The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-05-14
DRcADRNCR OF METALL1sM.
Correspondence of the Progressive Farmer.
MECKLENBURG, n. @.

Correspondence of the Progressive Farmer.
MECKLENBURG, N. @.
Rightly to a%pprehend and appreciate
the drift of things as inaugurated by
the Farmers Alliance and swayed by
the genius Of Populism is to recognize
the fact that metallism as a scientific
theory of finance is virtually exploded,
and metallic currency adjudged as a
relic of barbarism.
The beginning of the end" of metal
ism dates from the amputation of its
silver leg by the goldbug doctors in
1873, the greatest blessingEunder dis
guise, perhaps, of the 10Th century, in
asmuch as the crippled condition Of
finance with it's attendant oppression
of the people since that time, has led to
the exposure of metallic sophistry with
which we have been so long enthralled,
and is working out for us a new and
unprecedented installment7of liberty.
The better day of finance is almost in
sight, when arbitrament of metallism
shall cease, and iatism succeed to the
bishopric thereof.
That metallism is superanuated is
evident from the fact of seriously lag
ging in the race of progress and de-
velopment. It's scant arithmatical
supply can't possibly meet the geo.
metrical demands Of an awakening
and inventive age. It's horrid cum
brousness is repudiated and its Sin
trinsic" fraud exposed by common
sense, and it is generally inadaptable
to the versatilities of an age of steam
and electricity. 1t eminently behooves
us to lay aside every weight and things
that do so cumber commercial circula-
ton, that we may run with ease and
alacrity the race of modern activity
and improvement.
AS a matter of national security,
metallism should be eliminated from
the realm of finance, the construction
of metallic mountains at Washington
City will prove a constant menace not
only to financial system, but to
jul NO4N CALSJCAS0 d6 q SV4OA G44
increase of our standing army will be
necessary, and that eyesore of modern
civilization greatly aggravated. The
burden of taxation will be increased,
and are easy stepping stones to
monarchy erected.
AS a matter of political economy
metallism should be abolished. The soc
province of money is to vehicle among
citizens the legal tender fiat of the
government. AS instrument of ex
change metallism is extravaganza run
mad. Gold and silver should be super
seeded by the cheapest possible metal
that will suitably answer the purpose.
In the form of coin their intrinsic val
ues are literally locked up. laid up in
up in a napkin, lying all the day idle,
sleeping away their precious existence.
We should liberate them, and put to
the best possible use before the day
of reckoning comes.
Bimetallism as a subsidiary matter
and temporary expedient only is to be
tolerated. 1t is too ephemeral and
shadowy an issue to base a great prac-
tical party solely upon. Politicians
emerging from the whirlpool of Demo
cratic discontinue should take a sec
ond thought before running another
risk of so great a buster.
The time has come to cry aloud and
onoro not that u0ota1liSuo bo tod
to the sphere of its nativity as a com
modify, and fiatism ushered as the
peoples rider and legitimate arbiter of
finance. JNO. K. RANKIN.