The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-06-17

CARLISLE AND SILVER

CAKLIsLE AND SILVER.
The Great Falls Tribune quite over
steps the limo OF temperate discussion
when it prophesys that Secretary Car
Isle twill DO denounced for an act OF
treason only equalled by that OF jeff
Davis" This alleged treason, accord
ing to the Tribune, is newly discovered
enmity to silver on the part OF the sec
rotary, in his view that, il bonds were
issued, it would be to obtain gold to
pay for silver bullion.
The secretary is right. The seller OF
silver bullion receives in return certih-
Gates payable by the United States gov
ernment in gola on demand. The only
earthly reason why the depletion OF gold
in tho treasury has not extended farther
is because the holders OF these certif-
Gates have not called upon our govern
ment to settle it's promise of gold pay
ment. 1t happens, however, that our
European creditors have asked their
American debtors to settle on a gold
basis and the New York banks
have been shipping gold until the
reserve is broken. As a result, the
proposition has been made and widely
discussed to issue bonds in order to So
cure gold from European sources for
the purpose OF maintaining our reserve.
Let us suppose this policy adopted. The
new supply would be placed in the
treasury for the purpose of securing a
gold payment for the certificates, issued
in payment for silver bullion, il de-
manded. This is exactly what Secre'
tary Carlisle meant by his statement
when he said that if bonds we're issued,
it would be to obtain gold to pay for
silver bullion. In its relations to the
holders OF these certificates, our govern
ment stands like a bank that must pro-
duce'the money when deposito-s call
for it or it must close it's business.
These things, or course, did not occur
to the Tribune, when in a moment of
wild insanity it compared Secretary
Carlisle to jeff Davis. In the same mo.
ment of thoughtlessness our contem-
porary overlooked the fact that the sec
rotary has repeatedly expressed himself
as favorable to bi-metallism and friendly
to silver. In q letter to q friend, dated
August s, 1890, he wrote:
II am opposed to free coinage Of
either gold or silver but in favor of un-
limited coinage Of both metals on the
terms of exact equality. No discrimi-
nation should be made in favor of n
metal and against the other; nor should
any discrimination be made in favor of
the holders Of either gold or silver bull
lion and against the great body of the
people who own either kinds of prop
erty. A great government should treat
all it's citizens alike, and whenever it
attempts to do otherwise, it will engen-
der a spirit Of discomfort. which soone
or later must disturb the harmony, if
not the peace of society"
Last year Secretary Carlisle again
said:, II believe that gold and silver bull
lion should be treated exactly alike in
the minis of the United States-that is,
that a dollars worth of gold should be
coined into a gold dollar and a dollars
worth of silver should be coined into a
silver dollar, and il no charge is made
for the coming of one, then no charge
should be made for the coming of the
other. Any measure which will fully
remonetize silver, and insure the equal
ity of the dollars coined from the two
metals, whether it be an act OF congress
or n agreement of an international
monetary conference, will receive my
cordial support, for I believe that the
use of both is essential to the prosper
ity of this and all commercial countries"
This is good enough silver doctrine
for anybody, but Secretary Carlisle's
record in public life shows that he has
always been a consistent and conserve
tive friend of silver interests. In con-
gress and on the stump he has always ad-
vocated the placing of silver by our gov
eminent on a parity with gold. 1t was
for this reason that the sharks of Wall
street opposed his nomination for the
cabinet, explains why they have lost
no opportunities to discredit his views
on a tinancia! policy during the recent
disturbance.
The silver question just now is in a
critical stage and 1t is no time to attack
the men who are favorable to its solu-
ton on an honest basis. Carlisle is one
of them and will be the last to 20 into
the camps OF the enemy.
Wonders of Science.