Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1894-05-25
TRUE BIMETALLISM.
SILVER is THE TRUE STANDARD
OF VALUE.
ThS Coin Value and the Bullion
Value Of the Two Metals Shall He
Brought to n Parity-HOw IL Can
he Done.

he Done.
The true theory Of bimetallism i.
that the coin value OF the two metal.
should be kept at parity, SO thai
each would circulate or exchange side
by side with the other, and one for the
other, without loss to the holders o
either. This cannot be done fully and
completely unless the bullion value
and the coin value of the dollar
measured in other products, would be
equal. The ratio for coinage pur.
poses as it exists in this country, and
as it practically always has existed, is
sixteen of silver to one OF gold, where
as, the bullion value at the present
time, when the one is compared with
the other, is about thirty-one to one.
In 1873, prior to the demonstration
OF silver, the coin value and bullion
value OF the two metals were equal or
nearly so. The Decentralization of
silver in this country at that time,
and about that time in many other
countries, by cutting off largely the
use of silver as money, and by stop
ping its coinage, depressed the value
OF silver bullion, and the fight that
has been constantly going on by the
bondholders and money lenders and
politicians throughout the world from
that time to this has caused it to con.
tinually decline in value, and along
with this decline in value of silver
bullion, as compared with gold. every
other product used by civilized man
has gone down in price in about the
same proportion.
The silver dollar, when compared
with its purchasing ability OF all of the
necessaries of life, and the luxuries of
life as we'll, (unless gold be called a
luxury has not decreased in value
but is, in fact, of more value now than
at the time OF the demonstration, in
this and other countries. A silver
dollar will now buy three bushels OF
wheat and all other necessaries of life
in the same proportion. Was there
ever a time in the history of the
country when . silver dollar would
buy more? And notwithstanding
the difference in the bullion value of
silver and gold, yet the silver dollar
to-day will buy as much wheat or any,
thing else in this country as the gold
dollar, and the national bank bill or
greenback will buy as much as either,
so that in truth and in fact, in do
mestic commerce, gold, silver and
paper money, at the present time are
at parity with each other, and this
fact the people of this country fully
understand Notwithstanding the
sneers of the gold bugs at the cheap
silver dollar-the fifty-cent dollar.
This astonishing fact should never be
lost sight of because it proves beyond
question that the people of this
country have in no way lost conf
dence in their money, but whatever
want of confidence exists is not iD the
money but in the men who manipu-
late the money-in the brokers, in the
speculators and in the politicians who
have in the past deceived the people,
and who are still trying TO do so.
These facts show that it is not abso-
lutely necessary that the coin value
and bullion value should be the same
so that all agitation upon this subject
would be put at rest.
The question is, how can this be
done and at the same time do sub.
stantial justice to everybody It is
evident to anyone who will compare
the purchasing power of the silver
dollar at the present time in every
product, that it will buy as much as it
would prior to demonetization, and
furthermore, that. the quantity of sill
yer bullion in . dollar will likewise
buy as much as it would then or at
any other time in the history of this
country. If this be fact, (and who
is bold enough or villainous enough to
deny it), if this be q fact, then the
bullion value of silver has not de-
creased, but the bullion value of gold
has increased, and therefore, what is
the remedyf Shall we increase the
size of the silver dollar or decrease the
size of the gold dollarf II we double
the quantity of silver in dollar it
will further depress the value OF labor
and of every product known to com.
merce. II the silver dollar will now
buy three bushels of wheat, and we
put twice as much silver in the dollar
as now, then the dollar would be twice
as large, and would buy twice rs much
wheat or any other product. Is this
what the people wanti Is this going
to restore confidence' Will this start
up the wheels of industry, put the
spindles in motion, cause commerce
to move, and create general activity?
Would such a course be fair, or equita-
BILE, or honest? As matter OF fact,
when we compare the purchasing
power of silver we find that silver, in
truth and in fact is the standard by
which all other products are measured
rather than gold. All other useful
products 60 up or down as silver goes
up or down. As silver fiuctuates so
other products fluctuate. Silver
moves along hand in hand with all
other commodities. It is and has been
the friend and co-wOrker with indus
try of every kind. 1t stands by them,
rises and falls with them, advances
and retreats side by side, and fights