Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1895-03-23
THE SILVER QUESTION

The Black Hills Mining Review ofthe
18th inst, contains an able review of
the silver situation from the ready and
competent pen of James Conzette. of
Galena, from which we extract por-
tion regretful of lack Of available
space TO reproduce i in its entirety. Mr.
Conzette starts out with reference to
the present condition of our national
affairs, which he AYERS is more peculiar
in its character than has ever before
existed in the history Of the nations OF
the world. After 4 somewhat elaborate
review of the various systems ADVOCATED
for the restoration of silver to its proper
place as a money metal, all of which he
claims to be more or less Objectionable
upon grounds clearly stated, he suggests
a method, which, if attended with the
results which he insists would surely
follow, should commend itself to the
thoughtful consideration of every true
friend Of the republic Mr.. Conzette's
plan, and It's fruiIious results are out
lined in the following;
First. we should provide for the is.
suing and sale OF bonds only ii il became
necessary 10 maintain the parity. The
treasurer should he empowered and in
structed to use discretionary powers and
refuse pay ynents wilsnss..E it hecams
evident To him that such Withdrawals OF
gold were being made to force 4 sale OF
bonds. Then enact free coinage sys-
TEN for the entire American product Of
silver at the present ratio and permit
exporters from this country TO receive
and import from those countries only
which have adopted free coinage Of
silver policy. Silver bullion taken in
payment for any product of this coun-
try actually sold and exported from this
to such free silver coinage countries
upon payment of small duty merely
enough to pay for custom inspection,
such imported silver to be treated as
American product. All other importa-
tions Of silver bullion or coin to pay a
duty Of not less than the difference be-
tween our coinage value and the Lon
don market value, all this TO be under
our present custom house laws and reg
ulations with the same penalties for
violation as on other dutiable goods.
By adopting this system no silver
could be thrust upon US except that
which was exchanged for some product
of our own. The opportunity to ex-
change their silver, dollar for dollar, for
our manufactured products, would bring
us the trade Of all silver countries and
create lever that would force all gold
standard European countries TO remone-
tize silver Or lose their export trade TO
all silver countries.
The expectation Of our manufactured
products to silver countries would large
ly increase, every manufacturing plant
in America would soon be in operation,
no man would need to be idle. This
would also create a home demand for
home consumption heretofore unequal
led. The increased purchasing power
of silver would result in higher wages
for the working man, better prices for
all farm products and bring general
prosperity to our entire country. Why
should We hesitate or wait for an inter
national agreement? We should take
advantage Of the present conditions and
help ourselves. A firm, conservative
system should be adopted. Extremists
must give way, for they rarely ever
accomplish anything except to lead
people to ruin and disaster, ard yet 1t
seems they have q mission to perform,
if it is only to excite the conservative
element to action. Now is the time,
while congress is adjourned, to prepare
for future united action. All friends %
silver should put tfeir shoulders 70
| the wheel.
Let us push ahead independently and
secure the harvest before 1t is too late.
England tried for many years to con-
quer the world by force of arms and
failed She is now about to accomplish
it by superior franciering. Are Ameri-
cans degenersting that they permit this
to 20 on? Now is the time for us to
prove our equality il not superiority, or
seek our kennels like whipped spaniels.
A financial system on the lines that l
have suggested, with an honest, patri-
otic president and treasurer to enforce
its provisions, would in a short time
demonstrate to the world that America
was supreme in commerce and in fh-
anC0