The morning call., 1893-07-13

ont always securing Presidential candi-
dates unalterably opposed TO 1t; that could
change the overwhelming sentiment among
the people for bimetallism to feeling OF
enmity or indifference. can never be in
duced to relent, for it has counted the cost
and has learned its power.
1.-THE Sherman law was not the work Of
the silver producing States 1t was forced
upon the country against their will. Their
constant demand has been that of the agr-
cultural States. West and South, and of
the working masses of the whole country.
They have not sought to impose upon
the country some new financial nostrum.
but have asked simply for recon struction
of the coinage laws as they were from The
first year of the Federal constitution until
the furtive repeal of 1873. The Sherman
law was trick by which that restoration
was defeated.
'It was cepted by bimetallsts as a
pledge that the old laws should at some
future time be restored, and they now de.
mand, not that the Sherman law shall be
retained. but that the hostage shall be re-
deemed by the re-en actment IN its stead of
the coinage laws under which the country
grew and prOspered for more than three
quarters of century.
1.-The charge that bime:allsts demand
that 60 cents be made dollar is lie. 1t
is a trick of the single standard conspira-
tors that has lessened the value of silver.
Had gold been demonetized instead of sill
ver-retaining for silver its greatest use
and chiefest function-gold would not to-
day be worth So per ounce, and silver's
tt,o
creased largely above It's former highest
figure.
what bimetallists do ask, and all they
ask, Is that the law relating to coinage, as
it was for sevanty-five years the country's
greatest glory, shall be restored, without
additions or eXuunging syllable. If
with the law re-enacted and a fair trial
had silver shall not, without the purchase
of an ounce of metal by the Government,
resume its former relative value with gold
bimetallsts will cheerfully submit to any
legislation experience will suggest as
necessary TO make every dollar of the
United States equal in intrinsic value TO
every other dollar bearing It's stamp. They
urge the old law with the supreme con-
fdence born OF unassailable truths OF his
tory that it will Immediately place every
coined American dollar upon par value,
both as coin and bullion. restore bonds,
weakened loss of confidence aud set in
happy motion the wheels of ali the coun-
try's magnificent industries.
"Will you listen to us while we speak in
words of sober earneStneSs of the local
effects the unconditional repeal Of the
purchase of silver wilihave? The silver
mining States and Territories. embracing
100000 square miles Of the continent,
with 1000, 600 Americans inhabting them,
depend pecuuiarily upon silver mining for
their prosperity. This industry is the very
heart from which nearly every other in
dustry receives support.
agriculture will not thrive without
artificial irrigation. and the operation of
Colorado's mines of coal, iron, stone and
clay, while magnificent when worked with
such dear labor and so remote from other
than local markets, would be feeble and
disastrous without the stim the
silver mining industry affords. 1t
supports our foundries, operates our
machine shops, supplies our railroads
with freights, stimulates travel, keeps
bright fires in the smelters and sends Gus
toners TO the shops of our merchants. 1t
has invoked in the valleys and upon the
mountain sides magnificent cities and
thrifty towns and villages. Great manu-
factories OF paper, cotton. leather. iron,
steel and clays distribute their finished
products and support thousands OF pros
porous aud happy families. But because
our agriculture Is so limited in area-cp1-
fined TO narrow strips along our few and
scanty streams-our labor is so high and
our handiwork 50 remote from other than
local markets, that our coal is mined, our
coke burned, our rails rolled, our grain
grown and our fruit gathered, in the main,
for the owners and workers of our silver
mines and smelters and for the proprietors
and workmen of the industries and call
ings dependent upon them.
THE reduction of the price OF silver to
about 20 cents has shut down 80 per cent
of the silver mines of the country, and the
smelters must soon follow their example.
There are in Colorado to-day 1900 idle
miners, who know not where to turn if
work be not resumed. There will soon be
added to this idle army of labor 1000 men
from the smelters. The stone quarries are
nearly all shut down; the railway COM
panies are laying off their train crews by
the score; the fou ndries are nearly all out
of orders; farmers and frut-growers will be
barely paid for the cost OF saving their
crops; merchants are conntermanding
orders; and travelling men for Eastern
houses seek almost In vain for customers.
This is no exaggeration. The destruction
of the silver industry will devastate the
country as if swept by cyclone. reaching
from the British possessions to the Mexi-
can border line.
This sorrowful picture Of Colorado
with her mining industry destroyed but
represents the condition OF the other
mining States and Territories with the
same calamity upon them. If the silver
mines remain closed half the American
output of lead must be lost The greatest
bulk of the lead product is taken from
silver bearing ores. 1t requires one metal
supplemented by the oiher to remunerate
the lead-sllver miner.
Not less than 55 per cent of the gold
product of the country depends upon the
maintenance of the silver industry. The
placer or creek washings. the earliest and
most prolific source of our gold supply.
are practically exhausted Those who