Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-02-07
THE FREE COINAGE MOVEMENT

Liiitor Dcseret Nopa
l observed Ia your paper Of Thursday
last some editorial comments under the
above caption, In which you give
various opinions Of other persons on
the subject; aud you conclude your re-
marks In the following words:
"rhus the battle goes on. Plausible
arguments are presented ON both sides.
The matter rests with the pcorlc, and,
M 81. John says, II they demand II. let
them have H. ifOnly by way ~ .xperi-
mcnt. BR II Tools ~ Mo dislstorestf,i
aud patriotic, as Y Il might Dc a reyy
costly experiment"
In tho last sentence have used the
mntks for Italics, In order TO emphasize
my objection ~ the Idea Indicated.
do not propose 10 offer arguments
on the sulJrct-thut " unnecessary,
inasmuch ~ you are no DOUBT as well,
" not better posted than myself ON the
sui Ject-hut " you will allow me n
little space, will refer 10 one Or two
points In the question.
In the first place, II IL an admitted
fact, that In the United States there
i not enough money In circulation
with which 10 transact the business
growing out of the necessities of
62,0D0,000 people; that unless We
can obtain more money for such
purposes, much Inconvenience will
continue u exist. Gold and silver
have been legal msicy In the
United states slncc the govern.
ment was formed, with tho exception
Of the time intervening between the
decentralization Of silver In is7.l, and
the enactment Of the Bland law. 1
might 40 further and say that silver
has been money Nil the world over for
many centuries. Can you, can any
one, give good reason why Il should
not continue TO he money? Or why II
should DO dlscredltcd because Il Is q
white mctnlg Or why gold should be
tbe only metal used for money?
The gold bug insists that u silver
dollar must contain NJ great market
value ~ u gold dollar, but why should
~ What Is II that causes a gold dollar
TO he worth 100 cents and legal
tender IL II not the law OF Congress?
And the same Is true OF the silver
dollar.
Slpposlng that the figures OF the
EteHbig IOst are correct, what thenY
~
United States la i've months, II Is
cause, presume, OF the demand for
gold In Europe, and the fact should b.
taken as an argument Ia favor OF the
coinage Of all the silver we can pro.
duce, In order 10 preserve ns much
money In our country as possible.
Gold IL becoming harder 10 obtaIn
than heretofore, aud II N too expensive
metal 10 be used by the pcople
generally, and In fact II never has
been IN general Use In this country
For myself would be- satisfied with
tho Bland law provided the maximum
amount OF silver had been purchased
aud coined annually. Othefs believe
free coinage would be better, that re-
mains 10 be seen.
have never yet been able TO see
why II IL the duty Of the United States
10 look to other governments for
policy In regard 10 the kind OF money
we use. We are ut least old enough
enough, and hope wise enough, 10
know what We require as circulating
medium, and | think we ought not 10
DO dependent upon other countries
for dictation In the matter. Let us
make such money as We want, aud II
foreign psople do not want II let us
keep II at home.
In conclusion, permit mo TO remark
that scarcely believe you meant 10
be understood a. saying that none but
Interested parties and those who lack
patriotism are In favor Of free colin
age. Yours. IL. ID. j.