The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1893-09-30
ConiiscatiOn.

The following editorial from the Bos
ton Globe which was published prior tc
the vote of Monday. is well worthy OF
perGsal by every fair minded man, nc
matter what may be his inclinations OF
present belief. 1t virtually disposes OF
every argument the gold bugs will OF
can make aud illustrates and endorses
the remarks of Representative Bland
when using the term, ''the bloody hand
of conliscation':
The gravity of the silver crisis lies
in the fact that the question of demone-
tization must soon pass from the phase
of financial problem into burning
social issue, which, if it cannot be ad-
lusted, must apparently precipitate some
catastrophe.
The difficulty is self evident. Any
thing which causes the alteration OF the
ratio which the standard of value bears
to other property must inevitably con-
fiscate the property of one man for the
benefit of another.
Thus, for example, the action of
England and other countries has caused
so great fall in the price of silver that
debts paid i'll silver dollars would be
scaled down more than one-half. and
the lender would suffer proportionally.
But supposing silver to 90 out of circu-
lation, the supply of gold would be so
much less than the demand that its
price would rise relatively TO other com
modities, with the result of cOniiscatiug
the property of the debtor for the bene-
fit of the creditor, and it is tins great
fact, and not the rapacity OF the rich
silver miners, which makes the bitter
ness and the danger of the present
struggle. The silver kings could be
handled easily enough, but 1t is the
southern and western farmers, who see
the progressive shrinkage in the price
of bushel of wheat and Of a pound of
cotton who are desperate and who will
be heard
Nor is this movement confined 10
the United States; it extends over the
whole world, and ii is suggestive fact
that the demand for single standard,
which has tended and must tend to en-
hance the relative value of gold, origi-
mated with England, which is the great
eapitalistic nation, and whose direct in
terest it is to confscate the property of
all to whom she has lent money.
There can be no question that for
The moment the commercial people have !
no alternative but to do likewise, since !
n no other manner is it possible to pro-
.ect themselves; but it is equally GER
ain that such action will not be n solu-
ion Of the difficulty. The stubborn fact
-emains that a single standard, if per-
sisted in, mnst end in enhancing the !
'elative value Of gold, and by 50 doing !
t will have the effect of taking n por- |
ion of the debtors property and giving
10 70 ie. tAe GEaiit.pg, Ei -ltaSa saeras Gal:.s.
all to produce widespread distress, if
Tot general bankruptcy, and that such
calamity affecting principally small
property holders, would seriously en-
LANCER the stability of existing institu-
ions. Ii could not fail, for example, to ,
,ause an enormous extension of social !
sm. 1t is not at all impossible, there
ore, that silver may be the test ques- |
ion upon which the relative strength of
he capitalistic and the debtor clusses
nay analIy be tried all over the civil
yel world -