The semi-weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1891, 1890-09-27
GREAT FALLS TRIBUNE.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 81. 1880.
Democratic Ticket.
For Congressman,
W.. W. DIXON.
PARIS GIBSON.
WHO ARE THE FRIENDS or
SILVER?

No one can question the fact that the
republican party has been the debaser
and destroyer of silver as a money and
for the information of the esteemed
Leader we would like to throw a little
of the light of history on the subject.
In 1878 the republican party had full
control of the government, with a repub-
lican majority in the house, a republican
majority in the senate and a repub-
lican president at the helm. At that
time silver was on a parity with gold. 1t
would require 800 in gold to buy 100
silver dollars and silver was then worth
more than $1.29 per ounce. Now what
did the republican party do TO show their
love for the white metal? They enacted
a law demonetizing silver, providing that
no more silver dollars should be coined
and that silver half dollars, quarters and
dimes should not be a legal tender for
any sum exceeding $500. The natural
result was that bar silver dropped in
price to about 80 cents and us not a
silver dollar wal coined for several years,
a stringency IN the money market en-
sued, hard times cane on, the country
was filled with tramps and bankruptcy
and distress were rife from one end of
the land to the other.
Under the leadership of Congressman
Bland, the democrats, as soon as they
gained control of the house, passed a bill
restoring silver to Its former standing as
u money, which included its free coinage
at the mints. This measure the republi-
a enate refused to accept, but finally
an amendment bill passed both houses,
providing for the coinage of not less than
S2,000,000 nor more than $4,000, 900 per
month, at the option of the secretary of
the treasury. This bill was vetoed by
the fraudulent president, Hayes, but it
was passed over his veto, a few western
republicans joining with the democrats
in overriding the veto.
In the present congress the demo-
Gratis stood solldly IN favor of
the free coinage Of silver. The
Wall street bullion redemption bill
passed by the house was amended in the
senate so as to provide for free Coinage
and give silver an equal standing with
gold in our monetary system. The solid
democratic minority and a few western
republicans secured the passage of this
amendment in the senate. The free
coinage L.easure went to the house and
through the influence of Speaker Reed
and other republicans 1t was defeated.
The democrats of the house voted almost
solidly for free coinage while 1872 rerub-
licans voted against it, defeating the
measure. Had it not been for these enc
mics of silver, it would today be selling
at T1.29 per ounce instead of $1.13.
These are simply the facts of history
and cannot be disputed. They show in
the c%learest possible light who are the
friends ana who the enemies of silver.
Through all the years of democratic rule
in this country, as a money silver was in
all respects the equal of gold. 1t was
the republican party that debased and
it,casting it aside as unworthy.
Since that evil day the democrats have
beer unceasing in their efforts to restore
the "dollar of our daddies" to its rightful
place,and have always been defeated inthls
purpose by the republicans. While the bill
recently passed has advanced the price of
silver to $1.15, if the democratic measure
OF free coinage had prevailed the price of
today would be $1.29.
Who are the friends and who the enc
mics of silver?