Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-08-19
nens Of all government oOllgatisns n

At this stage, gold and silver must pars
company and the government must IAN
in its established policy to maintain the
two metals on parity with each others
Given over to the exclusive use OF curren-
cy greatly deprecated according to the
standard of the commercial world, we
could no longer claim place among the,
nations of the first class, nor could our
government claim performances OF It's
obligation so far as such an obligation
has been imposed upon it, to provide for
the use of the people the best and SAFEST
money.
If, as many of its friends claim, silver
ought to occupy larger place In
our currency and the currency or
the world through general International
cooperation and agreement, it is obvious
that the United States will not be In g
position to gain hearing in favor OF
such an arrangement, so long as we are
willing to continue our attempt to accom-
plish the result by single standard
Fiat and Intrinsic Value.
The knowledge in business circles
among our own people that our govern
ment cannot make its fiat equivalent to-
intrinsic value, nor keep inferior money
on parity with superior money by its
own independent efforts, has resulted
in such lack of confidence at
home, in the stability of currency
values, that capital refuses its aid
to new enterprises, while millions are ac-
tually withdrawn from the channels Of
trade and commerce to become idle and
unproductive in the hands of timid
owners.
Foreign investors equally alert, not
only decline to purchase American secur-
tiles but make haste to sacrifice those
which they already have. 1t does not
meet the situation to say that apprehen-
sion in regard to the future of our finan-
ces is groundless, and that there is no.
reason for lack of confidence in the
purposes and power of the government
in the premises.
The very existence of the appre hension
and lack of confidence, however caused,
is a menace which ought not for a;
moment to be disregarded.
Possibly if the undertaking we have in
hand were the maintenance of specific
known quantity of silver at parity with.
gold. our ability to do so might be esti-
mated and gagged, and perhaps in view
of our unparalleled growth and resources,
might be passed upon. But when our
avowed endeavor is to maintain such
parity in regard to an amount
of silver increasing at the rate
of fifty million dollars yearly,
with no fixed termination to such increase
it can hardly be said that problem is
presented whose solution is free from
doubt.
No Experiments Wanted.
The people of the United States are en-
Id 10
to money recognized as such on every
exchange, and in every market of the
world. Their government has no right
to injure them by financial experiments
opposed to the policy and practice of
other civilized states, nor is it justified in.
permitting an exaggerated and unreason-
able reliance on our national strength
and ability to jeopardize the soundness
of our peoples money. This matter rises
above the plane Of party politics. 1t
vitality concerns every business and call
ing and enterprise, every household in
the land. There is one more important.
aspect of the subject which especially
should not be overlooked. At times like
The present, when the evils of unsound
lnance threaten us, the Spectator
may anticipate a harvest gathered
from the misfortunes of others.
The capitalist may protect himself by
boarding, or may even find profit in the
ductuati0n of values, but the wage
Garner, the first to be injured by de-
preciated currency and the last to re-
ceive the benefit of its correction, is prac-
Ideally defenseless.
The Laboring Man Suffers.
He relies for work upon the ventures
of confident and contented capital. This
failing him, his condition is without ale
Walton, for he can neither prey on the mis-
fortunes of others, nor hoard his labor.
One of the greatest statesmen our
country has known, speaking more than
fifty years ago, when arrangement of
the currency had caused commercial
distress, saiS.
''The very man of all others who has
the deepest interest in sound currency
and who suffers by mischievous legisla-
ton in monetary matters, is the man who
earns his daily bread by his daily toll"
These words are as pertinent now as on
the day they were uttered, and ought to
impressively remind us that failure in
the discharge of our duty at this time,
must especially injure those of our coun-
trymen who labor and who because OF
their numbers and condition are entitled
to the most watchful care of their gov
eminent. 1t is of the utmost Importance
that such relisf as congress can afford in
the existing situation be afforded at once.
Our Imaginary Ills.
The maxim, ale gives twice who gives
quickly" is directly applicable. 1t may
be true that the embarrassments from
which the business of the country is suf-
fering, arise as much from evils appre-
hended, as from those actually existing.
We may hope, too, that calm counsels
will prevail and that neither the capital
lists nor the wage earners will give way
to unreasoning panic and sacrifice their
or their interests under the in
fluence of exaggerated fears. Never
theless every days delay in removing one
of the plain and principal causes of
the present condition of things enlarges
the mischief already done and increases
the responsibility of the government for
its existence.
Sherman Act Must Be Repealed.
Whofauor aIoo he rooVIa haua N