The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-05-29
Free Coinage of Silver.

bouy VIII likely be passed. III is Staten
that the President will not sign such
measure, however.
Be that as it may, there is evidently Il
growing sentiment i'll the country i'll
favor of the free coinage of silver. 1t is
recognized as the currency OF the people
and until 1873 performed the functions OF
legal medium of exchange. In that
year it was demonetiZed and stricken
from the legal tender coin of the coun
try. 1t was done, not in compliance
with any demand from the people of the
United States, but in the interest of the
bondholders, and those whose -Values
would be advanced by the adoption of
the single or gold standard of value.
1t was at a time when not only the imam
cial policy of the government, but the
government itself was controlled by in
tiuences emanating from a radius OF
fifty miles around New York. The
money power centered in that locality
dictated legislation, nominations, and
shaped election results. While its power
is still felt there has been an awakening
all over the country to the fact that
there are other interests to be consulted
| and other values to be considered, and
| that the great mass of the people have
some rights which it is the duty of Con-
| gress to respect.
1t strikes the common mind, not faIuil-
lar with the intricate refinings OF the
financial bulls and bears of wall street,
that the metal provided by nature for
the use of man and recognized from
time iinmemorial as money when con
verted from the crude state into coin,
ought to be dignified as such by the leg
islation OF Il country where one-half OF
the silver OF the world is produced. The
fact that the mints cannot coin more
than $50, 900, 600 year, ought to be suffi-
cient assurance that a superabundance
of silver currency will not be produced
that all the mints can turn out will be
thrown into the channels of legitimate
trade, and taken up to assist in the de-
velopment of our virgin forests and
mines, and add to the wealth, prosperity
and happiness of the people and the
| grandeur of the nation.
There is no question about the fact
! that the limited amount of currency in
circulation is hindrance to material
development, and check to that march
to industrial independence which the
/ American policy OF the Republican
! party is designed to consummate. Save
- ~
eastern centres of trade, there has never
been demand for a restriction in the
silver circulation. There has been no
common interests of the people that has
/ demanded it. 1t has been in Difference
to the financial magnates OF this country
and the monarchial governments of the
old country that silver has been disnon-
ored, and the currency of the people, SO
declared from the foundation of the gov
ernmen1t up to 1878, outlawed by lsgisa-
ion elnanating from government, pre-
snmed to have its source and power with
the people. Presidents and cabinets
have been influenced more or less by
conditions and facts existing in foreign
countries, rather than in their own, to
make war upon silver, and not until
1873, when the peoples representatives
placed their veto upon the vote of the
President, in the enactment Of the Bland
bill. was the wrong of 1873, demonetizing
silver, partially righted, and silver dig
nifed into legal currency. y
The effect of that legislation has been
RT 1 Il. =
as we did ourselves, that the partial
restitution of silver to its original digni-
ty as Il business medium, would work
disaster to the country. We had read
and listened to the awful prophecies Of
the lnnnQ-m etalists until we had been
thoroughly convinced that gold and
gold alone should be the standard of
value, and that any departure from it
would bring financial and commercial
ruin upon the country. We awaited
with anxiety the result. and 10 and be-
hold, instead of disturbing the channels
of trade and currents of business. it has
only added TO their volume and healtbful-
ness, and contributed to the material
development of the country. The fear
FIJI forebodings that were flooded upon
the people to frightef them into submis
sion to utterances and edicts coming
from the money centres, have ended in
smoke. The nation has gone on prosper
ing; the currency of the country has
performed its orderly mission; gold
and silver have worked side by side foi
I ~ -, I,
and to-day the long felt want of tbs
. people is that there is not enough OF
them to meet the developing conditions
accommodate the energies and capaci-
ties Of the masses, and push the country
/ forward to correspond with its hidden
resources.
The country wants more currency tc
stimulate development, to enlarge bust
/ ness, 10 stir the mental and physical re
sources Of the people, and enrich the
nation. 1t is just as essential and pro
per to encourage and appropriate the
silver industry of the country as it is tC
protect and foster any other industry
We should have an American tinancia
policy as well as an American industrial
policy; and have reference as much tC
: the development and utilization of the
one as the other in the legislation en-
, acted. They go hand in hand, and tbs
country will never reach that state OF
improvement and progress which nature
in her lavish provisions designed it should
until our products of silver, as well as al
other material resources, are brought tc
fuller development and made to do THEN
part in building up an American financial
and industrial system, adapted to the
wants and necessities of the county,
J and tributary to commercial and mate
rial independence and prosperity.
Centervllle Items
[Reported for the ViRGIaIaN.l
.Centerville is on a boom at this time. Two
1rst-class stores, a pOst-office, cabinet maker
blacksmith, ana boot and shoe shops, and new
buildings going up right along. Mr.. j. S. Picker
will soon have his dwelling completed, and Mr.
d. N. Fry has the lumber on the ground for a
fine barn 62 feet long. There is push and enter
prise now all along the line.