Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1894-07-26

we're no better reason for opposing mono
metallism than the reason given by Eng
land for favoring it, every loyal, patriotic
son of America should favor the free coin
age Of silver.
When we object to this continued de-
preston, this persistent falling of prices,
this constant increase of the value of a
dollar, and show. the injustice 1t entails
upon the debtor by requiring more Of
products, more human effort to pay the
debt, we are told that is one of the chances
of trade; and that what is one mans loss
is another mans gain; but IL the debtor
seeks to take advantage of the discovery
of new supply of silver, that is horse
of another color, and he is Immediately
charged with dishonesty.
What difference does it make II We
adopt free coinage il our gold should
temporarily leave us. If you have to buy
gold from foreign nations, does 1t make
any difference to you whether you buy
dollars worth of gold with three bushels
of dollar wheat or three bushels of 80
cent wheatf 1t does, however, make
difference to you whether your entire
wheat crop brings 80 cents bushel or
81 bushel.
Why should we concern ourselves about
international bimetallism? The value of
one crop of corn, wheat, hay, oats and
cotton in this country exceeds the. value
of our entire foreign commerce.
What we need in this country is an
American financial policy. OF what spe-
cial value is political independence unless
it be accompanied by financial indie
pendencef
This contest is not only for an i'm
proved currency; it is for an improved
country. 1t is not simply a contest for
the rights of labor. The fight is one Of
manhood Us. money, humanity Us. greed,
philanthropy Us. avarice, patriotism us.
cupidIty. Let the issue be clearly de-
fined and well understood and there need
be no fear of the result.
The same class that told us we could
not resume specie payments now tell us
we cannot adopt free coinage. We re-
sumed specie payments so easily that re-
sumption day came and passed without
creating a ripple of the financial waters.
The adoption of free-coinage law
would instantly restore the parity between
gold and silver. Even the assured pros
pect of the passage of a ee-coinage law
would bring the desired result.
Friends of silver may well take courage.
The dawn is at hand The proceedings
of the late democratic state convention OF
Missouri should convince the most faint
hearted that the victory Is well nigh won.
Oleyeland's friends in the convention
tried to stem the tide, and, in hopes OF de-
feating clear and unequivocal declara-
ton in favor of the restoration of silver
to its former honorable position, offered
this substitute:
"We again declare our devotion to BIZ
metallism, and demand the free and un-
limited coinage of both gold and silver,
and that both gold and silver shall be
standard money, with the same purchas-
ing and debt paying power, and without
any discrimination against either metal.
We are unalterably opposed to all legisia-
ton which has the effect of destroying
silver money and establishing the single,
gold standard, thereby enormously in
oreasing the purchasing power OF gold
and decreasing the price of all commodi-
ties, while the contracts between creditors
and debtors are disregarded and the bur-
dens on the latter made doubly oppress-
| ive"
Two years ago the most enthusiastic
advocate of free coinage would have been
satisfied with this declaration; but the
ease with which the executive has con-
strued the life out of the national demo-
cratic voice made it necessary to speak so
clearly and emphatically that there could
be no chance for misconstruction or quar-
rel about ratio.
The convention, therefore, not only de-
clared in favor of the complete restoration
of silver to the position it held before
1873, but served notice that, if experience
showed the necessity of any readjustment
of our coinage ratio, the change should
be made in the gold instead of the
silver coinage. Another proof of the near
approach of victory was the admission In
the senate by John Sherman that gold
has appreciated.
From this time forward, let no friend OF
silver cast a ballot in favor of any man
for any legislative Office who is not in
favor of the free and unlimited coinage
of silver at the ratio Of 16 to l. Take no
chances. Be not inundated or discour-
aged, though the metropolitan press OF
the nation unite against you.
Rest assured the great army of the pro-
ducers of this nation are with you, and on
the 9Th day of next November will speak
| for hemselyes.