The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-06-23
SILVER AND "pRoTEcTIoN.,

The opposition press endeavor to be-
cloud the silver question by pretend
ing that the purpose in view of the
advocates of free silver coinage is to
foster and protect the silver industry.
That is why they claim that the move
ment originated and is kept up by the
owners of the silver mines of this
country. That is why they falsely pro-
claim that the great champions of the
silver cause are in the employ of the
silver "Barons."
There is nothing in the true princi-
pies of true bimetallism which savors
in the smallest degree of protection.
The free coinage of silver is not de-
manded because it would build up and
keep alive an important American in
dustry. This is a national question. 1t
concerns the whole nation. The peo-
pie engaged in silver mining are but
a handful compared with the great
population of this great country. The
silver product of the United States is
small in value compared with the
agricultural and other important in
terests.
The Democratic party would not be
so largely in favor of free coinage if
it involved the principle of protec-
ton, as that term is used in political
phraseology. The interest of a par
ticular class is not taken into consid-
Grafton in the demand for a return to
the financial policy of the United
a
est good of the greatest number that
kept in view.
The silver policy of the Republican
party, as embodied in the Sherman
purchase act, was protection" pure
and simple. 1t provided for the pur-
chase of a certain quantity of silver
to be piled up in the treasury vaults
of the nation in the shape of bullion.
So far as the principle goes, the coun-
try had just as much right to pur-
chase and pile up wheat or any other
product for the encouragement of the
agricultural interests. The principle
was wrong in essence. 1t could not fail
to be vicious in practice. 1t may have
been of some temporary assistance to
the silver producing interests, in find
ing a government market for the
metal brought out of the hills by hard
labor and mechanical skill. But the
idea that found expression in the
when brought forth in a high tariff
law. 1t was partial, sectional and I'M
Democratic.
Though the relief it afforded to the
silver mining industry may have been
for time beneficial, it was not and
could not be of permanent good to the
class which it was designed to assist
any more than to the rest of the ma
ton, for it aided in keeping up the
idea that silver is but a commodity.
ranking with other metals and pro-
ducts, and not a sovereign money
metal like gold. The true interests of
the silver mining people are those of
the whole country They will share
with others in the benefits of bimetal-
lism.
1t is true that with silver restored
to the position it occupied previous to
1873, mines that are barely paying ex-
penses will be operated at a profit,
and many that are closed down will
be re-opened, giving employment to
many men who are now idle
or engaged in pursuits for which
they are not adapted. But that
is not the great purpose in
view of the advocates of the restor-
alton of the white metal as the money
of the country. 1t is a financial ques-
ton with them, one that concerns the
common welfare and is of far greater
interest to the many millions engaged
in other occupations than to the COM
paratively few silver miners and CAPT.
talists who give them employment.
At the same time the silver men of
the country see no evil growing out of
the fact that, with the revival of all
the interests of the country which will
come in consequence of the remonetiza-
ton of silver, a special good will ac-
crde to a very important industry
which is now languishing and in some
places entirely at rest.