The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1892-06-09
FREE COINAGE.


Silver and gold have none. but such as have
give thee.-Blble.
ED. NEws.DEMooRAT:-Free COIN
age means the equality in coinage and
circulation of the two precious metals,
silver and gold. This is the old doc.
trine and custom dating back into the
most ancient times. 1t was also the
established doctrine in this country and
was not disturbed until 1873, when Sen.
ator John Sherman's mint act was
passed, In which, 1t is said, q clause was
inserted, not known to most members
of Congress, and all done, 1t Is charged,
to please the money changers of Europe
and this country. 1t is also said their
agent from Europe spent several
months in Washington manipulating
the scheme.
However this may be, a few words
on this subject may not be out of place,
seeing Senator Sherman delivered him
self of two and half hours speech in
the Senate the other day in opposition
to free coinage. Mr.. Sherman does not
seem to be one of those statesmen that
can live and learn, at least on the side
of right and Justice. This old quota
tion will apply in this case: "Silver and
gold have L none, but such as have
give thee"
To demonetize, says Webster is "to
deprive of value, withdraw from use
las currency" "The gold mohurs have
"been completely demonetized by the
EAST India Company" says Golden.
The object and purpose then OF the
Sherman law was ito deprive of value"
that is, depreciate. 1t must be ad-
mitted the scheme succeeded, silver
deprecated and Mr.. Sherman wants to
keep 1t there. The same gentleman
was earnest some years ago to make the
deprecated greenbacks as good as gold;
but he opposes all efforts TO put silver
back there.
"Strange such difference there should be
Twixt tweedledum aud tweedledee."
And yet it may not be strange either
The same class of individuals were the
benefciaries in both cases. Would
that individual interests and specula-
tive aims could be separated from our
law making.
Before silver was demonetized 1t was
above par as compared with gold. 1t
was then the Sherman law that caused
it to depreciate. And now this depre-
citation is the great argument these
anti silver men like Sherman urge
against restoring the white metal to its
former status. There was no good
excuse for demonetiziDg silver when it
was done and the result of their own
wrong is the reason they give against
re monetiZing, thus like other culprits
seeking to take advantage of their own
wrong.
One surprising thing in all this to
the ordinary mind, is, that men posing
as statesmen and as Democrats, and
looked upon as such, should fall in with
and approve and defend this diabolcal
operation. To one however, who has
lived long and observed somewhat the
uncertainties in humanity, especially
in politics, these things may be looked
upon more in sorrow than in anger
In President Andrew Jackson's con-
test with the United States Bank, over
its re-charter, prominent Democrats
joined the bank following. Many OF
them no doubt saw light or heard a
voice that was potential.
1t must be admitted that of late
years organized capital and money
Accommodations have advanced with
giant strides. The increase in million
aires has been also enormous. AS to
that too numerous class known as
tramps, one need only say, there Too, is
growth. But as to silver, despair
not, nor as to honest tariff taxation
The people must and will restore both
The few shall not forever sway,
Tbemany mol In sorrow;
The powers OF hell are strong to-day,
But Christ shall rise tomorrow!
A. MCGREGoR.