West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1891-04-02

TO call an ''S3 cent dollar" Such
an impression 10 absurd. As long
rs the nations credit is worth any
thing, its money mus. be worth its
face value. Our Constitution de-
clares that Congress shall have
power to coin money and regulate
the value thereof" not that Eng
land shall regulate the value there
of" not that Wall Street shall
regulate the valse thereof" but
that It shall be the sole prerogative
Of Congress, consequently whenever
that body declares that " piece of
metal or paper shall be worth q
hundred cents, Its value can under
no circumstances vary in the least
jot or little rs long as the people
respect the functions Of their Gov
ernment.
Again, the grounds for this alb
surd objection arises from the evil
conditions of our present financial
system, which permits two vslus-
tions for silver--a coinage ratio and
market value. But let the Gov
ernment return to its old policy of
froe silver coinage and this dlsad-
vantsge vanishes as by magic, for
coinage being free, no man will
give more and no man will take less
for his silver that il is worth in
money St the mint--conscquently
We can have but one value for silver.
and that will be the coinage ratio.
"TuK INTERNATIoNAE AGREE
MEST."
The gentleman further objects,
that there must be an international
agreement between all natioIs be-
fore we can returA 10 free coinage
Of both metals. / beg to remind
him that ever since Abrahsm pur-
chased the bur ing ground Of the
sons Of Heth for -four hundred
shekels Of silver, current money
with the merchants, both silver
and gold have been used equally as
moncY, and ,horc never yet has been
an agreement between al nations
and that both the United States
and France coined both metals free
for almost a century without beg.
glng other nations to give their
assent.
THAT SILVER DCMr."
The gentleman also echoes that
fact reiuted cry Of Wall Street,
I'VE will be ruined by deluge Of
European silver 1'hreadbare fs.l
lacy! With free coinage at our
present rate, silver will be cheaper
here than IN any nation of Europe.
1t requires ISL ounces Of silver to
buy an ounce Of gold in Europe,
but at our ratio it would require 10
ounces to buy the same ounce of
gold here. Will silver come from
a high market to a low one? Can
any man conceive of the European
nations becoming so insane as to
ship their silver to the United States
and exchange for gold at a loss to
their people Of some hundred mil
lions Of dollars?
Free coinage will be no new poll
ey. it WAS the financial system that
passed our country safely through
the vicissitudes of q hundred years
and brought to the land bounteous
prosperity: When in 1873, those
holding the peoples debts conclu
ded that they would make their
bonds represent double the amount
Of the peoples property, BY striking
down oue-half Of the money. This,
| have said. was no less than a
crime. because it made all property
fall in value, as measured by money.
and almost doubled all indebted
ness. ! repeat, that the Democratic
party cannot afford to oppose itself
to rightiug this wrong. and to Civ.
ing the people back their money on
the same conditions rs existed be-
fore this iniquitous act Was passed
II cannot AFFORD to 90 back upon
tho action Of its representatives in
Congress. on It's policy, on its plat
form. sud lest of all, eau IL by ans
means afford TO oppose itself to the
.atorests Of The great mass Of III
constituents, tho farmers aud laboi.
ers Of the nation. For these rea.
sons the prominent Democrats Of
West Virginia do not hesitate TO