Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-09-21
Tho Republic" and Free Coinage.


regard to the position it will ultimate
ly occupy upon the coinage question, is
quite as profound as any ever produc-
ed by the most complex creation of
Mr.. Wilkie Collins. After an anxious
perusal of its columns, extending over
a number of months, we gather that it
is in favor of a bimetalic system that
will require the use of but one metal,
and that metal gold, and that it prefers
a theory of free silver coinage by
which no silver will ever be coined.
Ali advocates of any other system are
silver monometalists. In its article of
last Saturday upon 'Silver Monometal-
ists," it places the REGISTER in the
ranks of those who desire the exclusive
use of the white metal. We beg to
assure our esteemed metropolitan con-
temporary that the silver monometal-
list is wholly Pigment of its imagina-
tion-one of the results of getting too
far above the ground.
In what issue of the REGISTER did it
ever declare the ratio of 16 to to be
..sacred" ratio? 1t believes that as
the ratio of 16 to l has stood the test
for 80 years, it is better than one that
would increase the burdens of the
debtor or rob the creditor; but it is
willing to accept ratio of 16 to 1, IS
to 1, or 20 to 1. Will the Republic
kindly indicate what ratio it is willing
to accept? 1t has never done so yet.
The only effort it has made on behalf
of bimetalism is to shrek for the re-
peal of the Sherman law, uuaccompa-
MED by any clause that would restore
silver to its place as a money metal
precisely what every Ickelheimer and
Heidelbacher throughout the land is
doing. The people of this country
understand the Sherman law much
better than the Republic supposes.
They know that with an administra-
ton favorable to silver, although not
a good law. it would furnish to the
people millions of money of final ac-
count, and that it is this feature that is
alone so displeasing to the gold con-
spirators. Hence their anxiety to get
it out OF the way. There is no danger
of this country's being placed upon a
silver basis by free coinage. Suppos-
ing that silver should supplant gold as
money metal in this country, no evil
consequences would be likely to follow.
Gold would flow to the gold using
countries, where its value would de-
crease as it's volume would increase.
With US, silver would take the place of
gold, and do the Office now performed
by that metal alone. Its increased use
would cause Its value to increase, so
that the values would approximate, and
genuine bimetalism be brought about
in any event. 1t is admitted that the
stamp of the government creates money;
that is, gives to a certain commodity
the function of being a medium of ex-
change as we'll as a measure of value.
Labor creates all value. The stamp
of the government upon a piece of pa
per certifying that a certain amount of
labor has been performed, will be read
lily taken in exchange for the same
amount of labor in any calling, while
the people have confidence that the
certificate of the government states a
fact. Gold and silver have been used
because their intrinsic value affords an
additional security that the certified
amount of labor has been performed.
The function of being money has given
to gold and silver a wider use, and,
consequently, an increased value.
Striking down silver and placing the
whole burden of being a money metal
upon the shoulders OF gold, enhances
its value, doubles the liabilities of the
debtor classes, and doubles the profit of
the creditor classes, and is the thing
the honest men of all classes in this
country do not mean to tamely submit
to, as the servants who misrepresent
them will be apt to find out. If we
must come to a single standard, and
be compelled to choose between gold
and silver, the REGISTER would unhes-
itatingly espouse the cause of silver as
being demonstratably the more stable
metal of the two. Talk about what
Germany, India or any other country
has done, or may do, deceives no one.
The people of this country are not go
ing to have their liabilities doubled,
even If the. Rothschilds should refuse