Catoctin clarion., 1895-09-12
OUTLINES HIS VIEWS.
THE FINANCIAL FAITH OF A PROMi-
NENT PROHlBlTiONlST.

Why lie Opposes Free Silver-CharEe That
the Law Of 1873 Was a Crime Has Never
Been Proved-Past Experience With De-
based Currency.
In letter published in The New
Era, Chairman Samuel Dickie Of the
Prohibition national committee outlines
his views on the currency question as
follows:
Without undertaking IN argument in
behalf Of any proposition herein, sub
NIT the following as in part declara-
tion Of my financial faith:
First. Upon any satisfactory plan
for equalizing the intrinsic and nom
inal value Of our coins l am bimetal-
list. An international agreement or an
increased ratio might sufficiently ap-
proximato the desired result. To de-
crease the amount Of gold in our gold
coins might accomplish the samo end,
but would be palpablc fraud.
Second. AS between gold mono
metallism and silver monometallism
unhcstatingly declare for the former.
As to free coinage-scveral years ago
when this question began to attract
public attention l found myself in
clined to sympathizc with tho advo-
Gates Of free coinage. Before commit
ting myself either way sought to mako
careful examination Of the question,
and believe that l was able to study tho
problem as u student and not as an ad-
vocate began my examination OF the
issue, however, with the belief that
sludious investigation would only tend
to confirm and strengthen impressions
and prejudices which, at the time, 1
knew rested on no we'll established
foundation.
An examination of tho issue in all its
bearings has led me, almost against my
will, to the conclusion that at the ratio
proposed, and without international
agreement, tho free coinage Of silver by
tho United States would be a calamity
Of 10 mean magnitude. In this position
/ find myself in harmony with the best
thought of the Prohibition party, as
witness the rejection Of free coinage
plank at Cincinnati by the decisive vote
Of 335 for to 59G against Tho follow
ing arc among tho conclusions which
havo forced themselves upon me:
First. charge that the law Of
1878 was u "crime' and the outcome Of
There is 10 direct testimony, the cir
Cumstantal evidence is utterly made
uuatn, and tho absence Of motive is i'm
portant.
Second Tho effort Oh tho part of
tho silver men to pose as tho especial
friends of tho worliingmen and to hold
up their opponents i'll the suiso of "aris-
tocrats," "bondholdcrs, "robbcrs, "
"gold barOns," "ShylOcks," etc., is u
most disgusting exhibition Of the dema-
go2ues art.
Third. Equally insincere and absurd
is the attempt to assnso prejudice against
an inert substance by tho violent dec
lamaton that "gold is % traitor, ""gold
deserted the country when Sumter was
fired upon, gold never fought bat
tie for us, "gOld fed in the time Of
danger, " "nobody saw any gold during
the war" Substitute "silver" for
"gold' in tho preceding quotations,
and they arc equally trnc.
Fourth.-Gold, measured by human
toll, which is the only truo standard,
has steadily deprecated in purchasing
power for many years
Fifth. accommodates, produced by
improved methods Of production, ought
to deprcciate in value, and such depre
citation is no evidence of an apprecia-
tion in the currency of the country.
Sixth. Debtors contracting debts
during or soon after the war and pay
ing "dollar for dollar" i'll the late sew
entes or since certainly suffered serious
hardship. This hardship was incident
to our recovery from an era of dcpreoi-
atcd money and was not caused by the
"crime" of 1873.
Seventh Free coinage, as proposed,
would luean silver monOmetallism, de-
prcciatcd currency and the prompt dis
appearance of gold.
Eighth. h.--To defend the debasement
Of our currency Oh the ground that
cheap money will benefit tho debtor
class, enabling them to discharge their
obligations more easily, is to advocate
rank dishonesty.
Ninth. A reasonable prospect OF the
enactment Of such legislation as is ad-