The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-15
Frec siIver worsInsmen.


The Atlanta Constitution denies the
statement the Morning News made the
other day that the effect Of ths free coin
aze Of silver on wages would Doe pracu-
cally TO cut them down one-half II does
not. Of course. advance any reasonable
argument TO show that our statement is
wrong. but does say that those who op-
pose the free coinage OF silver favor the
policy OF shvlockism." that their argu-
ments are misrepresentation ana as
sumptions." and speaks OF the editors
who do not agree with il as stupid or
SELFISH These terms are the Constitu-
tiou's stock arguments. and IL has used
them 50 continuously for several years
that its readers are pretty well acquaint-
cd with them. The fact that they are
overworked does not seem to occur 20 the
Constitution.
we gave the Constitution a chance 10
make an argument few days ago. and
hoped il would take advantage Of it. The
Constitution stated that it would take
twice as much corn and cotton now to
nav debt Of Sl00 as it did ten years ago
We gave the prices Of corn and cotton for
1898 and 1895. showing that cotton is only
cent a pound lower now than it was two
years ago and that corn is worth cents
bushel more than it was two years ago
We suppose the Constitution must have
been convinced that our argument was
unanswerable and that the wisest thing
| to do was TO let it alone.
And now about wages We say that the
effect of free. unlimited and independent
coinage Of silver would be. practically, to
| cut down wages one-half. Mexico. our
| neighbor. has free silver coinage. This
| country has the gold standard. In Mex
leo or in this country an American silver
dollar will purchase very nearly two Mex
lean silver dollars. or very nearly twice
as much Of commodity as two Mexican
silver dollars. In other words, in free
silver coinage Mexico silver dollar ha'
only about half the purchasing power an
| American silver dollar has, although tn
1 Mexican silver dollar has more silver il
it than the American silver dollar. /
we had free silver coinage in this countr,
we should have the silver standard, jus
aa the Mexicans have and our silver dol
lar would have only about half Of its pres
ent purchasing power. Therefore, wit
free silver coinage wages and salaries &
this country would be cut. down practi
cally one-half
The Constitution may contend tina
wages and salaries would be increased
They have not advanced in Mexico and i
other free silver coinage countries. Ez
perience proves that wages are about tn
last thing to rise when the currency be
comes deprecated. The wage-earners c
Mexico are paupers in comparison wit
the wage-earners of this country.
1t is difficult to understand why an
newspaper, unless it be an enemy Of wag'
earners should favor the free coinage {
silver. Under the gold standard wages
this country have increased GO per cen
since 1873, the year silver was demon
tized, as shown by a report Of the Sena
finance committee. In the face of sue
facts. why the Constitution should fave
a policy that would reduce wages pract
cany one-half can be explained only {
the theory that being afflicted with Il
silver craze it cannot see things as the
q, are.