Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-07-19

the act demonetizing silver. So, when
| you hear men talk Of their being in favor
of recoining silver at a changed ratio 10
correspond with its present market value,
bear N mind that they favor "a compromise
of the theft by allowing the theft to retain
the stolen property
Let Us commence AT the old ratio and If
time shows we need change in the amount
do as &c DIN" says-take little from the
gold dollar; the silver dollar is large
enough, and To add to It's weight would
make even "A small amount burdensOme 10
carry Gold dollars do not circulate | be
lieve they are no longer coined. 1t will
be much more convenient if a change has
To be made, 10 tai from their weight in
stead OF adding to silver The whole
question needs the most careful cOnsidera
ton; class should not be arrayed against
class, but the drift of the times is that way,
and capitalists ought TO heed this tendcn-
cy. Men living in plenty, owning OF con-
trolling large sums of money, or receiving
liberal salaries do not realize the pressure
that laborers and people of small means
have 10 submit TO in order to live, to get
the mere necessaries of life. This gold
legislation, SO plainly in the interest Of
capital practically providing that all our
national debt shall be paid in gold dollars
at 25.s grains in weight, nine tenths fire.
then demOnctizing silver so as 10 make the
gold dollar dearer, increase its purchasing
power and in the same proportion as this
increase comes making il greater burden
10 pay the debt, and rs men see that the
results Of invention Inch should make all
things cheaper are largely neutraized by
legislation which makes it harder to get
money, they naturally become disconnected
and bitter against their rulers.
Now. what does capital do Is it mind
ful of this discomfort, and does it honestly
try TO remedy it. Not bit, but com
bines' to educate the people into believing
that legislation has been sll right; that if
silver had not been demonetized the coun-
try would have gone TO the dogs long ago
and that the half dozen or so men who
sneaked through the act making gold the
single standard, were patriots. actuated by
pure motives, intent only on paliatng the
ills of labor and making it easy for the
debtor class to pay debts.
The Sc of us who favor return to silver
money are denounced as favorings dlshon-
est currency, and In substance they incul-
cate the idea that every law which increas-
Is the value Of gold, and thus makes it
better for gold mine owners, is honest and
patriotic but law which seeks to put
SILVER where our fathers put it, and tends
10 make it easier to get money, and for
debtors to pay debts, in the same measure
they borrowed is dishonest and will bring
ruin on the nation, if adopted.
This teaching Is done through salarcd
intellect put in charge of the most impor-
tant caily and weekly papers in our coun
try, and directed in favor of the gold
standard, and so great is the ingenuity Of
our educated men that they seem to hide
the scheme Land as mask over voters and
if they no not convince them all is right,
they at least so confuse them that they do
not clearly see what to do and SO mostly
adhere to the old parties, and doing this,
it does not matter whether they vote Glove
land in or Harrison out, il leaves gold on
top with our moral, agricultural and labor
interests on the other side. -Lemuel Clute,
in the Ionia Express.