The advocate and Topeka tribune., 1893-07-26

LEee coinage can only give bRck TO the silver
miner 80 much Of value as the law Of 1873
took away, it is unjust, after reducing the
price Of his product by law, to then change
the ratio and make perpetual the injunction
against his property.
We denounce as selfish and inconsistent
the action Of the eastern states which, hav-
ing grown rich by laws intended to give
special advantage TO their manufacturers,
now oppose laws demanded for the general
good, on the ground that such laws might
bring an incidental benefit to the miners of
silver. We also suggest as an indication Of
their prejudice against silver that they never
complain of the increased advantage given
to gold miners by laws which appreciate the
value Of that metal.
We call attention to the fact that the
prioes of our staple agricultural exports
have fallen with silver, and that the farmer
has found his labor less productive, while
his debts, remaining nominally the same,
have actually increased in size, and insist
that it is unjust to the toilers on the praiFies
of the west and in the cotton fields Of the
south to change the ratio by enlarginR the
silver dollar, and thus condemn them to
perpetual low prices. We also emphasize
the fact that q change in the ratio, secured
by increasing the size of the silver dollar
would neoessitate the recOinsge of five hum
dred millions of dollars at great shrinkage1
thus reducing the sum of our currency and
decreasing the value of all other property,
and increasing the burden Of all debts. If
our example should be followed by all
other nations the additional weight placed
upon the producers Of the world by the
shrinkage in the number of dollars would
amount to billions of dollars. We do not
approve Of the Sherman law, especially as
but rather condemn it because
it treats silver as merchandise rather than
money, but we regard it as better than
nothing in that it adds to the volume Of our
currency and, by offering a market for one
third of the total annual supply of silver,
the price of silver bullion is at q higher
point than it would reach otherwise. We
therefore oppose the unconditional repeal
of the present law because it would suspend
the issue Of money needed by an increasing |
population and, by widening the breach be-
tween the coinage and bullion value Of sill
YER, make the return TO bi-metallism more
difficult.
We condemn as suggestive either Of igno-
nance or intent to deceive, the refusal Of
the opponents of silver to present Substi-
tute or outline any future financial policy,
and insist that as bi-metallists we are now
in better position to fight the battle Of the
standards than we will be if we take the
dnal step to gold standard by the unOon-
litiOnal repeal of the present law.
We deprecate any suggestion of violence,
that all wrongs can be righted at
the ballot box, confidently relying upon the
Intelligence and patriotism of the people of |
the United States TO urge a careful consid-
sration of present conditions and proposed |
remedies to the end that prosperity may be |
restored to the masses of our people; there
fore be il
Resolved, That we demand Of our senR-
tors and representatives that they oppose
he repeal of the Sherman law Of July IA,
1890, except by the adoption of law placing |
silver back to its position prior to its de-
in 1873.
We denounoe it as inconsistent with sound
public policy TO confer or advise, directly
or indirectly, with any foreign nation "a TO
What the money or currency of the United
States should be.
OTHER CAUSES FOR OUR TROUBLE,