West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1891-04-02
THE SILVER QUESTION.
AN ABLE AND WELL WRITTEN
ARTICLE FROM THE PEN OF
HON. IRA o. POST.

ing Democrats are criticised for
expressing themselves as beng OPP
posed to Mr.. Cleveland's position
on the question of silver coinage,
and in another column appears an
article from the Register Offering
objections to the proposed return to
the policy OF free and unlimited
coinage of both metals. "a policy
steadily maintained by our govern
meat for almost century, prior
to 1871 1t is the object Of this
letter to remark briefly upon these
articles and to answer their objec-
tions at such l,ngth as space will
permit.
This question Of Silver Coinage
cannot be covered up and passed
over thoughtlessly, as sOme Eem-
bers of the press would have us be-
lisve. 1t is of too vital Importance
to the American people. The price
Of their labor and commodities, the
possibility Of paying debts, mort
cages and taxes. in fact the pros
perity Of the whole laboring people
depends in large measure upon
financial legislation. Nor can the
Democratic party afford to dodge
this issue. La her late victorious
campaign the Democracy Of thirty.
one states declared itself in favor OF
free coinage. The Farmers ALI
ancs. three million strong, enthu-
siasticslly demand it, and you will
remember that our own state Con-
ventien adopted free silver plank,
as part Of it's platform. For De
moer4cy to desert this principle
now. would not only bo suicidal.
but a vile repudiation unworthy Of
any party claiming 10 represent the
people.
Space Will not permit me TO enter
into such Ma elaboration as this
question demands, consequently
will cCnfine myself 10 brief rsfu
ta:icn Of the objections offered in
your columns. As you quote from
the Register, you will probably &C
cept il as authority. In n late edi.
torial upon my criticism Of Mr..
Clevsland's position. the Register
declares that he (Nr. Cleyeiand)
denoances the fraudulent demons
tizat.on Of 1873 as severely rs | do.
This admission is fatal. II Hr.
Cleveland denounceG that act AZ
fraud" why in the name OF COM
mon justice does be object to max
ing restitution? There is only one
way under Heaven by which y
wrong act may be rightsd, H1d that
is by undoinE 1t at once. II the act
of '73 was = fraud" snd he ad-
mits 1t, how can he, as aa honest
man, object to giving tho people
back the old silver dollar. on an
equal footing with gold? The De.
monetization Act Of 1873 was not
only n fraud, but 1t Was the 'crime
Of the century" At it's passage,
gold and silver had been circulating
aide by side on au equal footing for
almost eentury--In fact, it was ut
a premium Of 3 per cent. on the day
of it's Decentralization This act
struck down silver, dsmonetized
one half Of our money this neces-
'arily decreased the volume Of cur.
rency. and caused gold TO rise in
yalue--the best statistics give this
dvance at from 80 to so per cent.
Vow ss the value Of money is simply
ne amount Of property or labor
that can be exchanged for it, it is
9asy TO see that when the none,
g,ew scarce and advanced from one.
third to one-half IN value, IL 70
quired from snc-third TO one half
more property or labor to purchase
given number Of dollars. Conse.
1uently All commodities have fallss
from one.third to one half in value
and all debts. taxes. bouds, mort
cages have been made. fr m one
bird TO one half nsrder 10 pay.
because H. requires shat much nor,
i our property or lpbor 70 bny
nough dollars te discharge out in
lebtedness. If this act, almost
doubling the burdens Of the people.
sas not a crime, know Of no word
in the English language that can
express il. Ts undo this wrong is
What the people are demandino ~