Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-11-07
The GREAT CONTEST.

.The gold men seem to be ignor
ant Of the first principles of politica
economy" said Mr.. Stewart in the
Senate on the 10Th of October, 1898
sfhey are 50 recreant to the
rights OF the masses, so greedy to add
to the wealth OF the classes, so greedy
to change this form of government,
90 greedy to double the obligations
OF contracts, SO greedy TO absorb all
existing rights that they ignore all
sound principles Of finance and try
to place US absolutely on the single
gold standard. There 10 not wealth
enough on the gold standard to pay
the interest on the obligations al
ready in existence. Even il you are
pot in debt, your country is, and you
have to pay taxes, but the bondholders
pay no taxes; the bondholders bear
no portion of the burden. The bonds
OF the United States are exempt from
taxes and the bonds OF railroads are
principally held in other lands, where
they cannot be reached. They are
hidden away. The burden falls upon
those who have visible property. 1t
falls upon the little home of the la
boring man, it falls upon the farmer,
u falls upon the enterprising man
who has created wealth by his skill
and by his investments, and the class
who own this vast accumulated in
dsbtedness bear no portion of the
burden which is augmented day by
day by reducing the money with
which it shall be paid, and thus in
creasing the struggle Of the debtors
to obtain money with which to dis
charge these obligations.
II tell you, Mr.. President, the con-
test Is upon the helpless masses of
mankind, who are now in the hands
OF their creditors, and the 100000.
100000 which the people of the Uni
ted States owe IN an enormous bur.
den, and there must be added to that
the obligation to pay taxes to carry
on the government, which the pro-
ducers and the owners OF homes must
pay.
"lf gold alone is to be the stand.
ard, II silver is to be destroyed, let
no man content himself with the idea
that he can escape from the losses
which will result. His property is
mortgaged to pay tho obligations of
the government. The railroads with
$4,000, 100000 Of stock and $4,000.
DOC, 200 more Of bonds are mort
gage on every man who travels; they
are a mortgage on the labor Of every
man who produces an article Of com.
merce. Here are tho obligations Of
your local governments, state gov
ernments, and national government.
all mortgage upon your property.
DO you not want to discharge that
mortgage in the money OF the con-
tract? Do you want that mortgage
enlarged by policy being adopted
which will make it more difficult for
you to get the money with which to
pay your taxes?
do you know when money be-
comes scarce, like all other articles,
1t becomes dear, and when you en-
bance that mortgage you increase the
power and control OF the classes over
the masses? Do you not know that
consideration OF what has occurred
would lead any sensible man to the
conclusion that there was co.opera.
ton between our officials and the Of
hcials of Great Britain to strike down
free coinage in India and silver pur-
chasss in the United States? Do
you not believe that Mr.. Bayard, our
to Great Britain, would
advocate the reduction of the world
to the gold standard, and that, If his
advice were asked, he would advise
the suspension OF coinage in India?
Can it be doubted that it was his
purpose to reduce everything to the
gold standard whom he says so?s