolific parent OF enforced idleness, poverty
and misery. No better remedy could be applied
IMAM the absolute reversal of that legislation
and putting back the monetary system Of the
country to what 1t was before 1857.
50
Contra ction Congenls Industry.
A LII the natives of the earth nad used silver
as money up to 1919, when Great Britain
sundered the silver link that bound her to
other nations doing so for reasons of her own,
arising from her position as creditor of all ma
tions; but the industry of the English nation
became CONCEALED by reason of that contraction
of the currency. Within seven years thereafter
the number Of her land owners had been re-
duced, by reason OF forced sales from 100000
to 81. 900; and one out of every seven of her
population had had to live wholly or in part on
the bounty of organized charity. That had
been part of the price imposed upon the
English people by the creditor class.
In regard to the bill pending before the
Senate Mr.. Jones said that he had reported it
from the Committee on Finance, but that it
Didn't fully reflect his views regarding the rela-
tion which silver should bear to the monetary
circulation of the country or the world. He
declared himself at all times and IN all places a
firm and unwavering advocate of the free and
unlimited coinage of silver. In view, however,
subject, and the possibility that by reason Of
such diversity the session of Congress might
terminate without affording the country any
relief from the baleful and benumbing effects
Of the demonstration of silver, he had Joined
with other members OF the committee in re-
porting the bill. Under tbe circumstances
however, he wished to say that he held himself
free to vote for any amendment that might be
offered which might tend to make the bill a
more perfect measure of relief, and that might
be more in consonance with his individual con-
victions.
''The single gold standard men attempted to
brush aside the equities involved by sneering
at the debtors. Who were the debtors in this
country?' he asked. They were the aspiring,
"a fn1 tho ar1nr fhaa and1 fhny
were the up-builders, the designers, the men of
initiative of executive power, and of achieve
ment. They were the constructive force in
every community. As probably nine-tenths of
the business of America depended in one form
or other on credit, any system which made the
dollars of debt more valuable at the date of
payment than at the date OF borrowing was
system of robbery"
Unselfish Silver Miners.
He warmly defended the silver miners from
the charge of selfshness in desiring the |
reconciliation of silver. The silver miners,
he said, were as enduring, as eager. as vigor-
GUS, as adventurous as the argonauts OF old. |
They had wandered over painless mountains, |
across trackless wastes and alkaline deserts. |
They had braved the storms OF the Cape and |
the miasma of the Isthmus to plant the flag of |
a high civilization on the western confines OF |
the Republic. The silver miners had never
asked any favors of the Government and they
asked none now. Their calling was an honora-
BILE one, and needed no defense. They were as
brave unselfish and patriotic a body of men as
lived within the boundaries of the Union.
At the suggestion Of Mr.. Teller, Mr.. Jones
finishing his speech until tomorrow.
The scene in the Senate Chamber during the
delivery of the speech was a fair indication of
the great interest felt in it and the subject.
Senators from several States-Stanford, |
Hearst Stewart Teller and others-sat quite
close to Mr.. Jones and gave him their most
earnest attention. But an almost equal degree
of interest was shown by all the Senators pres
ent, every one of whom ION both sides of the
chamber5. wheeled his chair around SO as to
face the speaker. There was no conversation
lrdulged in no newspaper reading, no letter
writing; but during the three hours that the
speech occupied, every Senator appeared to be
paving the closest attention to it. The num-
ber al nersons in the galleries, however. was