The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1894-10-05
THE GERrIANS AND HONEST
MONEY.

The withdrawal of the Omaha
Tribune, a German paper, from the
ranks of Democracy and it's joining
the Republican party, because of the
unSOundnesS of Democracy on the
money question, is one of the signiti,
can't political happenings Of the day.
Congressman Bryan had secured con-
troll of the Democratic state conven-
tion of Nebraska and, committed it to
the free coinage of silver at ratio of
Is to /, which if successful would
flood the country with silver dollars
worth only one-half their face value.
1t is contended that the free coinage
of silver at this ratio would increase
the price of silver. Surprising it did,
there is nothing on which to base
surety that it would double in price,
or that the increased value would re-
main. 1t would undoubtedly increase
at first, but it's increased production,
stimulated by the wider margin of
profit between the actual and real
value, would result in again lowering
the price.
1t is notable fact brought directly
to mind by the change of the Tribune,
that the German-American voters as
a class are sound on the money ques
tion Their education and the tradi-
tionS of the national life of their
fatherland, are all upon the side of
honest money, and their history in
this country shows that they have
never INDUCED in the vagaries of the
cheap money advocates. When the
greenback craze was rampant through
out the country, and the Democratic
party, anxious for power under any
conditions, went over to it, body and
soul, the German voters deserted that
party by the thousands and went over
to the Republicans and an honest cur
rency. This was most notably the
case in Ohio and Wisconsin, where
Democracy seemed to be most badly
affected.
The Chicago Tribune notes the fact
that in Illinois and Wisconsin the in
fuence of the Germans caused the
Democrats in their state conventions
to adopt reasonably sound
money planks, but that the
Democrats there are nominal
ing several men for congress who
are for free silver. The tendency of
the major element of Democracy is
toward the fiat money idea, while the
pronounced sentiment of the Repub-
licans is for an honest money which
will be worth as much tomorrow as
it is today, and which will be suf-
ficient in volume to meet any demand
of trade.
The sound money record of the Ger
mans is one of which they may well
be proud. We have in this section of
Minnesota great many German
American voters, and this belief in
sound money is one of the predomi-
nant ideas of their political creed. A
number of them have spoken in most
emphatic terms to the writer during
the past summer on the matter and
declared that they would vote for no
man for congress who favored the is
suing of a fat silver or paper dollar,
and that they had many friends who
felt the same way. Now how can
those who have hitherto cast their
votes with Democracy reconcile their
sound money ideas with the free
silver plank of the Democrats of this
congressional district, and the declara-
ton of their candidate Gen. Baker
that he would if elected, work for the
free coinage of deprecated silver. He
is pledged to work for the coming of a
fat silver dollar, without any regard
to it's effect upon our national welfare.
Most surely their sound ideas upon
money will lead them to repudiate
this move on the part of Democracy
as well as it's candidate. And the same
principle which will actuate them
in the congressional matter, will also
govern them in their vote upon the
Legislative ticket, and cause them to
vote for the Republican ticket which
will ensure the election of a United
States senator opposed to the princi-
pie of tiatiSm. 1t is more than per-
sonal matter. 1t involves a question
of principle and national welfare. A
class of voters who have always stood |
through thick and thin for honest
money, will hardly be lead astray now,
and the course taken by the Omaha |
Tribune indicates that those who have
hitherto acted with Democracy un-
derstand well the dangerous ground
to which that party is drifting.
Gov. MCKINLEY will make speak
ing tour of the West next week, COM
mencing at ST. Louis. He will visit
Kansas City, Topeka, Lincoln, Omaha,