The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1894-12-06
THE DISHONEST GOLD DOLLAR

Republicans are fond OF pointing to
Blaine's prophecy on what they are
pleased to call the free trade madness,
and its results. They do not give the
same prominence to Blaine's other proph.
ecy and creed on the gold versus silver
question. Here it is: 81 believe that
the struggle now going on in this country
and in the other countries for a single
gold standard would, IL successful, pro-
duce widespread disaster in and through.
out the commercial world. The destruc-
gold as the sole unit of value must have
ruinous effect on all forms of property
except those Investments which yield Q
fixed return in money. These would be
enormously enhanced in value and would
gain a disproportionate and unfair ad-
vantage over every other species OF
property. II. as the most reliable ststis-
tics affirm, there are nearly s7,00o, 000, 900
Of coin or bullion in the world, very
equally divided between gold and silver,
1t is impossible to strike silver out OF
existence as money without results which
will prove distressing to millions, and
utterly disastrous to tens OF thousands.
believe gold and silver coin to be the
money Of the constitution; indeed the
money OF the American people anterior
to the constitution, which the great or
ganic law recognized as quite independent
Of its own existence. No power was con.
ferred en- Congress to declare that either
metal should not be money. Congress
has, therefore, in my judgment, no power
to demonetize either. II, therefore. silver
has been demonetized, am in favor OF
remonetizing it. II its coinage has been
prohibited, / am in favor of ordering il to
be resumed. am in favor OF having it
enlarged" Mr.. Blaine did not know,
and so stated, in congress, that the sub
stitute bill of '93 did demonetize silver.
Senator Adison said that il it did, it was
without the knowledge, and contrary to
the intention OF the house OF representa-
tives. Senator Voorhees, said he did not
think there were three members in the
house that knew it. Senator Beck said
ut (the bill demonetizing silver was
never understood by either house OF con-
gress. | say that with full knowledge
Of the facts. No newspaper reporter.
and they are the most vigilant men
ever saw in obtaining information, dis
covered that it had been done" Mr..
Bright. of Tennessee. said: at (the bill)
passed by fraud in the house, never hav-
ing been printed in advance, being a sub
stitute for the printed bill; never having
been read at the clerks desk. the reading
having been dispensed with by an i'm
preston that the bill made no material
alteration in the coinage laws; i. was
passed without discussion, debate being
cut off by operation OF the previous ques-
ton. 1t was passed, to my certain infor-
nation, under such circumstances that
the fraud escaped the attention of some
OF the most watchful as we'll as the ablest
statesmen in congress at the time"
The republicans demonetized silver.
Knowingly or not, they did it. The
MODEST Roman OF them all, clearly point
ed out what the results would be. To-
day the party, as party, is standing for
what it calls "honest money"-that is to
say q gold dollar that has been most in
iquitously made worth 81 80 OF silver, or
any product of industry, or necessary of
life; the most dishonest dollar the
world has ever known.