The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-10-11
SILVER.

uAh IkDI1Ohs--1 "d1lU W ask OICI0
Zeke Bikins question as to what is
the silver issue before the people in all
the platforms and by the politicians.
Every intelligent man ought to know
that this government is in duty bound
to make and issue money to its people,
and regulate not its intrinsic, but it's
money value.
The two old parties seem alike on
their money planks. Both claim to be
bi-metalists Both say we should have
gold and silver coined into money
Both say that the markets of the world
should determine their relative values.
and both admit that about so per cent.
should be added to the silver dollar in
order to make it equal the gold dollar.
Is all this true9 Or can the govern
ment make the present silver dollar
and every future dollar like it of equal
value to gold as money in this country
at the present ratio 16 to IL
The Peoples party claims free, un-
limited coinage of both metals at Is to
1 and making each legal tender for
100 cents in this country, not even try
ing to regulate the worlds money, a
thing we cannot do.
Now, if the Peoples party are sue
cessful. | can understand how we can
grant free, unlimited coinage at the
same old time ratio, and make every
dollar - legal tender IN this country,
and no honest occupation suffer and no-
body's money unfairly depreciate.
But, If the old parties are electe d, I
do not understand how they can carry
this demOnetization (already existing
in law and theory into practical effect
among the masses without depreci 9ting
the money value of every silver dollar
and certificate 338 per cent, which
must be lost by the people holding this
money.
These old parties go to the people for
suffrage to be sustained in
| their silver position. What is it9 They
tell US fatty that there are only 66
cents in our dishonest silver dollar
and yet they pay it to us farmers for
| 100 cents and we take it. Neither be
lieves the statement true, practically,
because we give and get as much for
| the silver as the gold dollar.
Then it is only legal and theoretical
now. Will it ever be made practical? ?
is the mOmentous question | want to
ask Will the time come when every
tOIler who has done 100 cents worth of
labor, and received this dollar for it,
realize that he can pay only 66 cents
taxes or debts or buy only 66 cents
worth of goods with this dollar9
Now let us see: If they tell the peO
pie that this dollar contains only 66
cents. and that so per cent more silver
should go into the new dollar, and that
| that is right, and then, In the face Of
this we elect them, sanction their views
and endorse their platforms, we vir-
tually say that's right, go ahead. Now
| these parties, one or both, having been
to the D, Ople with this, must be eX-
pected to go to Congress or to an inter
national conference and practically
and virtually finish I'D the demonetiza-
tion of every silver dollar and certlfi
cate now in use, by coming large,
new dollar with one and half times
as mu n silver iD it. and declaring it
the only true silver equal to 100 cents
in gold. This done, will it not require
one and half of our present dollars to
pay one dollar tax or debt or buy one
| dollars worth of meat2 This will be
practical demonetiZatiun and will reach
the masses.
Are our people ready for this de-
struction of 125 900. 0G0 of our already
contracted currency7 The coming
election must decide if we are not de-
ceived.
Let this big dollar come out one year
from now and go into circulation. and
on that very day every silver dollar
and certificate In the banks, business
or pockets of the country will fall 331
per cent, if l an not miserably mis-
taken.