West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1892-07-14
THE SILVER QUESTION.

look back, poly -me,alism and poly
thcism are both lost hi the dim and
the shadow of history. The ten.
dency has been to fewer metals and
fewer deities--down, or up, if you
prefer, to one metal, gold and to
one deity, God. And very many
blend the two ideas in ohc-gold is
their God.
In monetary matters there are
unitarious, those who believe i'm one
bright and untarnishablo Unit which
is gold while there are others.
trinitarians, who believe i'm one cur
rency composed of gold, silver and
paper, equal in the power and glory
of their purchasing efficiency yet
one essential and convertible cur
roncy. The latter would certainly
be called orthodox. From the days
OF the silvery headed patriarchs to
the defeat of silver demonetizations
and since, silver has been money.
1t is not the purpose of the writer
to maintain the feasibility of free
silver coinage or TO assall it. 1t
might do and 1t might not, so far as
he has examined the subject. A
silver dollar that jingles on the
counter of business to the tune of
100 cents is tho silver dollar that
commcnds itself to the people.
But the writer's purpose at pres
cnt Is to review the argument that
doubtless defeated pro-silyer lcgis-
latian in Congress. Assuming that
free silver coinage would not be
detrimental to the prosperity of the
country the question Vas argued
upon moral grounds. 1t is pleasing
to Christian constituency to feast
their eyes upon Congress anima-
ted by Il conscience-a sight for the
gods, rs 1t were. Free silver was
anthgoniZcd because t was not
right to vote 30 cents on the dollar
into The pockets and vaults OF the
miners OF the West. That trans
cendcnt moral consideration
downod free silver. How beautiful
moral considerations are ! How
much more beautiful this one moral
consideration would be if 10 could
be made To hlrmonize with other
moral considerations. Moral con-
sideratiDns are often blown to atoms
before the giant powder Of cxpe.
diency. 1t was not right to take
from all the consumers of tinwarc
in the United States and give to n
few ia order TO initiate and main
tain new industry. The claim Of
eXpcdicncy caprcd the measure
9loriOusly through, so they say. 1t
is expedient, the protectionIst
argues, that new industries be built
up, that high tariff duties be I'm.
posed, 80 that business generally may
be stimulated. The same kind Of
argument is urged in favor Of free
silver. Now, then, why do the
very same Congressmen who have
conscience in the silver question
have no conscience i'm the tariff
question ? Or do they only have
conscience when it is cxpcdicnt TO
have one?
Docs the gift Of 30 cents on the
dollar to the silver man make any
one poorer
Not much.
Docs the gift Of 30 or 80 cents
per dollar 20 the manufacturer
through the protective scheme make
anybody poorer?
Yes.
Why should a Congressman with
q conscience tax The American
populace generally "without regard
to race, color, or previous condition
Of scrvitude" to enrich further the
capital-buiIder Of the East, and
refuse TO enrich tho wealth builder
Of the West when such enrichment
is not accomplished at tic expense
Of tho people
Why?
a conscience is q MOST excellent
possession crown when it spar
kles with the jewels Of consistency.
free coinage Of silvorb be morally
wrong. battle il down. and il hg
protection be not morally right,