The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-07-25

The minis Of India were closed the latter
part of June, 1854 The effect of this was
70 knock the price of silver down 10 cents
an ounce. Three months later the United
States congress repealed the silver pur-
chase law of July, 1880.
Since the beginning Of 1894 the price has
further fallen away by some cents an
ounce to 81 cents, which compares with
81 -, the price ct the time OF closing the
United States minis to free coinage in 1874
The price of silver fell farther within
ten months from the time of the action OF
the India council than it had in any two
years put together since 1878. The cause
mast, OF course, have been the act of In
dian demonstration. And if Indian de-
monetization could produce such an effect,
what must have been the effect of demon
etization by Germany, the Latin Union
and the United States in or Just before
1878?
The restoration of silver to its old place
in the monetary systems of the world
looks highly improbable. Even Mexico.
We notice, is beginning to think that g
standard of value so far at variance with
that Of the leading commercial nations,
and so fiuctuating as the silver standard
now is, is not the unmixed good it APP
peared TO be some time ago; and II begins
to look as though that nation would also
have to cast out silver unless the great
commercial countries of Europe plant
themselves with the United States on the
platform of international bi-metallism.
And yet at this time Col. Winston fayors
the Populist finance of free silver at the
old ratio of Is to 1 against the world. Col.
Winston ought to extend the right hand
of fellowship to that Democratic member
Of congress from Illinois who has intro
duced bin to make gold contracts pay
able in silver. or grsenbacks, or leather,
or mud, or anything which congress has
made or shall make legal tender.
Thomas Paine. in view of the catas-
trophe of the continental currency, de-
clarsd solemnly that anybody who should
propose another legal tender act should
be put 20 death. We quote:
THE laws Of country ought to be the
standard of equity and calculated to I'M
press on the minds Of the people the
moral as well as the legal obligations of
political justice. But tender laws of any
kind operate to destroy morality ana 10
dissolve by the pretense OF law what it
ought TO be the principle of law to sup
port, reciprocal justice between man and
man, and the punishment of q member
who should move for such law ought TO
be DEATH"
And yet this Democratic congressman
not only wishes law making irredeema-
BILE paper legal tender, but would make
specific gold contracts payable in such
paper. OF course, II such bill should
become law every loan of money would
be instantly called in, aud all the circu-
lating capital that could be moved out of
the country would be sent away as fast as
steamships could carry it.
The utter lack of principle on the part
of such congressman who have Populist
constituents is well described by Judge
Aldredge, of Texas, ina recent speech at
Dallas, when he said;
when Methodist Jim turns loose his
Johnsfown flood OF words at the forks of
the creek the yell with which they greet
him - echoed in the halls of congress.
Why. If Methodist Jim were to advocate
killing every red haired man in the coun-
try there would he numerous bills intro
duced into congress TO have them killed. /"