The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-04-28
EDUCATE THE EASTERN MIND.

With tho right side Of the question,
ample for expenses and armed
with all that ia necessary to win a good
case, the friends of FREQ silver have been
singularly slow in educating the public
mind.
The discussion of the silver side has
been confined almost wholly to the sill
YER states and certain agricultural dis
tricts of the west where people have
boon enlightened by those not actually
concerned in the industry. The far
mers and laborers of tho eastern states
who ought to be most interested in 1t
because free coinage means the better
mont Of tho industrial situation, have
never enjoyed the opportunity OF study.
ing more than one side of the question.
The only arguments offered to them
have come from the gold bug press of
the east. Indeed. we do not know of a
strong newspaper east of the Missis-
sippi river hat advocates free silver.
This prejudice has been largely created
by the American Bankers association,
an organization which not only employs
its own mediums to kill free coinage
sentiment but has actually attempted
to subsldize class newspapers like those
devoted to the interests of agriculture
and religion. The Mining Industry and
Tradesman of Denver points out the
effect Of the policy in these words:
'Thls is the plan that organization has
worked upon from the first, and its
ready tools l n control of newspapers and
magazines have suppressed the silver
side Of the question, misrepresented it
and lied for their own side until the
eastern public, which has heard only one
side Of the question, believes that any
man who favor free silver coinage is
crazy. But light is breaking. The
question is being discussed and this is
all any just cause needs When the
discussion has educated the public on
the monetary question, free silver coin
age will come as the unavoidable conse-
quence."
Free silver will never come until the
voters of the country give the word. 1t
must be won on the same plan and by
the same methods used in all popular
reforms. The beneficial results OF the
free coinage of silver on a parity with
gold must be impressed upon the voters
mind before he will give his support and
the only way to accomplish this is to
educate him. Some time ago there was
much discussion concerning the estab-
lishment Of a great newspaper in New
York city devoted to the preaching OF
free coinage. 1t was an admirable idea
The mass of voters in this country are
reached by newspapers. Magazines and
pamphlets are excellent mediums for
the instruction of those who have the
time and intelligence needed for the
study, but the newspaper is closer tc
the people. 1t is read for the news and
variety of topics and in this way argu-
ments are best brought to the readers
attention.
So long as the great majority Of voters
are in the east, national legislation will
be controlled by the representatives o.
that section and despite the rapic
growth of the west, it is probable thai
this situation will continue for a long
time to come. The route to victory
therefore, must be cut from the Missis
sippi to the Atlantic and this ought no
to consume great time or involve man.
difficulties if the work is done on educa
tional lines. A strong free silver pape
in New York. another in Chicago and
third in Boston, all of which should b
newspapers as we'll as silver organs
would accomplish the object within
reasonable time. This plan of attacl
by the gold people has kept the easter
mind ignorant Of the facts; the onl
way to win is to fire back with tn
truth. The battle must be carried int
the enemy's entertainments to produc
the votes and until this is done ther
can be but few hopes for either FIRE
coinage or q better condition Of the 81
YER market.