The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-05-18
THE RIGHT KIND or FREE SILVER.

As free silver is desired by possible ma
jorty Of the Democratic voters of Virginia, 1t
is well 10 consider what kind Of free silver Is
really desirable. and what should meet the re-
quirements Of those who look for relief from
the increase of the currency.
1t certainly is not the desire of any material
number of our Virginia Democrats to resume
the free coinage Of our present silver dollars
merely to help the mine-owners Of the West
to get an eXorbtant price for their product
Our people do not care whether there arc
more or less than 412'9 grains Of silver IN
dollar OF not What they want Is more money
and that good money The contention of
THr TINES has always been that any inter
ference of the Government in the amount Of
coinage which the people want is improper
The demand that some make that weshould
have $50 currency per capita Is illogical.
Why not S4Oy Why not $50. Why not c1OO:
Money should be left free to the laws OF trade
and finance. which are beyond the control OF
legislation except TO be hampered and in
iured by iniudicious laws. We insist that the
coinage of silver should be as free az the
coinage of gold, and We also insist that as gold
is now and has been for generations the stan
dard of the commercial and industrial world
and especially the standard of America, that
enough silver should be put in silver dol
lar to make it Of full, equal intrinsic value
with the gold dollar, and that the Government
should SO fix the ratio as to as nearly as pos
sble approximate this result.
In this connection we call attention TO an
interesting article III another column on this
subject, and also to the silver plank in the
platform Of the Minnesota Democrats and
some comments thereon made by IHE TINES
in its issue of April "a.
The Democrats OF Minnesota have given
utterance to the soundest principle OF finance
IN their views on the coinage OF silver II their
platform Just adopted. Ihey say.
" We hold. IN accordance with the ira
ditlonal policy Of our party, 10 the use OF
both gold and silver, and that the solo
coinage junction OF the Government is 10
examine the relative values OF the metals of
coinage established 10y the world. and
II there has been a sufficient huctuatlOn
IN the value Of either 10 make the existing
ratios unequal, then TO readjust the
ratios so that the number or grains OF either
metal IL the unit OF coinage. the dollar, shall
NC equiv h-cul III Nhluts anu lLtli 10 permit the
tree, unrestricted coinage OF both metals We
JOIN the Democracy OF new ORR IN demand
Ing the repeal OF the Sherman Silver Coinage
act. We condemn that act rs All attempt 70
distract the friends OF honest bimetalllsm,
and depouuce II as calculated 70 debase our
currency. contract the circulating medium
and wreck the confidence and safety OF the
business world.
The function of the Government is only TO
coin. III such ratio OF value rs may wisely be
established al the gold and silver that is
brought by the citizens.
The Government has, prima facie. no
right 10 interfere with the unlimited coinage
OF either gold or silver, and the real trouble
now is, not the question OF unlimited coinage
OF silyer-that all Democrats will agree upon
but what amount of metal shall be put into
II silver dollar to make 1t u real dollar IA In
trnsic value.
The advocates Of the Bland dollar say
that free coinage of the present dollar viii
raise the value or silver 80 as 10 make sixteen
ounces Of silver worth one ounce of gold
The opponents OF tins view vehemently DENY
the statement and insist that either more
silver must DO put IN the silver dollar or that
the coinage OF silver az the existing ratio with