The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-03-18
THE FINANCIAL ISSUE.

The tlNANClAL ISSUE.
Though Mr.. Cleveland and Mr..
Mills may deprecate the raising of
the financial question in the coming
campaign because, undoubtedly, they
see from the position which Democra-
cy is fast assuming, its utter defeat
in the contest, yet in spite of their
protests the financial question is in
the arena to stay. 1t matters little
to the Republicans which of the two
questions-free silver or free trade
Democracy would choose to battle
for, as ultimate victory would come
to the Republican forces. After near
| ly third Of a century of unparalleled
prosperity, there are two things which
the American people will not consent
too,-free trade and a dishonest mon
ey system. They may for short
period lapse from that strict applica-
tion Of those principles which are the
foundation of their prosperity, but
it will be for short time only. When
the ills of misplaced confidence over
take them they soon return to the old
well beaten path
But it is easier to drift from the old
Moorings than to return to them after
you have cut loose.
The present attitude of the House
upon the silver question leaves no
doubt but that the Bland bill will be
passed by that body. This will precip-
itate the money question as an issue
in the coming campaign. Democracy
cannot get around it should it make
the attempt, for the dangerous ele-
ment on the currency question seems
today to have it's fortunes in it's grasp.
The talk of some of it's free trade
leaders of postponing the issue is
absurd. That has been the talk for
the past six months; that was the
program they marked out for the
House, yet the free silverites have put
themselves in mastery and forced the
question upon that party.
When the Republicans meet at
Minneapolis on the 7th of June next
in their national convention, one of
the planks in the platform will be
square and unequiyocal for honest
money. That has always been the
record of the party, and it cannot
we'll afford to stand in different at
titude in the future. This will be
the condition of affairs which will
confront the Democrats when they
meet in convention. 1t will not be a
question they can dodge, but one they
must face.
1t seems to be the fate of nations,
that occasionally on their history, the
idea of cheap money oyertakes them.
The cry of cheay money is an alluring
one, but an experiment is costly one
in the end. All history is strewn
with the wrecks of such experiments,
and yet it sometimes seems as
though nations would refuse to pro-
fit by past examples. Cheap money
means high prices, and what though
the laborer may receive more of it, if
in the sum total it will purchase no
more for him. If he owes debt, he
may profit to certain extent by the
dishonest dollar, but the reaction will
more than sweep away the gain.
1t is put forth by the advocates of
free silver that if the free coinage bill
becomes law, it will increase the
price of silver, and yet they can bring
no proof that such will be the fact.
Ii all the civilized nations OF the
world would act together in the mat
ter and accept the silver dollar this
might be true, but the United States
alone can not keep it at par with
gold. 1t may be able to force it upon
it's own people for its face value, but
could not upon the world. 1t was
thought when the act of July, 1890,
was passed, that it would have ten
dency to keep up the price of silver,
and if the action of one government
could accomplish such feat, this
ought to have done SO, for it furnish
es market for the nations product
and SO relieves the markets of the
world from its competition, yet in the
| face of this the price of silver has
gone down. In fact there are many
able fnanciers, who while recognizing
the present law as less dangerous
than free coinage act, are alarmed
as to its final results upon the finan-
cial standing of the nation.
The only safe position for the ma