Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1892-01-04
The Banner and Silver.

The Nashville Banner, copying
some remarks from this paper com
plimenting its. able and courageous
defense of Mr.. Crisp and his policy,
in which we said eff the Banner
could get little silver in its compo-
sition eitl would indeed be very
bright Democratic journal and would
at once take the .Ieadership..of the
State, etc." makes this reply:
Gl"We appreciate the compliment
paid the Banner by our GAINESVILLE
contemporary, and our regret that
the Banner cannot fill the full meas
ure of the ideal of a Democratic
journal set up by the LEAF-CHRON-
ICLE is tempered by the fact that the
more we study the silver question
the more thoroughly convinced we
become that the free coinage of de-
preciated silver dollars would not
only be hazardous and damaging
financial policy, but one altogether
in conflict with correct Democratic
principles. Happily, however, the
Banner is. not an organ, and, while
it is convinced that the true princi.
Piles of Democracy must ever cOnSti-
tute the foundation of safety upon
which the republic must re3t, it
is free to discuss political measures
without having to adjust them to
any convention decree. The Demo
cratic majority in Congress have, we
believe, pursued a proper course, and
the Banner commends them in it,
and regrets to find some party organs
fomenting factional strife and throw
ing obstacles in the way OF Demo
cratic success next year.
"The Banner would like to see sill.
yer dignifed and maintained at the
highest monetary standard, but this
can never. be, done by diShonoring
silver in free coinage fiat dollar.
Finally, permit us to say that the
Banner has no "irresponsible subor
dinate," but when its responsible
editor is away his associates of the
editorial staff ..are responsiby in
charge"
The Banner is almost persuaded to
embrace the full faith, but like Nj
codemus, ii can't under-tan the doc
trine of being born again. Our es-
teemed contemporary is mistaken as
regards free coinage being in conflict
with Democratic principles. 1t is a
Democratic doctrine IA old HIS the
party, and consequently "A consti-
tutional doctrine; that instrument
provided that silver shall be money
(not a commodity entitled to the
same coinage privilege as gold on a
parity ratio, the law making 4l24
grains standard silver, or 81 grains
fine silver equal TO 1922 grains of
gold, and this is all that free coinage
claims for silver Gold under the
present law, no matter where it |
comes from, is entitled to free coin
age or to be deposited in the treasury
for gold certificate, which is the
same. Silver being demonetized and
limited in coinage, is made COM
modify and not money, and gold is
made to depreciate silver by being
elevated to the single money stand
ard or currency basis. II the Ban
ner would study the difference be-
tween coinage value and commercial |
value, putting gold down on the
same level or basis with silver, de-
prived of coinage value, it would get /
that fiat dollar idea out Of its head |
and be all right. The time was
when a silver dollar was worth a |
premium over gold, because silver .
being the sCarcest metal stood mt its /
coinage value. Now iinancers tell !
us that gold is the scarcer metal and /
there is not enough of it to supply !
the worlds demand This country
wants more money and we need to
nut silver on an equal footing with
gold TO get it.
.