The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-28
Highest of all in Leavening Po~es-.atest U Govt Repon
Roe! RRakiaRs
ABSOLUTELY PURE
ABSOLUTELY PURE

those having wealth rightly oppose.
This brings the silver question of to-
day nearly to an issue between capital
and labor-a deplorable, unhealthy con-
dition; and the two political parties in
their platforms. in every State except
New York. Massachusetts and Pennsyl-
vania, last year. advocated some form
of silver legislation. Fortunately, the
States representing the wealth and pop
ulation favor no radical measure but
efforts for the establishment of BIZ
metallism.
The greatest mistake we ever made
was, first in practically demonetizing
silver in 1873. AT that time silver was
selling at 1.27: with skill an agreement
could have been executed. Instead, we
virtually said that circumstances We're
such that We feared the production OF
silver from the Comstock mines would
soon make it unfavorable as money
Foreign nations were not slow in
awaking to the fact that there was a
possibility of a great overproductlon.
France, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium,
Spain and the Scandinavian states fol-
lowed Germany in its practical demone-
tization. Even Russia, nom1naliyia sill
yer country, is so In name only; she
has less than $50, 900 of silver coin.
Yet the unwiSe method of coercion was
adopted to fix ratio Of 16 to l.
SILVER DECLINED.
In 1878 Congress authorized the coin
age of s24.o00.O00 per annum. and then
conference was called which resulted
in failure. For a time America treated
silver as money, but the production in
creased so rapidly that silver declined,
steadily in value. A conference was
held in Paris, but resulted also In fall
ure. In 1890 the deadly Sherman law
was passed. which stamped silver. not
money, but a commodity which tho
American government desired other ma
tions to accept as money upon a ratio
set by the producer. These acts natur-
ally made many silver men who were
miners for revenue only. Their inter
est became so intertwined that their
sense of right was smothered by the
idea that their product was worthy OF,
greater protection than all other lines
of American industry. In 1892 the third
effort at international agreement was
made in Brussels and adjourned WITH
out result. During this debate 1T was
shown that Europe was not hostile 10
silver on an equitable ratio-the
Rothschilds admitted thls-but the
efforts to establish silver on a ratio OF
16 to 1 when the actual ratio was 1o.t1
seemed unreasonable.
There has been no conspiracy 10 de-
stroy silver. Nature and invention are
responsible for it's decline, first, by prov
ing fallacious the main argument In
sustaining its claims that the too great
and growing scarcity of gold made it
unfavorable for money or the masses.
second, the marvellous cheapenlng pow
err of inventions applied to the extrac-
ton of the white metal MY study OF
the silver question was based upon
lines of business interest. My views
were honest Suess, the eminent Aus
TRAN geologist, taught US that the grow
ing scarcity of gold and the unmlstak-
able condition of nature gave no hopes
for future adequate supply. The nrst
rude shock to these cherished ioeas
came when the discoveries IL south
Africa upset the Austrian's theories. ~
was realized that the tremendous pronts
in gold mining would seduce away
the flower of the supporters of silver.
The year 1858 gave the world the nigh
est gold product in the memory OF Hldii.
From that to 1892 the decline was SO
great that the predictions of Suess were
verified. In 1898 there came change.
The star of silver descended; the cause
of silver recommendation faded. All the
countries of the earth seemed 70 nnu
gold. Africa, which in 1884 brought
forth no golden grains, mas Sue, sseaa a, ~,
creased in production until 1894 showed
$50 900 OOO Australia. British Guinea,
Mexico India, Russia and the united
States have all shown marked increase
So great has been this change tnat .nG
gold product of 1894 exceeded the totai
product of silver. The result Is IN
evitable. The enormous profits attend
ant upon successful gold mining Is thln-
ming the ranks or the white inetdf al nv.
Self-interest rules in mining, as IN otner
business industries.
In that American empire terneu LIE
silver West there may have been men
SO broad, philanthropIc. patriotic anu
self-sacrificing that they enlisted under
the silver banner not for revenue, but
principle I knew them not Theif
taIons never grasped the limb that gave
me rest at night. They scared In the
blue of heaven by day too far above
nv companions to even hear the rustic
Of their wings. We were but soldiers
Of fortune, fighting where our interest
Law. Constant companionship made US
love the white czar of the metallic king
dom. We became rich through the
gifts showered upon us. We drank IN
orr share of the sweet perfume or the
flowers of his success. We watched IN
sorrow the gathering clouds that dark
ened the sunlight of his fame. with
tear-dimmed eye we beheld the purple
twilight of the evening OF ms exile.
with him we fell, arose from the asnes
-of repeal. threw garlands. enlblems OF
love. as he sailed away, like Isis moaned
our fallen Osiris. then turned TO serve
the Yellow King. Should nations recaii
him from his Elba we shall be the frst
70 cry. viva la platar