The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1891-08-08
Muddled Over the Silver Question.

able to cope with the silver problem
Accordingly the brightest and best
informed of that section become
hopelessly muddled the moment
they touch that metal. Even the
New York World, which appears to
be willing to give the best informa-
ton. pro and con, within its reach
on other subjects, abounds in the
most vicious twaddle extant about
the free coinage of silver, proving
either that it knows nothing OF the
matter and is too stupid to learn,
or that it is under the government
of Wall street usurers and specu-
lators, and therefore an instrument
in the robbery of labor. For, un-
fortunately, there are in this coun-
try two classes-a ruling and a
ruled class. The ruling class. whose
seat of power is in Wall street, live
by bulling and bearing the markets
and other usurious and sharp prac-
tees. Their wealth, which is very
great, is inverse to their numbers,
which are small. They have seized
upon all means of transportation
in the country, and upon the tele-
graphs, telephones, manufactures
and coal mines, and even the means
of illumination; and where irriga-
ton is necessary to the successful
cultivation Of the soil, they are fast
absorbing the water necessary for
that purpose. They also hold the
evidences of the country's indebted
ness-which debts they caused to
be contracted-and on which they
annually gather many millions in
usury. And thus it has come about
that the larger class-the farmers,
mechanics, miners, artisans and
wage earners-have become depend
ent upon and vassals to the small
class; and thus it has come to pass
that those who earn all and pro
duce all, enjoy nothing; must even
submit to see their wives degraded
into beasts of burden and their chill
dren grow up in ignorance and
slavery, while the few, the pampered
lords of government favoritism,
earning nothing, have everything
live insolent lives Of oriental lux
robustness, lascivity and splendor.
It was at the instigation of this
small class and for their benei,
that silver was degraded from a !
money metal to a commodity-a
thing of merchandise. Previous to
that act of robbery silver had been
recognized and used as money in
this country from time immem orial.
During all that time it had stood
side by side-value for value-with
gold, showing no signs of huctua
ton or depreciation. During all
that time it was the preferred money
of the larger or laboring class, be-
cause it was the only money with
which change could be made, and
because the smaller denominations
in which it was coined enabled the
poor, who have but little money at
BEST, to get that little when it was
lue them in cash; whereas, they
are now compelled to accept their
lucs in goods at the masters store,
and to pay from five to fifteen per
cent more than the competing mer
chant near by would think of ask
ng for articles of similar quality
md value. SO the whole saystem
IS we'll as the particular act of de
nonetizing silver is one of injustice
md robbery.
But it may be asked: "How could
he small class be more benefited by
he demonstration Of silver than
he large CLASP" This question has
'een answered incidentally in what
las been stated above; but to make
still more clear to the reader it
nay be stated that the fewer dollars
here are in circulation the more
Wheat, corn, beef, mutton, wool, etc.,
t takes to pay debt, or to buy a
on of coal, gallon Of oil or a yard
# manufactured cloth; and since
he small class own all Of these, as
vas stated above, of course they
nd not the debtor and consuming /;
lass are the benefciaries of this, as (,
f all other class legislation; and !.
aving control of the government {
s they have, it may be safely cal +,
ulated that no legislation will be
ermitted that is not in their inter- I
st, except such as is wrung from
heir fears of some determined pop !
lar uprising. The reconciliation /
silver, therefore, will be conceded
y these people only to such de-
,rmined demand from the public as
ill make refusal hazardous. The
lends of silver must not only make
plain that their demand is based
pom the plainest principles OF
putty and justice, but that they
i'll no longer submit tamely to the
rime Of demonstration. At no |
me in the history of the world
ave men voluntarily surrendered
n advantage over their fellows ex-
spt at the lannon's mouth, and
ne sharks Of plumber in this coun- {
" are in nowise different from the I
anne class in any other country or