The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1895-10-19
He IS CHEERED TO THE ECHO
Declared That the Sixteen to One, NOT
the Gold Advocates, Are the
Real MOnOmetailists.

Atlanta, Ca, Oct. 16.-The second SeS-
sion Of the American Bankers Associa-
ton was called to order this morning
by President O'Dell. chairman. e. w.
Pullen read extensive reports from the
executive council in reference to the
proposed change in the wording of the
constitution. Banker Aldridge read
paper in opposition to the free coinage
of silver.
1.-THE proposition that this govern
ment should coin silver for the world
in an unlimited amount at double its
market value is so repugnant to the
common sense of mankind" said Mr..
Aldridge, that it ought to be unneces-
sary to discuss it, and would be but
for the fact that a portion of our peo-
pie have been misled by appeals to their
prejudice"
He pointed out that the leading ma
tons Of the earth, after testing silver
for hundreds of years, voluntarily
adopted the single gold standard and
that no nation today has the silver
standard from choice.
"The gold standard advocates be-
lieve in gold as a standard with the
largest possible safe use Of silver among
the people. The 16 to dreamers believe
in the so-called double standard and we
are driven by this law to the use of sill
yer alone. All gold standard countries
| use large amounts of silver and no
silver standard countries use any gold
whatever. AS the practical question
is on the use of metals, it follows that
we are the bimetallists, and the 16 to
people are the monometallists. Hence
| the battle that is to be fought to a
| finish next year is whether we will re-
main under a gold standard with actual
bimetallism in use among our people
| gold and silver circulating freely with
out discrimination against either, OF
shall we have so-called double stand
ard at the minis and nowhere else
with silver metallism in actual use;
The battle is between substance ani
shadow, between those who want bi
metallism in fact and those who wan
it in name only. We are the friends O.
silver money, who would bring to til
aid the power of the government tt
keep it good and they are its enemies
who by unlimited coinage would TAX,
from it the guaranty of purity ant
thereby degrade it to it's market value.
"Our government has been and Il
now coming silver at the ratio Of 16 t,
l. 1t is enabled to do this because unde
the law it can restrict the amount coin
ed and being vested with this contro
it undertakes to make every dOlla
good money The moment the govern
ment loses control of the coinage, tn
confidence in it's ability to protect tn
money issue is gone, and silver dol
lar then rests on its merits, and
worth so cents"
In refutation of the contention tina
gold has appreciated and depreciate
prices, he pointed out that no two arti
cles have declined at the same time o
in the same degree, nor has any ar
ticle mentioned remained uniformly de
pressed, and therefore but one control
.. ling cause can be assigned for thes
results.
Continuing, he said: Interest has de
clined since 1872 in my part OF tn
country from per cent per month t
6 and per cent per annum. Their
is no denying the fact that goldbug
did that. The south and west hav
saved more on the decline OF interes
than they have lost in the decline Of
wheat and cotton. Interest is Away
low under an honest standard, amonl
an honest people, where money is plen
tiful It is lower in London than Il
any other spot on the globe becaus
her standard is stable and her CONNER
cial integrity has been the care OF he
statesmen and her people for pas
ages"
ON REPUTATION.
( Mr.. Aldridge charged that 1t was re
pudiation Of debt and not free coin