The Hickman courier., 1891-04-24

PAprc,n, Ky, April IL, 1891.

United States who constitute its workers
and producers.
In doing this, Il would he unjust iu any
one TO chsree that the advocates Of free
silver are opposed to tariff reform, or that
they desire in any rsspecs 60 p"sb "a aside
or subordinate H. Every member Of the
Farmers aud Laborers' Alliance, whai.
ever may have heretofore been bis politi-
cal atfilisiion, 10 In favor not only Of the
free coinage Of silver but also Of iarif
reform; aud when, two years hence, the
issue Of reform shall be made upon prin-
eiple, IL viii be found that all intelligent
~orkingmen will as proudly inscribe
tariff reform" upon their banner as they
will that Of free silver" These two are
I twin-brothsrs Of reform; and there 10 room
enough upon any reform or democratic
banner for both. as we'll ~ for that equsl'
ly important measure, 20 judieious ex-
psnsion Of the currency"
IL IL, therefore, but the himsiest pre-
tsSos upon the part Of the idolstors Of
Mr.. Cleveland TO charge that the advo-
eases Of free silver wish 10 push tariff re
form TO the background. Before Mr.
Cleveland -.c,e Ri. cs::msi- sm! !s'a'
letter. when the whole Democratic party
in Congress was engaged in . heated con
test In favor Of free silver, no one thought
for moment ths, IL would push tariff 70.
form, aside; nor did any one a, that time
ever hear . Democrat Opea bis mouth
against free silver. II was entirely "a
afteriaought; aud only when the Demo
cratic party began 10 repudiste Mr.. Clsve
iaud for the Presidency, did his thick aud
thin friends begin TO fear that free coinage
would prejudice tariff reform.
The Constitution Of the United ststei
recognizes gold and silver as the none,
metals Of the government. and provide
that the States shall not make anything
but gold and silver coin . legal tender Ia
payment Of debls." Under this provis
ion Congress established the free eoinag,
Of both these metals, and 1t continued u
be the Law until the money-ehangers o.
New York and New England, in 1873
taking the hint from the money -changer
Of England aud Germany, surreptitiousl,
secured the characterization Of silver.
As to the injury which this anti .silve
isborers Of both Europe and the UsiteS
States, let history speak. In 1873 thu
great English Prime Minister, Mr.. DisrA
eli, in speech at Glasgow, Scotland. said
"l attribute the great monetary disiur'
bance that is nov acting so iDjuriously Il
trade TO lbe great change which govern
ments in Europe are making with refer
ence to their standard Of value. Gold i
epry day apprecisias in ~ end as
u sy,.s-s ils'S 'h' Tf eseo"'
And at q meeting Of the Bimetallie
II % In IN Go Al
Smith, q member Of Parliament, said in O
speech;
MY own honest belief il, that had we
in The last fifteen years been engaged in a
gigantic war and doubled our nation al
debt, we should not have had more pres
sure upon the industries Of the cosniry
than has resulted from the enormous de-
cline in pricss hreash. .he.. sy she s5.
probation Of the gold standard
He continued: "Silver-usine countries
have been wholly free from this burden.
All countries with silver currency prices
psve remained stable; wberess, In gold.
usiog countries they have fallen 80 to 80
per cent"
So much for the demonstration Of silver
In Europe. Ia the United States the in-
Jury has been even greater. Every farm.
er knows that his land and the products
Of the soil have declined in a greater de-
gree than the above; and every wage.
worker knows that wages have declined
10 almost the starvation point. But let
tru'h-ieliing 6gures speak. In 1885 q
memorial upon the financial condition Of
The country. signed by 95 members Of
Congress, was presented TO the President I
Of the United States. mir. Clevelsnd), in
which the following facts we're embodied:
"ln 1855 eighteen million bales Of cotton
were the equivalent in value Of the entire
interest -besring national debt (S2 22l, =
DOO ,OOO); but IL will take 35 600. 900 bales
At the price Of cotton nov tlsS5.) 10 pay
ihe remainder OF such ($l l96. .000. 900
Great and surprising ss was this reve-
laiion OF the fall in value of agricultural
products under the financial policy OF the
government, IL disturbed not Mr.. Cleve-
land; but the six years which have passed
since these facts were presented 10 him,
under the same financial policy, have re.
vealed q state Of things in relation 10 the
fisfributi0. of the wealth OF the country,
which has sstounded even some OF the
leaders Of the monopoly party. In .
speech In the United States Senate on the
free coinage question, the 18th Of Jsnusry
last, one Of the Republican Senator's from
Mr.. Ingalls,, In referring 10 the
Of the wealth Of the country,
said:
at appears that there is one individual
in the United States, the Midas OF the
century, who possesses Q wealth greater
han the assessed value OF four Of the
smallest States in the Union, and greater
than the whole Union had when the con.
siiiution was formed; two hundred others
who have an aggregate Of more than SO,
000, 900 each; 400 others possess SIC, 900,
900 each; 1000 others 81, 1000, 900 cash;
2 900 others s., 800 600; q. 900 others 81 000, :
900 each; making q total Of 81. 100 per-
sons, out Of the 64.OOO,OO0 Of OUT pOpu-
lation, who pcssess $50, ,250 100000 OF the
$65. .000, ,000, 600 constituting the whole
wealth OF the Union; or more than one
half OF the whole"
Senator Ingalls, continued:
"Mr. President, II 10 the most appalling
that ever fell upon mortal ears
il is, 80 fer ss the results Of democracy M
q social and political experiment are con.
the most terrible commentary that
was ever recorded In the book Of time ?
II is indeed an appalling statement,
and unless our financial policy shall be
soon changed, the ruin Of the coIntry will
beyond = doubt result. In view Of these
facts, then, Ia IL not madness on the part
Of Democrats TO say that free silver must
take q black seatF 10 II not equal mad
ness 10 talk about nominating a man for
the Presidency who 10 opposed TO free
coinage, aud who, il elected would veto
IN The danger 10 TOO imminent to the
Interests OF workingmen and 10 the pros
perity and even the liberties Of the coun-
iry, TO talk about elimin stins free coin age
and full financial reform from the issues
Of the next political campaign.
Nor will the farmers and Iaborers OF the
permit Il. They are suffering too
greatly. Poverty and distress are threat
sning millions OF them They demand
reform. "The conflict 10 on" and II the
psrty shalt refuse their de.
msnd, aud thus prove itself unworthy Of