The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-16
sENATOK DANIELS LETTER TO THE
STANTON posi-.

Senator Daniel has written a lengthy
letter TO the Stanton Post, which shows
that he is as firmly welded as ever &c
what we are compelled to term as. in
our opinion, his financial heresies. 1t is
with no expectation that we shall change
the Senator's views that we notice some
of the points in 1t. but with the hone
that we shall diminish their force for
evil upon the minds Of others. Speaking
OF his predictions Of what would occur
If silver were denied free coinage, Senator
Daniel says:
The prophesies | then made have been
already fulfilled. Silver has fallen in
value, and every difficulty to restoration
has been multiplied. The spectacle is pre-
scented OF the greatest silver-producing
nation In the world destroying the foun-
tain OF its own inestimable riches, and
wandering TO Great Britain. which is build
ing up its sold mines, having none of
silver"
IL this sort Of talk came from a less
respectable authority it would not be en-
titled to notice.
What has the United States done in the
way Of destroying the fountain OF its
own incstimabe riches?" Silver mining
is absolutely free in this country. Any
man that desires to do so can take silver
ore at his pleasure from any part of the
soil that belongs TO him, and he can
smelt the ore and refine 1t into pure sill
Yer and sell it ia the market for whatever
1t win fetch. with no embarrassments or
of x,-h
can. therefore. be said that the United
States lis destroying this fountain of it's
inestmable riches is totally Incompetent
sible to US. The laws of this country al
low silver to compete upon terms of alb
solute equality with any other commodity
whatever that is produced in this country,
and, when that takes place. il is a
strange statement. indeed. to us. 10 hear
that the Government is destroying il. III |
1t has no merits 1t will certainly not suc- |
coed In the competition which the Gov
eminent opens TO 1t. But if II has merits
II will certainly succeed in that free COM
petition according to its merits.
III IN true the Government declines 10
put the dollar stamp upon every 37l1-4
grains Of this silver which may be nre.
scented to IL for coinage. because # is not
worth dollar. and is now worth only
forty~hve cents. And the Government re-
fuses TO do the same thing in respect 10
Tin. lead. zinc and other metals, and most
properly so. because 10 do so would be
10 stamp falsehood on those discs and
would rob men who had parted with their
properly ON the faith OF promises 10 pay
dollars of more than one-half the value
or their property. We can see no reason
why Senator Daniel should say this course
IN respect TO silver destroys that fountain
OF It's Riches unless he also adds that the 8
same course In respect TO those other ,
metals also destroys those fountains Of
us riches Neither silver nor any other
of the metals Is a fountain OF riches, ;
except according to the market value of
the metal. Silver or any one OF them
IAN be made an apparent fountain of :,
riches for time by the Government !,
falsely certifying that any given portion Il
'r any one Of them is what IT 4, no, n
ma ~ then compelling its citizens bv :,