Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-31
A PLEA FOR SILVER.
Continued from First page.)

duction of silver In the world; that IL was
cneaply produced, at a cost much less than
Its present market price as a commodity.
anc that upon a return to free coinage ~ a
rato OF II 10 the present product would be
largely increased. He held that not one Of
shese statements was true. and that the
falslty OF each of them could be readily DEM
ohstrsted. In this connection he cited a
NUMBER OF nsures. and taking up particu-
iariy the case OF Leadville, cited the resalts
OF Careful inquiry made by a committee
OF leading citizens into the cost of silver
production there. His summary showed
that Leaovhle had produced in fourteen
years. net. sl04 SIS ga at a cost OF s12i 52l $751;
showing q loss I'm silver mining changed INTO
fair profit by the value OF the by-products.
The people OF the far northwest favored the
resumption Of free silver coinage becau use
they believed in bimetallism. They were
not infiationists; they did not advocate fiat
money. They believed that. as senator
Jones had aptiy put u. the rude obstacles
ter safeguard for the people then the wis
dom or unwisdom OF their rulers. They
opposed the single standard because tfere
was not enough gold TO DO the business u
the world and furnish its habitsnts with
the currency they needed. Twenty years
experience had emphasized the experiences
OF Centuries. Silver had not deprecated but
gold had appreciated.
The question to whether silver should
be demonetixed by this bill WAS nationsl
and not local IL he represented any other
section, with his knowledge OF the posi-
bflities Of the great west. he would be
equally tenacious for the preservation of the
white metal as standard of value. No
man removed from the money centers and
realizing the illimitable resources Of this
republic and its constantly increasing needs
would ever stand for the contraction VI o
currency already insufficient.
The Plea of the West.
The interests were identical with those
OF the other sections of the country, which
were borrowers and not lenders. They de-
manded the coinage of both metals becsuss
the history OF all countries had taught them
that they afforded the safest and most
adequate basis for the currency OF the peO-
pie. They were not influenced by their enyi-
ronment IL was true that for a generation 1T
least many great states would suffer N this
bill became law, but they could endurs IL
The strong would survive and the weak
would go 30 the wall But ID would he the
first time in the history Of the world that q
people devoted TO one of the noblest IN
dustries-to the search for precious metals
were doomed TO destruction by their fel-
low men because they produced too mach
for them. They should be proud that
within the limits Of our country the courage
silver enough. and nearly gold enough. 10
satisfy the constantly increa sing needs OF
those metals for coinage purposes. Tbere
could be- ne stronger euiwa-k OF a counflF's
for her own people and was not eepenoenf
for * on foreign nations.
An Sections Bsser~st~d-
If the mining states alone we're ~ s0nef
BY unconditional repeal they would s1fter
without a word IN the interest of a nais-
taken policy for the public good: but there
was no section of the country that sEs
not likewise being devoted 20 disaster ana
impoyerishment The Senate was endeav-
o-ing to remove one Of the corner stores
| of the government fabric: to tear down one
of the pillars OF the temple OF our Iros-
| perity, they would md to their :'Jrror mat
when the western and south .rn wallis had
crun1bied the eastern facade wso.d MOI le-
main unmutilated and secure. The resGits
| Of Ills action woun affect .Ne.'y home ana
| fireside sn this broad land. Aeass'~d
against the welfare Of great pcsgle
| threatened with the misery and suffering
1 which must follow the abaudonment az
silver OF how slight importance We're lsrty
| lines and how paltry and sorsid did sat
ronage and the favor Of the ENecufl.e ep-
pear The hattie must he fought 10 the era
| in this forum. ON other occs <,sas had the
| Senate I'm opposition 90 the wishes Of the
4 executive and a hostile ms jorfsy in anof her
| body stood firm ana unyielting against
/ party and eastern clamor. No scctissnai
4 horizon obscured its views. " the contest
| for the people was to be won II must tie
because against the selfish oemanos 81
the east were arrayed the united votes a
| the south and the west. u vas fAetn
1 standing together on this great QUESTION 20
save the common country from greater
| suffering and impoverishment shan even
the horrors Of war could inaict; and ny
| their united votes TO maintain. not alone
the standard OF both gold and silver eon-
| templated by the Constitution and con-
| tain as well the standard Of American IN
dependence and American manhood