Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1895-07-23
Fourth DaY.

Chicago, July 20.-Thc crucial point was
reached III the big Horr-Harvey debate to-
day. 1t was near the end of the session
when Mr.. Horr, breaking away from the
long-continued discussion of the circum-
stances surrounding the enactment Of the
law Of 1873, stated cOmpactly his version
of the existing condition Of the debate and
then pumped the main question: "Ought
we again throw open the mints of the
United States to the free coinage Of EilverT
Mr.. Harvey was evidently taken by sur
prise, but stood by his guns and insisted
OH proceeding with his attempt to prove
that the decentralization of silver was ac-
complished with a surreptitiousness that
was criminal Here is what Mr. Horr said
preparatory to springing the chief issue:
"There are some things about which Mr..
Harvey and myself differ and some about
which we agree. He thinks that our fore
fathers established a single measure OF
value; that that measure was 311A grains
of pure silver; that gold was made 4 simple
companion metal of silver and that it's
value was to be all the time measured by
il silver dollar. believe that those carly
patriots attempted to establish Il measure
Of value out Of two metals, gold and silver,
and that they supposed they had hit upon
a ratio which would secure the use Of both
gold dollars and silver dollars. Beside we
agree that up to 1884 the measure of value
in actual use in this country was the silver
dollar. assert that in 1881 the ratio was
changed, that the gold dollar WAS made
smaller. He admits that. l insist that
when the gold dollar was cheapened it be-
came the actual measure of value in this
country and remained so up to the sus-
pension of specie payments; that the silver
dollar, though still legal measure Of
value, was not used in this country as the
actual measure after 1881. He denies that.
We both agree taht from 1862 to 1870 the
domestic business of this country was done
by using the greenback dollar as the meas
ure of values, which was during none OF
those years equal in value to either the
in his book. We both agree
'Now mark. We both agree that in 1873
the coinage of silver dollars was stopped by
law, and that since 1870, since the resump
tfon of specie payment, the domestic and
international business of this country had
been done on a gold basis. We agree that
Great Britain has been OH gold basis
since 1916; no dispute about 1t. I claim
that Germany ceased the free coinage of
silver in 1871, and he claims that it was
not done until later-in 1S73-but we both
agree that since Jan. 1, 1874, Germany has
been entirely upon a gold basis. We agree
that the nations which conn ose the Latin
Union-France, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy
and Greece-are all of them to-day gold
SCduuGTu COuuCrleS. is uO UC-
tween us that British America and Aus
tralia are also gold standard countries We
agree that Mexico, China and Japan and
several other republics Of South America
are silver standard nations.
No DOuble-Stanilard Nation.
"There is to-day no nation on the face
! of the earth that Is. actually, using a double
standard. The actual measure of value in
each Of the countries of the world Is either
gold alone, or silver alone, except In some
i countries where deprecated paper money
Is the only circulating medium and metal
money Is bought and sold as commodity,
Just as was the case In this country dur
Ing the suspension Of specie PAYMENTS. Mr..
Harvey claims that the law Of 1878 was se-
cretly and fraudulently passed. He won't
deny that he claims that. That / have de-
;; MED and still deny. j say that there Is not
grain of@truth In such statement. But
we both agree that the law was passed and
Is In force to-day. Now the important Ques-
tion before the American people at this
moment, and the one we are here to dis
cuss, is this: Ought the law to be repealed :
Ought we to again throw open the mints Of
the United States to the free coinage Of
silver upon the old ratio of 16 to l, whom