Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1894-07-25
FREE COINAGE.
Able Essay Read by Hon. T. L. Bond
Before Saline County EARN
ers' Alliance.

by the Hon. I. l.. Bond before the Saline
County Farmers' Alliance, at their regular
session, June 2, 1894. Mr.. Bond, although
8 republican, has been constant advo-
cate Of the free and unlimited coinage of
gold and silver. His paper, as q careful
perusal will show, contains many original
ideas on this subject, especially of inter
est to the producing classes:
I'VE, the people Of the United States. in order 10
form more perfect union, establish justice insure
domestic tranquility, provide for he com mon de-
Tense, promote he general wriISre and secure the
blessings OF liberty 10 ourselves and poSterity
do ordAu aud establish this cOnst tuition of the
United States Of America"
One of the prime objects of the estab-
lishment of this government was the pro-
motion Of the general t0eifdre. Every
question of governmental policy, whose
solution affects the general welfare, de-
mands of all the people earnest and care
full consideration. In a representative
form of government, the settlement of
such questions cannot be safely intrusted
to any particular class or portion of the
people; but each citizen, without reserve,
In the consideration of such questions,
should bring as his contribution whatever
he possesses. The time has gone by for
the masses to accept political gospel from
certain classes without question.
No question before the American people
TO day bears more forcibly upon the gem
eral welfare than the question of our ma
tional currency. The farmer, the day
labOrer, the merchant, the lawyer, the
preacher, the doctor, the teacher, the arti-
san, the banker, all, in their daily lives, feel
the potency of the question, What shall
the character and amount of our currency
oef II possible, this question should be
settled by the application of we'll estab-
hshed theories to the facts; but when We
come to apply the rules, We find that the
minds OF men are 30 constituted that they
will differ as to the possible results of the
application of certain rules. It becomes
necessary, therefore, that this question
shall be settled by the people among them
selves upon one side or the other, and, by
show of numbers and a dsclar alton at
the ballot boz, compel such q solution as
the majority wills. rn-s" .t
Here, again, we meet with difficulty.
The great political parties of this nation
have divided upon other questions. Ger
tain interests, which have heretofore
been considered paramount, insist that
other questions shall first be settled before
the public attention shall be concentrated
upon the money question. Each of the
great national parties holds, in its ranks,
men with views Numerically opposed on
this question; and every man who feels
Interested in the success of his party above
all is 10th to consent to the Introduction
of any question calculated to interfere
with the efficiency or sOlidity of the party
organization.
The supreme Importance Of this ques-
ton is daily becoming more apparent.
Its influence ia felt in every avenue of life,
from the cradle to the grave. Every oon-
dition testifies to the necessity of It's
prompt solution. In sickness or in health,
in poverty and distress or in luxury and
ease, the citizen of to-day finds this aues-
tion clamoring loudly for recognition.
While this question makes it's impor-
lance felt by all classes and conditions,
there is one class to whom its correct So
luton Is Of the utmost Importance There
II homely saying, "God help the poor;
the rich can take care of themselves" This
saying, doubtless, originated with some
one who had long contemplated the bur-
dens resting on the poor. We all know
that from birth to death the poor are dis
eliminated against. While the hand of
charity Is extended in this country in a
manner heretofore unknown, and, with mu-
nlticent generosity, it showers substantial
blessings upon the destitute, he who on the
border land of independence manfully bat
ties for his rights is burdened with dis
elimination at every turn. Exorbitant
prices are charged for every article pur-
chased. When sickness or misfortune
oOmpels the borrowing of money, the usury
of the paWnbroker robs him of all but the
bare neCessaries of life.
What commentary on American civili-
cation, when the philanthropy of Van
derbilt is heralded from shore to shore,
because he has organized a charitable
pawnbrokers' association to loan money
to the poor at the benevolent rate of per
cent. a month.
he discussion of this question has been
attended with ine1cusable bitterness. 1t
is useless to waste time denouncing the
men who were responsible for the demon
citation of silver. 1t is futile to lament
the difficulties which envelop us. The
only proper thing to do is to take advan-
the question, and settle it right.
Temporizing and compromises have led
as into many difficulties. We should
neither to the right nor to the left, and
should never halt for a moment until we
secure the free and unlimited coinage of
silver at the rate of 16 to 1.
We must expect to meet obstacles. The
class which reaps the harvest from present
conditions is ever alert, ever active, ever
vigilant, ever aggressive. 1t makes itself
felt In business, in society, in legislation
everywhere. We can only hope to win
the victory by ceaseless agitation and dis
OussiOn. On the farm, in the counting
house, in the office, in the store, in the
school, in the lecture room, on the street,
at the picnic, in the press, IN the pulpit,
let the friends of silver raise their voices
loud and clear.
Holding these views, stand ever ready
and willing to contribute my mite to the
fund OF thought gathered for the advance
ment of this cause, and to labor, cheer
fully, earnestly, and zealously, "in season
and out of season." wherever there is q
possibility that my assistance may prove
GOrvioeable.
Much Of the trouble disputants encoun-
ter In the discussion of this question arises
from the difficulty mon ex experience in sep
grating themselves from opinions formed