Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1892-04-20

Gle is always willing and ready to
present all public questions to its
many readers, | herewith enclose a
valuable clipping from a prominent
agricultural Journal, setting forth the
farmers views, why they want free
silver and oppose dear money. A
place in your columns for this con-
tribution will be greatly appreciated
by your many subscribers, and by
Yours truly,
GARNER"
The article alluded to is herewith
given:
"The recent defeat of the free coin
age bill was the result Of persistent,
untiring effort on the part of New
England and its northern allies.
"The contest was bitter, much OF
the time personal, and disclosed a
wide difference ofopinion among the
members of both old parties. In
fact, an analysis of the vote upon the
question seems to indicate that it is
party measure, since both parties are
divided on the issue.
"This being true, the first question
to solve is the motive which prompts
this action in order to condemn or
approve such conduct. Is it f ON
I
principle or self interest that this
contest is made? If from principle,
it is worthy to be placed beside other
heroic efforts of the past. If from
selfish interests, it should be exposed
and condemned. Many are, doubt
less, honest in their opposition to
this measure, and their motives
should not be impugned, but the real
opposition must be considered as
based on selfish interests alone since
self-interest seems to predomlnate.
Without undertaking to discuss the
idea of action upon principle,it might
be we'll to consider the possible mer-
cenary motives that underlie this
contention. The financial interests
of New England and the East lie in
the investments of its money. What
ever increases its income from that
source is advocated, and whatever
decreases this income is opposed.
There is but little doubt upon this
point as judged from the past history
of that section. The free coinage bill
was opposed on the ground that ii
would make money cheaper and
therefore raise the price of all the
products of labor, wich in turn
would enable the debtor to pay his
debts with less hard work; this
proposition New England declared tt
be nothing less than a partial re
pudiation. The pensioners were In
formed that they would be able tt
buy less with their pension money
the department clerks were Warne>
that their salaries would purchas'
less of the products of labor, and the
hired girls and widows of New Eng
land were told that they could draw
less tribute for their alleged savings b.
the passage of the silver bill, and tn
consequent cheapening of money,an'
the increased price of products
From this view of the matter th'
efforts of New England against fre
silver is robbed of its garb OF hypC
critical cant about an honest dollar
the honor of the nation and man
other similar positions, and sinks t
the lowest level of pure mercenar
seIf-interest, New England by thi
action acknowledges that an increas
l in the volume of currency would IL
crease the price of products, an
] thereby enable the farmer to NOR
easily pay his debts, but opposes thi
increase because they, the people
New England, own the debts. l
n order to more clearly show the ban'
full effects of New England's financit
. rule, a consideration of the debts
the States of Iowa and Alabama wi
give a clear example, it being COZ
- ceded at the outset that New Ens
y land and the East either owns
N controls nearly all the debts of II
y nation. The Indebtedness of the
two States as represented in the pre-
ent census is:
Iowa >
'''''''''"''''''''' oS'o-'
at is fair to assume that at lea
one.half of this Indebtedness W
49, date back TO 1880. Taking this
S> granted, as the basis for circulatio
the following propositions are mao
In 1880 the Indebtedness wou
stand:
L R;ss,w, ..:..:..:..... '2s5i5 iS.55
"Iowa is the best all.round prodt
ing State in the North, as shown
the census.
"In 1880 the average value |
acre of the three great cereals was
Corn rn'...............,.........
Wheat ,.......,.- ''''''--.'' ''''''''
Oats, .,,.....,. ,,.'..'s. s.'.'.'''''.''''
"In 1889 the value per acre was :;
Corn. I'D
Wheat. .........-.. ...'''..','' .'-.''''''''
ONtS. ''f'''