Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-10-10
FACTS TO REMEMBER.


The E6sct Upon Prices Of silver Demonett-
xasion-Kesnembee Them.
The Constitution does not set up for
. prophet, but If our readers will turn
to the files of the paper and read what
was editorially said would be the re-
suit OF the unconditional repeal of the
purchasing clause Of the Sherman act,
they will perceive that our predictions
have been very faithfully fulfilled
We said that prices would be lower
when the purchasing clause was re-
pealed- They fell nearly 90 per cent.
We said that bonds would hare to be
issued to maintain the gold reserve
They were issued to the extent Of
s162, O00. 900, and the end of the issue is
not in sight We said that if the gold
standard was maintained the paper
currency of the country would have to
be contracted. MIR. Benedict, a Wall
street financier, says that the green
backs must go. This is undoubtedly
true. if we are to maintain the British
gold standard But are we to main
tain it? That rests with the people.
When the scheme of unconditional
repeal of the purchasing clause of the
Sherman act was up for consideration,
the Constitution protested that it
meant the single gold standard, pure
and simple. But Mr.. Catching, of Mis-
sissippi, declared in the house that it
was the first step toward the free coin
age of silver. Mr.. Voorhees, in the
senate, made the same declaration.
Newspaper editors who are now advo-
eating the single gold standard de-
clared that they were in favor of UNI
conditional repeal because it would
lead to the reconciliation of silver.
Many congressman declared that they
voted for unconditional repeal because
they had the highest assurance that it
was merely the first step toward the
free coinage of silver. These assur-
ances came straight from the white
house and were in the nature of con-
ddential tips. Every congressman who
received them believed that he was on
the inside of the whole business, and
that his course would be fully vindi-
Gated by results
But what happened? Why, when
the purchasing clause of the Sherman
act was Internationally repealed,
when prices had dropped and business
had come to standstill, the congress
men who had voted for it as the first
STEP" began to inquire when the Sec
ond step was to be taken. Then the
gold-bugs of Wall street turned upon
them and began to rend them. ''What!
would you endanger the business in
terests of the country by talking about
the free coinage of silver?" That has
been the cry ever since unconditional
repeal 1.-THE business interests, -
whatever they may be. are supposed
to be in a suffering condition every
time a country newspaper whispers
anything in favor of free coinage. 1t
is very sad. There can be no discus
sion on any public question, owing to
the fact that the business interests
(of Wall street, are liable to suffer.
The people must keep their tongues in
their heads, and must cease to take
any interest in politics for fear of dis
| turbing our Cuisines interests, /"
which of late have come to be wonder
fully tenderfooted.
The fact remains, nevertheless, that
| the ssbusiness interests" of Wall street
| and Lombard street are not nearly so
| important as the business interests of
| the people, and the discussion will GO
on. Meanwhile there need be no mis-
understanding of the purposes of the
| gold-bugs. They are not at all salts
fed with the present situation; they
know that the single gold standard
cannot be maintained with our present
volume of currency. Having struck
down silver as the money of final pay.
ment, they now propose to retire the
green backs What do the people think
| of the outlook?-At1anta Constitution.