The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-01-30
80 s9.

deslre tnan | feel for free and unlimited
coinage Oh silver as soon as conditions can
oo aeacnea through International agreement
sa oa to'herwlse by which such coinoge will be
Saao. II Is my hrm conviction that for this
country TO enter upon that experiment now
ana under the existing conditions. would be
extremely disastrous would result not in bi
m.talllsm but In silver mono-metallism. /
Delieve 1t would produce a swift and severe
contraction and would eventually reduce
tne market value of silver. Free and nm
limited coinage OF silver by the United
states while other great nations pursue the
opposite ep policy. would invite all owners of
37l4 grains of pure silver worth abont "a
cents for 1892 grains Of pure gold worth
everywhere 100 cents. Nearly ali nations Of
EUROPE f1 s are anxious to exchange their silver
tempting an offer. Bank depositcrs' trust
companies and holders of United States
notes and gold certificates would instantiv
lock up all gold at their command, than ioin
sach pahnnspirea ard s procession to the treasury,
tne golden prize before 1t was too late. Prob
aoiy before the swiftest ocean grevhonnd
could land silver cargo at New York the
iast gold dollar within reach would be safely
YaGdea Ysn1ta away IN private boxes and in the
prought out by only high premium.
a0r exportatl0n. This sudden retirement of
So000OO,0OO In gold with the accompanying
panic would cause contraction and cOmmer-
ciai disaster unparalleled in human ex-
polienced and our country would at once
step down to silver basis when there
would be no longer any inducement for coin
age silver dollars would sink to their bullion
value When silver dollar ceases to have
more value than the bullion 1t contains there
will be little inducemeI TO coin our own sll-
YER ana the cost OF transportation will pre-
vent 1t coming from abroad.
MI. window advocated the passage of the
pai pending IN Conerdss for the establish
our exchanges with Mexico and Central and
South America aud concluded. "Give us d.
rect aud ample transportation facilities un-
DER the American flag, controlled by Ameri-
lcan citizens, currency sound In quality and
adequate In quantity, an International bank
TO facilitate exchange, a system of reciproci-
ty carefully adjusted within the lines Of pro-
tectlon, and not only will our foreign COM
meree again Invade every sea, but American
industry will be quickeued and our whole
people feel the impulse of new and enduring
prosperity.
William Window was born in Belmont
county. Ohio, May 10. 1927. He received an
academic education, studied law at Mount
Vernon, Ohio, and was admitted to the bar
IN 1850. In 1852 he became public pr0secu-
TOR Tor Knox county. but in 1855 he removed
to Minnesota. In 1859 he was elected to
Congress, serving ten years. His special
WORK In Congress dealt with Indian ques-
lions, he beng chairman of the Indian af-
faiIs committee and OF several special com.
mittees having to do with Indian affairs In
1870 he was elected Senator to succeed ID. S.
Norton, deceased, and was subsequently
chosen for the full term ending in 1877. In
that year he was reelected to serve till 1883,
but when Garfield formed his cabinet he ap-
pointed Mr.. Window to the Treasury port
folio: When Mr.. Arthur succeeded Garfield,
Mr.. Window resigned, and was reelected
Senator to fill out his own term. He was
chairman of the committees ON apprUpria-
tions, foreign affairs and transportain.
= In 1888 Mr.. Window was succeeded by
vate life. When President Harrison formed
his cabinet. he made Mr.. Window, Secretary
of the Treasury again.