The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-02-19
THE FRIENDS OF SILVER
Enthusiastic Meeting at New York
TO Advocate the Free Coin-
age of the Metal.
Representative Men Of Gotham
Take Prominent Part in
tho Proceedings.
Warner, or Missouri, shows the Injustice
OF the Present Law and the
Need of Reform.

New YoRT, Feb. ls.-A mass meeting on
the silver question was held tonight at
Cooper Union under the auspices Of the
committee appointed by the National Sill
yrr convention at ~. Louis last fall. Gen.
Edward Curtis OF San Francisco, had tho
meeting in charge, and with him were Gen.
Warner, of Ohio, chairman of the national
silver committee, and ex-Assemblyman
Thomas Fitch, of Nevada. Gen. Curtis
called the meeting TO order and ex-Post-
MASTER -GeneralJame was elected chairman.
James made a brief address and said he felt
honored in being called 10 preside at the
meeting. His leaning. however, always had
been IN the opposite direction, but he was
in favor of free speech and wished 10 hear
both sides Of the silver question. The fol-
lowing gentlemen we're announced as vice
presidents of the meeting; Edward Pierre
pont, cx-Mayor Grace, John Thompson, IL.
lhurher. ex-senator Warner Miller, james
li Colgate. John Straiton, G. h. Cox. +. A.
Boyd and 4. Burns. All Of these were on
the platform except Pierrepont, Grace.
Miller and Thurber.
General Warner WIS the first speaker.
Ho said nothing would concern the people
more than money. He presumed that all
would concede as fact not TO be disputed
hat the present range of staple commodities
III the world wns ns low now as in lsis and
leI9, or before the gold discoveries in Cali
iornia and Australia. To-day to get dol
lar farmer has TO give three measures of
wheat and the manufacturer three tons of
iron 10 get as much gold as two measures
would exchange for in 1873. Is the change
IN the goods or in the measure2 There arc
the same number Of grains IN gold dollar
as in 1873. A change in money NAV
come by increasing or decreasing its
value, or in increasing or de
creaslng its weight. Take the period of
twenty-one years previous 10 1873, when
the production of gold and silver was ut tho
rate of Sl62,000,0OO. During that period
wealth increased AZ IL never did before.
There was an outburst of phenomenal
prosperity. In 1873 prices began 60 fall.
and they continued 10 fall and became less
than when gold was discovered. From 1873
down to now Germany Italy and the United
States have not only absorbed all the gold
that has gone into use during that period,
/ but have compelled the redistribution of
gold in other countries In three decades
the population will be greatly increased.
Where IL the money 10 come from 10 meet
the increased demandY But this is the
]
we TO stand thiSl Are the debts of the
world TO be discharged at the prices Of
products of the fourteenth century? No;
congress will be called upon 10 right the
wrong done In 1873 by restoring the coinage
of silver. Why. that act of demonetizinR
silver WIS no more justiiinble fhnn piracy.
Where Is the right Of one class TO change
the measure of anoiherY IL u had been
proposed 10 add another metal TO gold and
tn
cry out against the fraud. II IL any more
justitlable 10 change the measure IN such
way that IL would not be found outl IL
was done not for the benefit of the world,
but for the small minority.
Ex-Congressman Fitch followed Gen.
Warner. lie said there was no longer any
problem Of honest finance, but il was only
rascality that seems TO tanRle up the multi
plicatiOn table. Ii IL the truth, he said.
that the value Of all things should be meas
nred by money. and money by its quantity.
Whatever might be said of proper money
inhations, no instances could be recorded
In MI the history Of the civilized world
where injury TO industries Was done by tho
increased coinage of gold and silver. This
Is because IL is an initiation which in the ma
ture OF things would be a benefit TO its pro-
ductiOn. In 1865 at tho conclusion of the
civil war, the industries of the south werc
prOstrated and the industries of
the north unsettled and perturbed.
From 1865 TO 1873 we were
busy knitting up the industries that
the war had unravelcd and creating and re-
creating homes all over the country. There
WIS no reason for interference in this work.
There was no reason for demonetizing sill
yer. An explanation has been offered, but
the truth IL gold monometnllism WIS jock
eyed into the federal statutes. II was IN
/ gartad tlerfIu bN frnu1 IL lind taan
stated that the omission of the mention OF
the silver dollar in the act of 1873 was the
result of nm accident. The engrossing
clerk in 1873 was an ndrOit and tnr-seeing
scolndrel, who was probably acting under
the direction and influence of Bismarck and
the German government.
! The growth OF this nation had been phe
nomenll, but the Industries had been cap
/ tufed by the few as fast as they had been
created by the many. II is slavery We have
to-day in the north AS we'll ms IN the south.
II is created and sustained by machine
more powerful and complex than
I that which our armies overthrow.
Labor runs the earth and hammers
il into ponderous forms aud glittering
blades. II Is the toll Of labor alone that
guards the nation from poverty and want.
Some one in the audience at one portion
of fitcl's speech asked how President Hnr-
rison stood on the question. Fitch in re-
plying suid that Harrison had disregarded
the silver plank IN the platform on which
he was elected. He might, however. in
time give the people justice. II might be
well, said FIT sh, Tor future presidents of
both plrtits 10 turn their eyes 10 the west.
The new states would soon turn the tables
on New York rs pivotal state. While New
York might continue 10 deal the cards. the
new states would take prominent part in
! the shuttle.