Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-11-08

to pay is taken away, he finds him.
self compelled to take prop
erty robbed of its value. That IL
would be downright dishonesty to leg
islate to enable the debtor to repudiate
just financial obligations, is not dis
puted, but it is equally dishonest, and
productive of much more hardships, to
increase by legislation the obligations
and burdens Of the debtor for the bene-
fit Of the creditor. 1t is easy Of COM
prehension why England, the creditor
nation ofthe world, should favor con-
traction Of the worlds money and a
limitation of money metal. Having no
silver mines of her own and being a
purchaser Of both silver and food pro-
ducts, it is equally easy of comprehen-
sion why she should use every effort Of
diplomacy and legislation to diminish
the value of both. But why the Uni.
ted States, debtor nation, with ex-
tensive silver mines and vast stores Of
food products to sci, should voluntarily
assist in carrying out the same policy,
and diminish the value Of her own e.
sources, "passeth understanding. Un-
fortunately for the welfare Of the ccun-
try, it contains too many people who,
surrounded by huge blocks of well Sc
cured, interest-bearing obligations, are
interested in legislation that makes
money dear and everything else cheap;
who, not engaged in productive indus
the product oil the toll Of Others at the
east possible outlay. Unfortunately
also in these evil days that have be-
fallen us, these men are powerful in
the national councils. But we are all
taking lessons of hard school master
and are acquiring some valuable eX-
perience. This is about the only Yalu-
able thing we are acquiring When the
ch ipge comes and when the American
producers are supplying the American
N ,rkets; when we cease to buy of Eu-
rope what we can buy Of ourselves, the
same beneficial legislation that brings
ABOUT this result, applied to our silver
mines, will make of them hives of in
dustry, fill them with an army Of men
VINO are now standing idle while their
families are hungry. AS business and
expand our monetary needs
will be constantly supplied from silver
mines on American soil, owned by
American citizens, worked by Ameri-
can miners, who in turn supply their
needs from the product Of other Ameri-
can workmen. How this result, if ac-
com plished, placing ia circulation the
entire product of our silver mines not
needed for other uses, and which will
not exceed probably 80 cents per capita,
will disturb business or commerce or
PROVE detrimental to our financial sys.
TEN, am at loss to see.
In this contest 1t ls greatly TO be re-
gretted that the Oregonian, right upon
30 many questions, should, in the opin-
ion Of many Of its stsunchest friends,
be wrong upon this, should throw the
weight Of its vast influence upon the
hand that, while expressing other peo-
Pile, bears with equal hardship upon |
the proprietors Of the Oregonian. The
heart of the editor is generally in the
light place, and sympathizes with
hose who are wronged and oppressed,
md il ought TO be 30 in this matter.
With the Oregonian on the right side
,f this question, the entire West would
1resent a solid front against those who
ne doing us financial wrong aud lay
ng heavy burdens upon those least
.ble 10 bear them.
THOMAS IL. TORdUE.