Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1893-11-06
WHAT WILL BE THE EFFECT?


Sherman silver purchase bill takes
place after nearly three months of
wrangling in the two houses Of con-
gress, and the country is TO learn
whether the anticipations Of the Pres
ident and other enthusiastic repealers
are to be realized, or whether the ca
lamities that have been presaged by
the silverites are to befall the nation.
We doubt whether all the beneficial
results predicted by the repealers
will occur, and have no idea that the
misfortunes predicted will occur.
Whether gold is the only standard of
value, Or whether the two metals are
used, so far as the United States as a
country is concerned, would probably
make no material difference for the
few years to come. The repealers are
doubtless right in believing that the
government has purchased, and is
holding all the silver that it can carry
with safety, and that the time has
come when the purchase must cease,
if that alre adyi coined and held as
bullion Kept at its coin face value.
1t is neither right or wise for the gov
eminent 10 attempt TO purchase all
the surplus product of silver, also that
needed in the arts. The sum already
minted is far above the necessities Of
business, and ten times more than the
people will use-as coin.
The United States can not enter into
the silver business, merely to buy up
and hoard in vaults the millions that
all mines are producing, unless this
silver can be purchased by the people
of this country, or OF some country,
and put to use. If the people will not
buy it for use in business, or in the
arts, and the world refuses to buy it,
except at great discount from cost,
nobody, except it may be those inter-
ested in money, and at the same time
in that they would force
their products upon the country at
some losing rate, would call it good
business policy on the part OF the
government to purchase it.
On the other hand, the stopping Of
a few silver mines, and the deprecia
ton of silver to still lower figure,
will not necessarily bring the silver
states to ruin, Or the country to &C.
struction. This is but a single indus
try, and we wager that the country
has lost, from the mere thing OF over
production, and the use of electricity
On street railways, far more in the de-
probation in horses in the last two
years than it viii lose for the next
two years in the silver matter.
We venture to further say that any
fear of adverse legislation, or any
which shall restrict or de-
stroy many OF the manufacturing in
1ustries, as for instance, iron, cotton,
Gather, machinery, will be more dele
ferrous to the country than the entire
of silver mining. One year
of crop failures, whether it be cotton
Wheat, corn or grass, would infect on
this people a greater loss than the an
Initiation of all the mined silver in
5he silver states. Government can
not stand under any industry, wheth
or it be the mining OF silver, the grow
ng Of corn or the raising of hogs.
When the attention of the silver
miner is turned, for instance, to gold
wheat raising, manufacturing
or other industry, he may find him
't II as we'll off in the world as he was
when the silver mine was proftably 1
run. The enterprising AMI courage
BUS people Of the silver states will not
perish nor lose heart because they /
IAN not force their silver into govern ]
nent vaults. There will be something
or them to do yet, and as soon as
here is time to adjust matters, there
will be a STILL we doubt not. brighter
for them.
Seemingly the most foolish thing
hat has occurred in this whole mat t
er is the insane and frantic action of
he populists in congress. What in {
he world the reason is that men from {
uch states as Kansas and other mid {
Western states should go crazy over
his thing, is mystery that no ordin-
.ry man can solve. 1t is probably s
! tn ng inherent to the party. What t
,ver is the most irrational and impol- t
tic is the thing most desirable to :
hem. But there always has to be
ome asylums for the diseased and
ome asylum party where the fanat- {
cs, the cranks and insane politicians /
IAN find lodgment till such time as I
hey come to their reason.