Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1895-12-18

silver alone as tnelr STANDARD Ol Na4ut.
All histc.y warns US against rash ex-
periments which threaten violent
changes in our monetary standard and
tho degradation Of our currency. The
past is full Of lessons teaching not only
the economic dangers, bat the national
immortality that follows in the train of
such experiments 1 will not believe
that the American people can he per
shaded after sober deliberation to jeop-
ardize their nations prestige ard proud
standing by encouraging financial nos
trums, nor that they will yield TO the
false alluremeuts of cheap money, when
they realize that il must result in the
weakening Of that financial integrity and
rectitude which thus FAR in our history
have been so devotedly cherished rs one
Of tie traits OF true Americanism.
Our oountry's indebtedness, whether
owing by the government or existing be-
tween individuals, has been contracted
with reference to our present standard.
To decree by act Of congress that these
debts shall be payable in less valuable
dollars than those within the coniem-
plation and intention Of the partie,
when contracted would operate TO trans
fer, by the fiat of law, and without COM
pensation, an amount OF property a. J a
volume Of rights and interests almo t
incalculable
Those who advocate a blind aud head
long plunge - free coinage in the name
Of b.meiallism and processing the De-
lief, contrary TO all experience, that we
could thus establish q double standard
and "a concurrent circulation ot both
metals in our coinugc, are certainly
reckoning from a cloudy standpoint.
Our present standard OF value IS the
standard OF The civilized world and per-
mits the only bimetallism now possible,
or at least that is within the independ-
ent reach of any single nation, however
powerful that nation may be.
There is q vast difference between
standard Of value and "A currency for
monetary use. The standard mustneocs-
sariIy be fixed and certain. Thecurcn'T
may be i'm divers forms and Of VARIOUS
kinds. No silver standard country hasa
gold currency in circulation, but m en-
lightenod and wise system Of finance So
cures the benefits Of both gold and silver
as currency and circulating medium 10y
keepiug the standard stable and all
other currency at par with IL. such a
system and such "a standard also give
free scope for the use and expansion Of
safe and conservative credit. SO indis
pensahle 10 broad aud growing CONNER
cial transactions and 50 we'll substituted
for the actual use Of money. ii a fixed
and stable standard is maintained such
as the magnitude and safety Of our COM
merciai transactions and business re-
uuire. the use of money itself Is con-
yenieutly minimzcd. Every dollar OF
fixed and stable value has through the
agency Of confident credit an astonishing
cauacity "a uIult yius itself iu liuan-
cial work. Every unstable aud fiuctuat-
ing dollar fails as a lasis Of clcdif, and
its use begcts gambling speculation and
uudermincs the foundations of honest
enterprise.
have ventuIed TO express myself On
this subject with carncstness and plain
ness Of speech lecause / cannot rid my
self of the belief That there turks in the
proposition Cor the free coinage Of sill
yer, so strongly approved and 20 cnthu.
siastically advocated by multitude of
my countrymen, a serious menace 90 cur
prosperity and au insidious temptation
Of our people to wander from the ale
glance they owe to public and private
integrity. i is because | donot distrust
the good faith ard sincerity Of those
who press this scheme that l have i'm
perfectly but with zeal submitted my
thoughts upon this momentous subject
cannot refrain from begging them to
re-examine their views and beliefs IN
the light Of patrio,icreason and familiar
experience, aud to weigh again and
again the consequences Of such legisla-
ton as their efforts have invited. Even
the continued agitation Of the subject
adds greatly to the difficulties Of dan
eerous financial situation already forced
upon us.