The advocate and Topeka tribune., 1892-10-19

money Is a natural right that may be
delegated but cannot be aliensted. The
right to the free and unlimited coinage
Of 37114 grams Of pure silver into stand
ard dollars was colonial right that de-
scended to the people of the states. And
congress, to whom this power was dele
gated, having refused to admit to free
coinage silver dollars with the same
weight and fnenesS that was recognized
by the laws Of the colonies, has violated
the compact. The agent thus refusing
to perform the duty, the power to coin
money and regulate the value thereof
reverts to the states or people. And we
are to be congratulated upon the fact
that some Of the states have already taken
steps looking TO the resumption Of this
power, notably Pennsylvania; and unless
we prove to be degenerate sons Of noble
sires, Kansas will likewise assert her
rights.
But why all these assaults upon silver
and the liberties Of the peopleP Has the
farmer or any other industrial class ever
asked congress to stop the coinage of sill
yer, or to limit It's coinage, or to demon
etize it? Has any interest Of this country
asked such legislation, except the money
power? Has there been an overproduc-
tlon In silver or has it's production been
greater than that Of gold? No; the very
reverse is a statistical fact, as will appear
from the following table, to.wit: The
worlds average production Of gold from
1851 to 1890 was $12O,0OO0O0 annually;
total for the thirty eight years, $780,
100000. The average product of silver
during this same period (lS51 to 1800)
was s74,OOOOOO annually; total for the
thirty eight years, $2,84O,OOO,OOO. An
increase In gold over that of silver Of
$1,712,OO00OO, which shows conclusively
that the fall in the price Of silver and the
corresponding rise In the price Of gold lS
the direct result Of hostile legislation
against silver.
We now propose to introduce the facts
to prove that this government Is solely
responsible for disseminating the free
coinage Of silver In the bi-metal states Of
Europe, for the distress in the price Of
silver and the evil results that have
flown from It's demonstration.
Congress stopped the free coinage Of
silver February 19, 1878 The first action
taken on the subject Of silver by France
and the Latin Union was In June, 1874,
and then they only limited the coinage
of silver, and free coinage was not stopped
in the Latin Union until July, 1876, over
three years after free coinage had been
stopped In this country. But, mark you,
the Latin Union, which has population
Of nearly 2O0,OO0,OOO, has not demonetized
silver. These states are the friends of
silver now and have always been. There
is now in circulation IN France and other
states of the Latin Union $1,0OO,0O0,0O0
which Is a full legal tender and at par
with gold. Germany stopped free coin
age Of silver and threw $15O,0OO,O00 Of
her silver on the market in order TO de-
press the price Of silver to enrich her
bOndholders and distress France, Of
whom she had exacted q payment Of
$1,OO0OOO,OOO war indemnity. Germany Is
not member OF the Latin Union, and
was never practically bl-metal country;
but even Germany did not demonetize
silver until June, 1874, one year and four