The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1891-10-24

respectable silver in the mud, and de
monctiZatIOn friends are now kicking
it for being dirty. Demonstration
should be kicked for bcfouling silver,
not silver for being bcfouIcd. Demon
rtizc gold and rcmonctIzc silver and
see how quickly The two "dollars''
would change places in the catalogue
of ''diSh"nrsly." The gold would then
he the fellow To drive silver "all out
of the country"
From lSlO-thc earliest quotations
W" can iind-down to lS73-silvpr was
dcm"nctizcd in this country III 1872
the price of silver per fine ounce WAS
almost aS unvarying rs the north star
Here are few random quotations but
fair samples of all. In 1910 the price
was %l.323; in 1871, l.314; in 1913,
%l.3l9; i'll 1880, Sl.3lG: in 1850 81 .34I
III 1860, - .Sj2: in 1868, 81 .3iS: in
1870, ~ .32S; in 1872, &l.322. These
quotations show conclusively that sill
Yer was not dcmomctizcG because it
was ''cheap and nasty and It's rapid
decline from 1874, when it was quoted
81 l.2IS To 1889, when its AVERAGE value
was SO.9jG, was mqucStiOnabIy due to
its dcmomctIzation, to the waIlowing il
pot in the filthy pool of debtor deS-
pOliation.
Confirmation of this last assertion is
found IN the fact that the output Of
precious metals in the United States
is not increasing. There is more silver,
il is true, but less gold. The produc-
tion of gold and silver in this country
i'll 1860 was $50 per capita: in 1870
81 60; in 1880, II 80; in 1890, 81 30.
Since we must have Il s.specIe basis, -
surely that basis was not becoming TOO
large for the increasing business of the
country, and was not likely to soon
Justify the issuing of more money than
would be necessary to ssdo the business
of the country on Il cash basis The
imfamy of subjecting the country to Il
single standard, and that Il gold
one, is emphasized by the fact that
| from 1860 to 1890 our annual prOduc-
ton Of gold has declined from $1.63
to 53 cents per capita! A fine sspecie
basis that, particularly for the credi-
tor class, whose dearest interest it is to
make as scarce and valuable as possible
the dollars that are due it.
The truth is, and it may as well be
understood at one time as another,
that silver was demonetized simply to
give the creditor class tighter grip on
the debtor class, to intrench more
strongly that capitalism which was and
is remorselessly preying upon legiti-
mate business interests and productive
industry.-Farm, Stock and Home.
Missouri Road Making.
| COlcman's Rural World
The late road grader contest ut Mex
leo was the first public acknowledge
that we need and must have better
roads.
Governor Francis committed himself
upon the question OF additional legisla
ton if necessary to secure the desired
end.
Will the representative taxpayer,
and business men of the state urge thi.
| bhNSliph 40 put vi lllt SilDltClS lUI uIlt
especial session. If not done nov
two years of time will be lost. Why!
\ system of graded or rock roads can
not be built under the common roat
law. They never have been built b,
such law in other states.
What is needed is: First.-Our com
mon road law with some changes tC
improve or work the roads we now
have.
Sccond.-A special act for building
roads either gravel, rock or macadam
so made rs to be accepted by sucl
communities as want 1t, and such II
do not want it do not have to accept il
Tbs courts in other states have de
cidcd that Il local law of this kint
could be made operative without con
stitutiOnal objections, and thousands O
rock and gravel roads have been sc
built.
As to the present methods of work
ing roads there was very general ex
preston that the present system was ;
..back NUMBER
a representative from Audrain said
81 think the whole system of road
making IN this state should be changed
Instead of the present plan of taXpay
ers putting in II day with the overseel
simply to get Il receipt for his taxes
pass Il general law that will enable
those counties which want and neeC
better roads to let out by contract th
making of roads, and | verify believ
that what is now Dail OyprseprS WOul,
alone be sufficient to keep the roads in
excellent condition. The present plal
of road making was born of SLAYER
and the times demand more advance,
IDEAS