The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-07-20

coinage laws as they were from the
first yeaI of the federal constitution
until the furtive repeal of 1876. The
Sherman law was trick by which the
restoration was defeated. 1t was ac-
cepted by bi-metalists as pledge that
old laws would at some future time be
restored, and they demand not that
the Sherman law shall be retained, but
that the hostage shall be redeemed by
the re-enactment in its stead of COIN
age laws under which our cpuntry
prosp red for more than three quarS
tiers of century.
The charge that bi-metalists de-
mand that 60 cents shall be made a
dollar is lie. 1t was trick of single
standard conspirators that lessened
the value of silver. Has gold been
demonetized instead of silver. retain
ing for silver its greatest use and chief
est function and depriving gold of its
greatest and chiefest function, gold
would not today be worth S. per ounce
and silver's value and purchasing
power would be increased largely
above its former highest
figure. What the bi- metalists
do ask and all they ask,
is that the law relating to coinage as
it was for rs years OF the country's
greatest glory shall be restored with
out the addition or expunging of q
syllable. If with that law re-enacted
and a fair trial of it, had the silver
sham not without the purchase of an
ounce of metal by the govern
ment, resume its former relative
value with gold, the bi.
metalists will cheerfully submit
to any legislation that experience will
suggest as necessary to make every
dollar of the United States equal in
intrinsic value to every dollar bearing
its stamp. They urge the old law with
supreme confidence born of unassail
able truths, that it will Immediately
replace every American dollar upon
par, both as coin and bullion, restore
the bonds of weakened love and conf
dence, and set in happy motion the
wheels of all the country's magnificent
industries.
Will you listen to us while we speak
in words of sober earnestness of the
local effects the unconditional repeal
of the silver law will have. The silver
mining states and territories, embrace
ing 100000 square miles of the CONT
nent, with 100000 American inhabi-
tants dependent upon silver mining
for their prosperity? That industry is
the very heart from which nearly ev-
cry other industry receives its support.
Agriculture will not thrive without
artificial irrigation, its mines of coal.
iron, stone and clay, while magnifi-
cent, are worked with such dear labor
and are so remote from other local
markets that their movements would
be feeble and their operation
disastrous without the stimu-
lus the mining industry af-
fords 1t supports our foundries,
operates machine shops, supplies rail
roads with freights. stimulates travel,
keeps the bright fires of the smelters
and sends customers to the shops of
our merchants; it has invoked in the
valleys and upon mountain sides mag
nificent cities and thrifty towns and
villages, great manufactures of paper,
cotton, leather, iron, steel and
clay, distributes finished products
and supports thousands of prosperous
and happy families But because ag
riculture is so limited in area, confined
to narrow strips along our few and
scanty streams, our labor so high and
its handwork so remote from other
than local markets, coal Is mined, coke
is burned, rail is rolled, grain is grown
fruit is gathered in the main for own
ers and workers in silver mines anc
smelters ard proprietors and workmer
of industries and callings are depend
ent upon them.
The reduction of the price of silver
to about 70 cents has shut down about
| SO per cent of the silver mines in the
country and the shelters must soor
follow. There are in Colorado today
| 1900 idle miners who know not where
to turn if work is not resumed. There
will soon be added to this idle army o
labor 1000 more from the shelters
Stone quarries have nearly all shu
down, railway companies are laying
off train crews by the score, foundrie,
are nearly all out of order, farmer
and fruit growers will be barely paiC
for the cost of saving their crops, mer
chants are countermanding orders
travelling men from Eastern house
seek almost in vain for customers. Thi
is no exaggeration. The destruction
of the silver industry will devastat
the country as if swept by cyclone
reaching from the British possession
to the Mexican border line. This is
sorrowful picture, with its mining in
dustry destroyed, but represents tn
condition of other mining states AM
territories with the same calamit
upon them.
Ii silver mines shall remain close,
one half the American output of lea
must be lost. The greatest bulk c
lead product is taken from silver beal
ing ores. 1t requires one metal sup
plemented by the other to renumerat
the lead silver miner. Not less tina
So per cent of the gold product of thi
country depends upon the Inainten
anee OF the silver industry. Placer G
creek washings, the earliest and mos
prolific source of our gold supply, ar
practically exhausted. Those VIII
contend for gold single standard wi
fully mislead you as to the cost of pro
ducing silver. We say to you in tn
most solemn and truthful name
that reliable statistics prove that in
Guiding but the legitimate Items in tn
account the silver of Colorado cost
by the time it is on tn
market not less than $1.29 pc
onnca like gold. some silver is prC