The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1893-08-04
THEY WANT SILVER.
The Agricultural Clsssss Arc warned 81
the DsprsciatiOn of Their Prod.
ucts-Ths History u silver
Lsgislssioa.

and the following address, prepared by
the Free Coinage association, was
unanimously adopted:
The citizens OF the state Of Montana. in
sending forth to their fellow citisens through
cut the union this appeal against what they
sincerely believe to be IN existing wrong OF
cruel proportions and for redress OF that
wrong, desire first 70 extend the assurance TO
oil who may diner from them in opinion that
despite the disastrous cHnditions which At this
moment surround them, despite the fact that
many OF their mines and mills and shelters are
now idle and labor unemployed: noiwtthstAnd-
ing that their property values have been largely
destroyed Ind their credit greatly impaired.
they are today. as they have ever been In 'he
past loyal citizens OF the republic, devoted TO
it, nstitutions obedient TO Its laws, loving ana
eherishing its traditions and history, and proud
Of its magnificent achievements
1--WE assert with all sincerity that although II
directly and most njuriously Affects one OF our
principal indus tries. and one that has formed
IN . great part the basis OF our prosperity, we
ret would not advocate the full recognition and
vsstora tion OF silver - money. did We not sol
smnly believe that such policy would rebound
70 the happiness and welfare of the great mass
Of producers and toilers Of the land, and TO the
Increased prosperity of the nation We placo
eur demand for the free coinage OF silver 1t the
ratio of sixteen TO one of gold. audts full equip
nent with oil money functions equally with
gold, upon the simple plan RI Justice In sup
port of tho plan We assert and TO this asser-
ton We challe nge contradiction, that for cen
turiea and before Legislation undertook to con-
troll and direct its action and movement silver
maintained its parity with gold with but slight
variation. and despite the wide divergence In
The ratio OF production which frequently exist
cd In 1873 England d~monetized silver. She
vas even then the creditor nation Of the world
and her fnancisrs foresaw that ihts policy
would enhance the value OF gold and render
II harder for other nations TO pay her what
they owed For nearly sixty years thereafter
France. the Latin union ard the United
states maintained the parity Of the two
metals In 1871 Germany. flushed with
her victory over France and her treasury
filed with Frances ransom of N.oooOoO-0oO
In gold. determined to demonetize silver.
Uncle sam Demonetlxes silver.
an 1873 the United States, the greatest pro
Queer OF silver OF all the nations following the
course marked out by Germany, struck the sil
yer dollar from our coinage laws In 1873, the
Latin union. deprived OF the support OF the
United States and Germany. stopped the coin
age o. silver. In 1892 Austria abandoned silver
and is striving unnecessarily to get upon gold
basia Within the past month England, taxing
advantage OF the depression existing AL ovei
the world, has struck silver last savage blow
by closing the minis OF India TO the coinage o.
silver on private account
Demands OF the West.
This briefly told. 10 the history Of silve1
legislation during the past seventy seven years
II proves conclusively that legislation Is al
rectly responsible for the destruction OF silve
o money We therefore ask IN the name o
simple justice fhat Legislation now restore II 4
It's RICH place in the currency Of our country
We state without fear OF contradiction, tina
/ the act Of 1873 which struck down silver. wa
passed without due elaboration The recor'
shows that tho great majority OF the member
| Of both branches OF congress did not know tina
the bill then under consideration containe
such clause. Such statements OF GARFIELD
VOORHEES,. Blaine and many others. are upo
the records OF their respective houses empha'
icalIy denying any knowledge OF that provisio
OF the act So that We charge that IL war don
without discussion or debate either In congress
through the press, or upon the platform There
fore IL was great wrong because II was don
without notice and without any demand fror
and by the people. and its operation WAS inure
only TO the profit and benefit Of the holders 9
eur bonds and the lenders OF gold
Appeal to the Agricultural Clssses.
I'VE most earnestly appeal 10 the agricu
sural classes Of our country and beg them !
look into tho history OF silver Legislation On
the frightful consequences which have 10
lowed the act OF les3 We call upon them
mark the steady and constant decline In price {
| 0o0rly all farm pFOvtSiOuS nOtbDiy uoot III
cotton which has followed the characterization
silver We invite them " close inspection I
the processes through which Thy reason {
the making OF silver mere commodity Enl
land has been able to bring the farmers OF n
United States into direct competition with III
wheat and cotton growers OF India We o.
their attention to the significant fact that n
three. products viz silver. wheat and cotto
have about kept pace with each other In the
headlong fall. each touching its highest IN
lowest point together. We assert that II
falling Oh in prices OF farm products Ii dire
result OF the characterization OF silver and II
consequent contraction of volume OF good m
taliic money. A careful study Of these fac
should. we afirm. make every farmer In tn
broad land an ardent advocate OF the cause
free silver.
I'VE charge that the act demonctizing sfvs
was almost equivalent 10 an achieving dire
TAI upon the wheat and cotton growers and 81
yer miners OF the country equal TO from 80 TO
Der cent Of their product annually for the be
eft OF the bonihodsrs and money dealers. I,
such an effect has been its unseen and insidio,
operation. We further aflrm that the co
stantly lowering prices OF the staple farm pro
ucts Of the land has IN turn served TO curta
production. to restrict growth and 10 dscou
| AGE new enterprises thus diminishing the he
end decreasing the demand for labor to the de
} riment OF the working classes Of the land Al
70 these evils. already so general and far reac
ing the enemies OF silver money arc now see
ing 70 add tho further wrong of totally destroyiI
. great industry and throwing on; OF emplo
ment hundreds Of thousands OF men to whom q
loss Of work means the destruction a the
, homes and poverty and suffering for thos
oelvea their wives and children
sherman Law Not blamed
; 1--WE denounce - wholly absurd and sbeo,u'
II false the charge that the sherman sct 10 !
spunsible for the present financial difncuiti
, which overwhelm the land We admit that 4
false cry raised against silver BY the gold m
: Of time when . panic threatened has Great
. prejudice aranst the silver among the Int
! eetsd and uniformed. but We empha tically
.. cert that tho outflow Of gold during the pa
few days In due solely and only 10 the fact IN
the balance OF trade has during that period he
against us nearly siOO.0O0O0 We say that h
. there been no silver Law In existence the &c
. would have left Us just the same Any chi
can understand that ~ gold is the money wi
which International balances are settled y
Y g nation buy more goods than We sell
!, must ship out our gold 70 pay the diheren
, Australia is passing through panic that I
ceeds our own In the depression OF values a
. the amount OF Insolvency. but Australia has
! Sherman law. To what then are the hnanc
0 oi0lcultics In that continent 10 bc ascribeds
|. Coat In Producing silver.
: I'VE deny As wholly un:ounded the ststcms
% often made that silver can be produced nj
csnu or less an ounce. Such assertions pre-
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