, 1891-11-03
WHERE THE SHOE PINCHgS.

AEhbEh aohb thC n lACDhU-
fcdn how the free coinage OF American
silver will benefit the masses OF the peo-
pie in this country. It is now quite per-
tinent to inquire OF THE LEADER in what
way the free coinage of the worlds silver
by the United States will be of advantage
TO the masses of the people OF this
country. We can understand how it will
benefit silver producing corporations, but
those not engaged in this industry must
pay the difference between seventy cent
dollars and an actual dollar The Sun.
The morning organ OF Republicanism
fails of course to answer THE LEADERS,
question. We didn't expect 1t to do any,
thing else for it has never squarely COM
batted a single proposition brought for
ward on the question of silver aud what
ever it has venturcd to say on the subject
has been 80 obscure and misleading as 10
leave grave doubts in the minds Of its
readers as to whether it had any grasp Of
the subject at all.
The Sun wants to know how the abso-
lutely free coinage OF silver would help
the United States. If 1t knew anything
about the question the answer would be
self evident. The object of restoring the
money function to silver is to put a stop
to the downright thievery of between 80
and 40 per cent of the product of labor.
When silver was d~emonetized over
eighteen years ago it commanded a pre-
MUM of about three cents on the dollar
over gold on the basis on which it was
then and has since been coined. Silver
became 4 commodity through a legislative
trick. 1t has never been maintained that
there was any sound reason for its de.
monetIzation. That it was done in the
interest of the moneyed classes of the
country Is now too apparent to require
discussion. From the moment the money
iun ,tiop was taken away from SILVER the
value OF the two metals began to drift
apart. aud as gold rose the price of silver
fell and with it the value of all products
of labor. For seventeen years the farm
ers. planters and producers Of this coun-
try have lost between 80 and 40 per cent
on the price Of everything which they
have produced. II, as an illustration, a
farmer in 1878 owed $40. 900 he could
have paid it in 1873 bushels of wheat or
1874 barrels of -four; now it would re-
quire ll,446 bushels of wheat or 9 ,ll6
barrels Of -four to llquidate his debt.
The reason for this is apparent. Gold
alone is nov the money of ultimate re.
iamnfInn In tha Fnoo - u.o-.
business and the tremendous demands
made for money in carrying on the deyel.
oplng enterprises of the world we are con,
fronted with the fact that the production
of gold IL decreasing 20 that with
each year the worlds stock Of
gold becomes more valuable and the con
dition of the producer harder until ulti
mately, unless relief is afforded by legis
lahon, there must come about a condi
ton of almost universal bankruptcy, Tn
Capitalization of capital in the hands o
a small percentage OF the people j
brought about by this condition couple,
with the protective tariff robbery.
The Laramie Republican iavors tn
free coinage Of American silver because
will stimulate the silver industry of tn
West and consequently general bushes.
In other words, it would pay the profit O
silver which now goes TO the Rovernmer
to the silver producers instead and lea,
the great principles involved In the silv,
question in the shape they are in nov
The Republican should scratch a hit
deeper to see if the remedy it proposes
IN TACT a remedy at all.