Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1891-04-02
Tho Gold Lunaey.

The republican administration so sell
dom does anything without an ulteriol
purpose; it so rarely happens that IL
action as confessed is not mere pre-
text for hiding some object II Is afraid
or ashamed To confess, that II Is almost
pleasure to find it trying TO keep
American merchants from paying their
debts abroad in order that IL may KEEP
at home the gold they would otherwiss
use TO satisfy their creditors and meet
their obligations.
There is no ulteriOr purpose here.
The administration means just what il
says. Ii believes that the country Is
poorer for every pennyweight OF gold
that goes out OF it, no matter what Is
given in exchange. Il is willing TO let
unlimited quantities Of silver, OF cop
per. of aluminium, Of iron, OF pearls, OF
diamonds, of rubies OF everything else,
go-but gold, neverl Gold is the re-
publican ideal Of all that Is worth hay
ing here or hereafter. 1t is yellow and
shiny, unctuous to the feeling, lilling 70
the eye All true republicans believe
that all that is needed for ideal happl-
ness is to get gold enough-not TO use,
but 10 keep.
This is the whole of the republican
political economy-get gold, keep II
and see it shine The republican
theory of high-tariif taxation depends
on this. The use OF high taxes is to
keep imports out The use OF keeping
imports out is to keep gold in. This is
what republicans mean when they put
their heads together and palaver wisely
over having the balance Of trade In
our favor and preventing the drain o.
our gold They mean that II nobody Is
allowed TO buy anything outside the
country there will be nothing 70 pay
for and we will keep the gold at home
When good republicans get TO Para
disc, Us all should cordially hope that
they may, 1t will be their supreme
pleasure 10 sit around piles OF gold
bullion and see it shine.
The simple and childliko theory OF
republicanism is that you get gold
enough you are wealthy, and II you do
not buy anything with il YOU will stay
wealthy. This is all there is in repuba-
can political economy. All its ia.se
pretences and hypocrisies are merely
the garments with which il clothes this
idea to conceal its nakeduess. 1t is not
an oaiginal Idea. Ii was born In Spain
soon after the Moorish pirates had per-
fected the high-tarif system. Ameri-
ca had been discovered. Spain had
policy reciprocity with South Amer
lea, where the Pizzarros and other
Spanish enyoys extraordinary We're
carrying out the republican idea that
the only way TO grow wealthy is 10 get
something for nothing. Spanish states
adopted this idea and
welded to it the Moorish tariff
system and the republican financial
policy as ii exists to-day was complete.
Spain. in carrying out this policy, eN-
pected to become the richest country
in the world by prohibiting trade With
Europe so that il could keep in Spain
vast amounts OF gold ii eKtorted from
South America. II reasoned as the
radical administration now reasons:
''lf we do not allow Europe 20 trade
with us, it cannot get our gold and we
will go on getting more and more gold
from South America until we are the
richest. strongest and happiest people
on earth The policy was carried out:
and under it. from being the great 81
power Of the world, Spain
sank to utter insignifc1nce and misera
bic poverty. II lost both its trade and
its gold.
But this lesson has no effect on the
gold lunatics They are entirely sin
cere in loving 10 see gold shine and
they feel that it is a sacrllege 70 spend
1t. Where the holiest feelings OF their
natures are involved it IS useless to try
TO reason with them.-Republic.