The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1893-08-31
TO SETTLE SILVER BETS.

platform. B says no. Who is rightp
9, A also bets b: That the Demo-
cratic party has always been consid-
cred free silver party. Who is right
Please decide.
A CONSTANT READER.
In replying to the above 1t seems
necessary to answer 80 as to be sure we
all understand alike, just what free
silver is.
If AS Grst bet is based on "free sill
yer," as 1t has been applied to the
Bland ALLISON amendment, viz: The
coinage of demonetlzed silver at the
ratio of 16 to 1, or such ratio as Con-
gress may provide upon the same terms
as govern the coinage of gold, then A
is wrong and b is right. b has won
the bet.
Again, If AS bet is based on "free
silver" remonetized and restored to its
full functions as money, to be coined
at the ratio of 10 to l, or such ratio as
Congress may provide, on the same
terms as govern the coinage Of gold,
then A is right and b is wrong. A has
won the bet.
9. If AS second bet is based on "free
silver" as applied to the Bland-Allison
amendment, viz: The coinage of de-.
monetized silver, at the ratio Of 16 to 1,
or such ratio as Congress may provide,
upon the same terms as govern the
coinage of gold, then A is wrong and
b right. b has won the bet.
Again. If AS second bet Is based on
"free silver" remonetlzed and restored
to its full functions as money, to be
coined at the ratio of 10 to l, or such
ratio as Congress may provide, on the
same terms as govern the coinage Of
gold, then A is right and B wrong. A
has won the bet.
In 1873 the Republicans demonetized
silver and made gold, or paper based on
gold, the only legal tender for debts,
public and private, thus increasing the
wealth of the creditor classes, and
decreasing the wealth of the debtor
classes, while adding largely to their
obligations. Thus silver became the
slave and gold the master.
For twenty years the Republicans
kept this policy in full force; then they
added iniquity to iniquity by the pass
age of the Sherman silver purchase bill.
In common phrase, they first set up
gold as king and put silver out to
enforced bondage and then,
having debased and degraded silver,
they put 1t up on an auction block,
built by John Sherman and his Repub-
lican colleagues, and knocked it off to
Its master, gold.
1t was the old story of master and
slave. The discrimination in favor of
gold sent it up, and the discrimination
against silver sent it on the down
grade to complete degradation.
1t was with this unjust and unpatrlot.
&c legislation, with all its deplorable
effects in view, that the Democratic
National Platform had to deal when 1t
Uttered the following ringing declara-
ion for emancipated, or free silver, on
parity with gold, as follows:
DEMOCRATIC DECLARATION.
We denounce the Republican legis-
alton, known as the Sherman Act of
800, as a cowardly makeshift fraught
With possibilities of danger in the
uture, which should make all of its |
as well as its author, anx-
Gus for its speedy repeal.
We hold to the use of both gold and
liver as the standard money of the |
and to the coinage of both |
,old and silver, without discriminating |
.gainst metal or charge for mintage, but |
he dollar unit of coinage of both met |
lis must be of equal intrinsic and ex-
value or be adjusted |
trough international agreement or by
uch safeguards of legislation as shall |
insure the maintainance of the parity |
4 the two metals and the equal power
4 every dollar at all times in the
Harkets and In the payments of debts;
nd we demand that all paper currency
g kept at. par with and redeemable in
uch coin. We insist upon this policy
especially necessary for the pro-
ectiOn of the farmers and labor
lasses, the first and most defenceless
ictims of unstable money and
currency.
TCLEvELAND'sA D'sACCEPTANCE.
In his letter of acceptance President
leveland committed himself, plainly,
, this kind of "free silver" provided
)r In the National Democratic plat
'rm of 1892, as follows:
The people are entitled to sound and
onest money, abundantly sufficient In
olume to supply their business
eeds. But whatever the form of
le peoples currency, National or
tate-whether gold, silver or paper
should be 30 regulated and guarded
= governmental actions, or by wise
nd careful laws, that no one be de-
Ided as to the certainty and stability
its value. Every dollar put into the
ands of the people should be of the
lme intrinsic value or purchasing
over, With this condition absolute
guaranteed both gold and silver can
3 safely utilized upon equal terms in
le adjustment of our currency.
ANOTHER SILVER INQUIRY.
BARRYvILLE, Aug. 26, '93.
EDITOR DEMOCRAT: Did the Demo
attic platform at Chicago recommend
zee coinage of silver. A READER.
Our correspondent is referred to the
lswer to questions of A and Il above.