The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-03-14

must lead, that upon any conceivable
theory of human development, based
upon lines of experience or Of present
human thOughtandknowledge neither
religion nor the intellect of man could
produce an advanced general Civiliza-
ton without the concurrent agency Of
these metals, that in the general selec-
ton of means to ends that is every
where apparent, these metals were Sc
lected and ordained for the monetary
uses of man; and we can safely trust
that in the future, as well as in the
past, the stOrehOuses of nature will not
surrender them more rapidly than the
legitimate uses and welfare of man re
quire.
II the time shall ever come for silver
to be dispensed with, it will be when
the treasures of nature shall have
opened compromising supplies of gold
for the uses of the world; but the like
IlhOOd of such an event is not now ap-
parent. If, as seems probable, the
product Of gold that will not be required
in the arts and manufactures is to con
stantly diminish, silver will all the more
have to be relied upon to take its place
and perform its functions as a metal
money. 1t may be expected, however,
that the two metals will go on in the
future as in the past with alternating
periods Of relative production, but in
| their combined use sustaining the
values of the world, without the fuc-
tuatiOns that would attend the rising
and falling volume of either metal
alone. And if, after the resumption of
coinage upon any fixed ratio, il should
develop that the fears of excessive sup
ply that are expressed by some are be
ing realized, a new and higher ratio
can readily be adopted which would
inevitably reduce the production Of
silver by reducing its monetary value;
and future action upon this point might
be provided for in any agreement that
should be entered into. The ratios be-
tween the metals have been changed
at various times in the past, sometimes
in favor of gold aad sometimes in favor
of silver.
All the nations of Europe were in
vited to send delegates to the Brussels
conference. 1t seems remarkable that,
| while such nations as Greece, Portugal
and Turkey were invited, no invita-
lions were sent to our sister republics
of South America, with whom u
ira lie relations should be most intimate.
The conference seems to be dominated
by the brokerage e. ement OF the British
delegation. From any narrow and
selfish standpoint it is not in the in
terest of the London bankers to favor
either the reconciliation of silver or
uniformity of coinage among nations.
1t IS. through varying standards and
cOlnageS that they have made countless
millions In etfecting the worlds e
changes. and specializing upon the
worlds trade.
Any One al see that if there were
coins of uniform value, so that certain
American, English, French, German
and other coins were the equivalent of
each other, people would travel from
one country to another without the
payment Of brOkerages in making ex-
changes; and that If silver bullion was
at the fixed value which free cJinage
b! the nations generally would estab-
fish, 1T would no longer be purchasable
at fuctuating prices for use in India
and other silver-producing countries.
If the conference should be permitted
to go to a successful issue, the Occupa-
tons of Mr.. de Ruthschilland Mr.. Cur
RE might be seriously affected. They,
doubtless IS, want to hold matters about
where they are, deranged and depreci-
ated, that out of such conditions thew
may continue to levy tribute upon the
worlds trade and travel. But the dc
probation has proceeded so far as to
threaten the financial systems of Eu-
rope and the world; while the import
ers in Europe from India and other
silver countries, and while the bankers
in London are fatGening upon existing
conditions, the exporters of England to
those countries. and the British agri-
cul5urist, r suffering in like proper
ton. This accounts for the movements
in Manchester and other English manu-
featuring cities in behalf Of silver.
ITO BE CONTINUED