South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1892-03-11
THE FREE SILVER QUESTION.

In spite of all the efforts of the
politicians to force the tariff into
the campaign of the year as the
sole issue, the people have succeed
ed IN bringing the question of the
reconciliation of silver to the
front, and there is reasonable
probability that it will not only
share the attention Of Congress,
but also enjoy q fair amount of at.
tention by the people, who are af-
ter all, the court of final resort,
notwithstanding that they have
played second fiddle to the leaders
for long time.
In the formulation Of platform
to set forth the grievances of labor
ing people, the Farmers Alliance
presented series of demands relat-
ing to finance, by which they hoped,
aud still hope to secure q revision
of the legislation which has, in
their opinion, seriously disturbed
the financial equilibrium. They
asked for the abolition of the pres
ent banking system and the sub
stitution OF the system known as
the Land Loan and Sub Treasury,
administered ~ the government in
the interest OF the people. In ad-
dltion to these measures, it was
decided to demand the remonetiza-
ton Of silver, which was degraded
from its position as q standard by
trick of the finauciers in 1878.
Hardly had this demand been pro-
mulgated, when the whole power
OF Wall street and the banks was
organized to scout the idea as an
Ignorant and impossible scheme of
some fanatics who did not know
what they were talking about, and
have lost no opportunity Of trying
to throw obloquy and contemtt on
the movement. The very vehe-
mence of the cutlery against the
free coinage Of silver, has intensi-
fed the determination OF the peo-
pie to restore it to it's equality with
gold; and many thousands Of
thoughtful men have rallied to tho
support of the measure, as an act
OF justice, and as prudent meas
ure of relief, although il IS admit
ted that the measure Of relief from
this action viii not by Itself be
very great.
The resources Of sophistry have
been we'll nigh exhausted in the
effort to bring the movement into
contempt. As these means are fall
ing harmless against the strong
body Of determined men who arc
advocating the measure, the oppo-
sition are now resortiDg TO misrep-
resentation, and t. the usual meth
DDS Of corporate self-protcction, q
specimen Of which is strik ngly set
forth in a recent circular letter,
addressed to the financial, banking,
and business organizations Of the
United States, by the Hon.
Michael ID. Harter, Of Ohio, in
which he undertakes to show up,'
as it is called by the Sun, the Free
Silver Coinage Fallacy.
After an extravagant and violent
onslaught on the free silver scheme
which he denounces as wild and
chimerical idea, not to be "paral-
leled in time or eternity" for folly
and recklessness, he tells the poor
deluded farmer and laborinE man,
that his small earnings Will, if tho
measure triumpbs, be roduced to
an alarming degree. That the day
laboror will get only seventy cents
on every dollar Of his wages, and
the like. Then, in a tempest Of
vituperation and wild defamation,
he winds up with strong appeal
to the organizations to ply their
Conafcssmen and Senators With