The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-10-17
A CHANGE OF BASE.
How the Hypocrits Cleared Their Skirts


How the Hypocrits Cleared Their Skirts.
Mr.. EDIToR:-For the last few years,
since the financial question has been so
prominently before the public, we have
heard from Democratic orators and
writer's a great deal about the dark
crime of 1873, when silver was so uase-
ly and stealthily demonetized. Like
thief in the night, the English conspir
ators, aided by John Sherman and
few other American traitors, secretly
in the rush OF closing session of Con-
gress, struck down one-half our money,
and left us an easy prey to the money
sharks at home and abroad. This is
the gospel the Democratic apostles
have been preaching to us, and as usual
we have come to believe it as truth.
But recently 1 notice there has been
a change of base. We hear no more
of the dark crime of 1873 from machine
Democracy. On the contrary many
of them are now declaring that silver
was demonetized openly and without
particle of secrecy. In the controversy
between the Richmond Times and the
Virginia Sun, notice the Times bold
ly takes this position and brings for
ward evidence to prove it. So strong
does this evidence appear that [ am
persuaded to again accept their testi-
mony-at least partially.
When we view the matter in the
light of subsequent history, 1t docs
seem reasonable that at least a great
part of the Congress of 1878 did not
ignorantly strike down silver. I am
convinced that many of them knew
what they we're doing, and that the
hypocrites intended to go home and
tell their constituents (as they did)
that they were deceived by old John
Sherman and other traitors.
In proof of this we have only to look
closely at their conduct since. The Re
publican party has in every campaign
promised to remonetize silver if con-
tinued in power But as fast as the
power was given, they backed down
and evaded the question by referring
it to international conferences! The
Democrats have always professed
themselves anxious to undo the crime
if they could not get ''a chance" But
now they have chance, they too want
to refer it to an international conference
when they know England and other
European powers will never consent.
They are awful good friends Of silver,
but fear it would be dishonest money,
and they want money that will pass
all over the world (and State banks,
too) Now they know that the nations
which have single silUer standard
comprise more than tlCjce as many peo-
pie as the nations which have a single
gold standard added to those nations
which use both metals. This statement
is not guesswork but is based upon fig
ures furnished by the Director Of the
U. S. Mint, in January, 1898. If this
don't knock their fimsy excuses into
mincemeat, what can?
Then it does seem clear that they do
not intend to restore silver to an equal
ity with gold. This being so, it follows
logically that they have always desired
a single gold standard, despite their
professions to the contrary, and that
they were not deceived in 1868 True,
the country was deceived and undoubt
edly the few patriots in Congress, but
the politicians knew what they were
doing and they made a good job of It.
J. z. SPENCE.
If you are living where you can get
tobacco stems or other refuse of the
weed" for little money, you are not
living up to your privileges if you do
not take them. Insects have one
characteristic that makes them nobler
than men-they do not like the taste of
tobacco. They will run from it when
served either in the form of tea or
without cooking. Tobacco is also
seven times as rich in fertility as aver
age stable manure We advocate the
use Of tobacco-by all bugs and worms
that are injurious to vegetation.