Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-08-10
cd of time and then almost invariably through


indissolu bly united. in the constitution of the
United States as the money basis of this coun-
try, placed there by George Washington.
Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Alexander
ly Endorsed and defended by Andrew jackson
and Lincoln: and,
Whereas, Silver one OF these ancient metals,
was. in the year 1871, without any previous de-
mand. by any political party and By any part
OF the people or even by any newspapers and
without public discussion, stricken down from
the place it had occupied since the days OF
Abraham under circumstances of such secrecy
that Allen G. Thurman. James Beck, William
M Stewart Daniel w. Voorhees, James G.
Blaine, thea speaker Of the house. James A.
Garfield v ILL.,: D. Kelly and others present
and voting for the bill, senators or representa-
tives, publicly declared that they did not know
until long afterward that so grave and great a
change had been made in the financial system
founded by the fathers Of the republic: and
Whereas, The debates in congress show that
the parentage of the measure was in part
cribed, by the friends of the bill. to one Ernest
Seyd. London banker who, 1t is claimed, was
sent over to Washington by the moneyed class
of The old world to secure its passage by secret
and corrupt means: and,
Whereas President Grant who signed the
bill declared long subsequently that he did not
know that 1t demonetfzed silver; and,
Whereas, the purpose of this attack upon
one of the two ancient precious metals of the
world, was, by striking down one-half OF the
chasing power Of gold. by making 1t the eQuiva-
lent of more of everything possessed pro-
duced by the labor OF man, thus reducing the
price OF all commodities, arresting enterprise,
impoverishing the toiler and degrading man
kind. That these results were not only newt
able. but foreseen, appears from the following
language used at that time. by the then presi-
dent Of the Bank Of France, who said: If by
a stroke Of the pen they suppress one of these
metals, they double the demand for the other
OeOtOPS
Whereas The awful consequences thus
prophesied are now upon the people of the
whole world. We stand in the midst of unpar-
alleled distress and in the shadow of impend-
ing calamities which are beyond estimate. The
ruling industry OF the people who inhabit
third of the area of this republic has been
stricken down, the property values destroyed
and the workmen compelled to fly as from pes
thence Everywhere over this broad land hon
est toilers numbering thousands have been
thrown out OF employment and will have TO eat
the bitter bread of charity or starve; the prod
uc,s Of industry, of the farm and the workshop
have deprecated in price as shown by Of
fetal and public statistics until production
ceases to be proftable: the money OF the coun-
try, inadequate for the business of the land,
has gravitated to the banks: while the people,
distressing the banks have demanded their de-
posits TO hoard or hide them mercantile houses
are going TO the wall by thousands because the
masses have not the means to buy even the
cessities OF life: to supply the lack OF currency
substitute for money, unknown to the laws,
called clearing house certificates; the move
ment OF the great crops, now being gath
cred, demands a vast amount Of currency
which the banks unable to furnish
and in the midst of these conditions the
daily press is clamorng for the repeal of the
act of July II, 1899, called the Sherman act, al
though the repeal OF that means the Stoppage
of the issue of more than s3 OJ0,0l0 of money
every month, thus shutting OF the supply of
funds for the business of the country in the
terrible conditions which surround US, and ig
norng the fact that 10 hold the balance level
between debtor and creditor the supply of cur
rency must increase side by side with the in
crease of popula ton and business and in this
nation the growth of population is at the rate
of about 81 per cent every ten years, while the
increase of business is greater; and,
Whereas. The great eXpounder of the consti-
tuition, Daniel Webster. said: Gold and silver
at rates fixed by the congress- constitute the
be@al standard OF value i'm this country and
neither congress nor any state has the author
hv 10 establish ang other standard or to dis
place that Standard" and
Whereas, Hon. James G. Blaine, quoting
this utterance adds: ION the much vexed and
long mooted QueS ton of bimetallic mono
metallic standard, sny own views are sufi-
GENTLY indicated in the remarks 1 have made.
l bekeve the struggle now going ia
this country and il other countries for single
gold standard were it successful would
produce widespread disaster throughout the
commercial world. The destruction of silver
as money and establishing gold as the sole unit
of value must hage aruinou5 effect all FORMS
of property except those investments Which
yield a fixed return in money. These would be
enormously enhanced in value would gain
disproportionaIe and unfair advantage over
every other SpenieS of property. II. as the
most reliable statistics affirm, there are nearly
S,OJOOO0OJO Qi coin or bullion In the world,
very uneQually divided betweeo gold and silver,
it is impossible strike siiser out OF existence
as money without results, which will prove dis
treSSing to millions a.id utterly disastrous to
tens of thousands. " Again he said: Il believe
gold and silver coin to be the money of the CON
siituiion-indeed the money Of the American
people anterior to the constitution which the
great org anie law recognized as quite independ.
ent or Its own existence. No power vas CON
ferred on congress TO declare that either metal
should not be money. Congress has therefore,
in my judgment, no power to demonettze both.
If, therefore, silver has been demon
etlZed, 1 am in favor of remonetiZiUg it If its
coinage has been prohibited 1 am in favor of
ordering IL to be res umed. am in favor of
having it enlarged" And,
Whereas. The present secretary OF the treas
urv, on the floor of congress, February 2i 1876,
said: Il know that the worlds stock OF pre-
cious met ais is none too large and see Eo
son to apprehend that it will become Man
kind will be fortunate, indeed. if the annual
production of gold and silver coin sh all keep
pace with the annual increase of population,
commerce aud industry. According TO my view
Of the subject. the conspiracy which seems 10
have been formed here and in Europe to
destroJ by legislation and otherwise from
three-sevenths TO oae-haK of the metallic
money of the world is the most
gigantic crime of this or any other
age. The consuHrmatiop of such scheme would
uitimat ely entail more misery upon the human
race than all the wars, pestilences and events
that have ever occurred The instantaneous de-
structon of one half the entire movable prop
erty OF the world, including houses, shops. rail-
WAYS and all other appliances for carrying ON
commerce, while it would be felt more sensiblv
at the moment would not produce anything
like the prolonged distress and disorganiZati0n
of society that mast result from the permanent
annihilatiou of ons5Aaif of tae metallic money
OF The world: " and,
Whereas. Senator Sherman, of Ohio, who
more than any mag is responsible for the de-
IN ton of silver. clearly understood the
evil consequences ot shrinking the currency be-
Sow the legitimate demands of the business OF
the country. as evidenced by what he said ia
the senate Ia 1869 to- wit: 1.-The contrac ton OF
than senators suppose Our own and other
nations have gone through that opera
tioH before II is not possible to take
that VOYAGE without the Giresi distress. 10
every person except capitalist outef debt or
saiaried officer or a1nvitant. it is period OF
loss, danger, laSsitude of trade. fall of wages,
suspension of enterprise, bankruptcy and dis
aSteE- 1t means the ruiz, of all dealers whore
debts are twice their business capital, thoue
one-thiri less than their actual property. it
means the fall of all agricultural productions
without anv great reduction of taxes. What