Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-19
A PLEA FOR SILVER.
Senator Stewart Addresses the Min
ing Congress at Denver.
PAYS HIS RESPECTS TO SHERMAN,
The History Of Civilization Declared to Be
That of Mines.
PROTEST AGAINST THE LONG DOLLAR

DENVER, COL, Nov. ia parade and
the dedication of the Mining Exchange
building preceded this afternoon the
Western Mining Congress, which took
place in the forenoon. That conference was
opened at the Peoples Theater, with ex-
Governor Tabor in the chair. Delegates
from SO States and Territories reported, and
it was understood that Hon. Niles Searles,
formerly Chief Justice of California, would
be elected Permanent Chairman.
The greater part of the afternoon session
was occupied by Senator Stewart, of Ne
vada, with a long address on the silver ques-
tion. He took the ground that silver had
been demonetized through the influence of
resolutions that would compel the National
House of Representatives to pass laws re-
storing silver to parity with gold. Reso-
lutions favoring the coinage of the Ameri-
can product only, the Senator said, would
not obtain 20 votes in the assembly.
The Enemies of the Silver Dollar.
''The demonetization proceeded from the
men who struck down silver, and who aimed
blow at the prosperity of the nation. They
said gold was better than silver, but where
1000 people use the latter comparatively
few use the former. To talk about main
tanning the parity of the two metals is ab-
surd"
"They believe, ''said he "they will rehabi-
litate silver and restore its original parity
If it is to be credit money 1t is too
expensive to print promises to pay upon.
Silver is now discarded. The gold ring has
repudiated it and they have reduced the
issue of commercial paper to the narrow
limits of gold. As consequence farmers
are growing poorer and the history of bank
failures show their circulation is not enough
to keep the banks in reserve funds.
"Why should there be hard times with
20 years of peace? Why should times be
worse than at any other time in the CEN
tury? Want of money is the cause Secre-
tary Sherman, after visit to England and
conference with the gold bugs, returned
home and surreptitiously incorporated in
bill the clause rejecting silver. If this had
been done to gold it would not be worth 20
cents on the dollar
Can Be Deprecated, Not Destroyed.
eff it should not be used for money it
would have no commercial value. But
silver was universally circulated. 1t could
not be destroyed, but it could be deprecated.
There was no surplus bullion in the world
previous to 1890. The entire product was
used for commercial purposes. Great Britain
was constantly selling silver short. The in
terest payment of that nation was $50, ,000,-
600 annually and was derived from the sale
of silver When silver went up last year
England sold twice as much as the require
ments of the nation demanded, and they
would do this as long as silver remained o
commodity.
Civilization has kept pace with the
growth of mines, and no nation in the world
has been able to keep going after the ex-
haustion of the mines. This nation has
been especially favored. but the greed of
the misers has stopped the wheels of prog
ress. They increased the purchasing power
of dollar [Cheers. The country was
being robbed. Because they made long
dollar, enough dollars could not be found to
pay debts. Hence stagnation and hard
times were common. Want of money would
make every man coward, and there was
not tramp in the country who would not
fight at the drop of a hat if you put 81, 900
in his pocket"
Governor Routt. then delivered the ad-
dress of welcome, in which he paid COM
pliment to Senator Stewart. After speech
by Hon. c. S. Thomas and the appointment
of committees, the session adjourned till to-.
morrow morning.