The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1893-10-07
TIE SILVER CRAZE.

Silver men can see no salvation for
the country except in unlimited COIN
age, and this, they believe, will cure
all the evils under which the country
is now suffering. If they are protec-
tionists, they think its adoption per-
fectly consistent with that economic
policy, and if free traders they clamor
loudly, like the Evening Telegram, for
free silver and no duty on imports.
This is the way the Heppner Gazette,
Republican paper, views the ques-
tion:
"Our friends, the protectionists,
will talk of their pet schemes, but
when it comes to the protection of
Americans from the merciless oppres-
sion of the foreign money influence,
they hold up their hands in dismay.
Such condition of matters ought not
to be. Because England and Germany
want us to complete the work Of DESC
lation by throwing into the sea, as 1t
were, the little remnant that we have
left of one-half of our ability to pay
our debts, it is time to come to full
stop. 1t is not the silver dollar that
should be raised in value, but the
unearned and dishonest buying power
of the gold one ought to be taken
away. What it has does not belong
to it, any more than the fruits of
highway robbery belong to the disciple
of Black Bart, and this great nation
which furnishes all its own silver, and
sells to the world besides who must
have part of our product, should
stand out against such demands, and
in sympathy with the bimetallic ma
tions of the world"
We believe our contemporary is beg
ging the question when it talks about
the "merciless oppression of the for
eign money influence" for no such
oppression" has been suffered by this
or any other people. Then, further
on, it speaks about England and Ger
many wanting US to complete the
work of desolation by throwing into
the sea-" ETC. This is all 'bosh After
the war closed the Republican party
stood firmly in favor of the payment
of the national debt in the money in
which it was contracted, and this was
the only course that was dictated BY
honor and integrity. Ever since it
has been in favor of honest money,
and this was simply dealing fairly with
all concerned-our own people as well
as foreign bcndholders. To act hon
estly with our creditors cannot be con
sidered as helping on "the work of
desolation" whatever that may mean.
The maintenance of the single gold
standard as representative of value
has kept up the price of labor, and
made the purchasing. power of the
poor mans dollar higher and less fuc-
tuating than if our currency were de-
preciated by flooding the country with
SILVER. This gold standard has OPP
pressed no one. It has simply made
commercial transactions stable and on
an equality when dealing with other
nations, and any other policy would
have been suicidal to the government
and to the best interests of the Amer
lean people. Pass free coinage, and
Wall street will buy silver bullion in
Europe at the deprecated value, bring
it to this country, have it minted and
increase its wealth nearly double.
Gold would soon be driven out of cir
culation, and the poor mans wages
weuld buy much less than they now
do in the market. Want and suffer-
ing would follow among the lower
classes, while there would be an un-
precedented accumulation of wealth
among the few.
1t is sheer nonsense to think that
the United States can adopt the
double standard, and force other ma
tiens to the same policy. While this
country is the wealthiest nation on the
globe, its wealth consist in undevel-
oped lands, mines and other resources,
which is not nearly as available as the
eein of Great Britain and Germany.
These two nations command three
feurths of the commerce of the world,
and Americans would find themselves
handicapped in their trade with for
eign countries, because of the less pur
chasing power of their deprecated
currency.
In the matter of protection We are
independent of foreign nations, because
we raise all necessary raw materials,
and with constantly increasing pop
ulation the home demand is being
There are not the same
opportunities to battle against the
nations of the world in the
matter of currency as there is to con-
tend against only one In the question
of protecting home industries. Our
friends cannot make pro-
lection and free-silver in any way
and they should be aware
of the fact that the party to which
they are affiliated have always advo-
Gated q solid basis for the currency of
this country.
DUTY OF REPUBL1oANs.
The dilemma at Washington City is
.aused hv the perveraeness of certain