Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-03-14

mote in the highest degree the business inter-
eStS of the entire country. while continuance OF
the present policy must necessarily be attend
ed by further fall of prices, inperiling bust
ness enterprise still more and prolong1ng IN
definitely the present StagnaEt condition OF
trade and industry.
Better prices under existing conditions can
not be expected. A debtor nation can not
maintain an even level of prices with creditor
nations. The single gold standard can be
maintained in the United States only by fore
ing down the price level of commodities here
enough below the price level of other countries
to turn gold this way; or, at any event, to in
duce our creditors to take commodities OF US
for what we owe them instead of demanding
gold. Any policy, therefore, that tends to raise
prices necessarily operates to expel gold. This
condition Of things can not be overcome by
tariffs, much less by free trade. In the pay
ment of annual dues to other countries we must
compete with other debtor countrieS-with the
Argentine, with Egypt, with India, with all the
colonies of Great Britain, and worst of ALL,
with Asiatic races, with industries stimu-
lated as never before by the low price
of silver These conditions, from which
there Is no escape as long as the gold
standard policy is pursued, intensity the gravi-
ty of the situation in this country to such an
extent as to compel the serious attention OF all
patriotic citizens. How idle, in the presence
of such conditions, to expect to maintain the
and how unwise, if not reckless, such a policy
must seem to thoughtful men everywhere It
is estimated that already the rise of gold, by
increasing debts, has absorbed from 1000 Co.,
900 to 50,0000G0, 90 of the worlds wealth.
The Inauguration of a movement for relief
from these enthrallng conditions must spring
from the people. Politicians never institute
great reforms, and it were idle to wait for
them. This cause is the cause of the people.
and it is believed that it more profoundly con-
yUpIf NJ I n ho3 Of no,
pie than any question since the civil war. if
notindeed since our independence was gained,
for in its ultimate outcome the question of q
Sufficiency or scarcity of mony is question OF
freedom Serfdom for the masses of the peO-
pie.
While not unmindful OF the interests of the
people of other countries on this question it is
not an issue that can be safely submitted to the
decision of foreign governments, or be made to
depend on what other countries may do or may
not do. When our monetary system was eStab-
lished, over one hundred years ago, with a
population Of less than 100000 our fathers did
not wait for or invite the concurrence of other
powers. Nor did the trainers OF the constitu-
tion contemplate any such action. They legis-
lated for the United States, and We now, as
Americans, must legislate for ourselves.
Beware of entangling alliances in this, as
in other matters, and especially OF allurementS
of international conferences, to delay action in
our own behalf. in the delusive hope that other
We can ourselves. No other country has ever
asked our approval of its financial policy.
1t is believed that the United States has
power enough in the commercial world to alone
restore the link between gold and silver, broken
| in 1873. but while it would not go to premium
it will none the less operate prices generally,
and certainly premium on gold here would,
| like fall in the gold price of silver to silver
countries, inure on every side to the advantage
of the United States.
Fellow-citizenS. the power is still in your
hands to right by the ballot the great wrong of
1873 and to save yourselves and your children
from the thralldom which the gold-standard
policy, if persisted in, will surely bring upon
you and them. We pray you, therefore, not to
let the settlement of this question 60 beyond
the election of 1896, but, subordinating all ques
tons for the time being to this, the supreme
issue. settle this now. and settle it forever.
And we especially urge upon you the impor-
tance of immediate organization in townships
and counties throughout the entire country for
the purpose of carrying on this great move
ment for the common good of all
Signed by the following executive committee.
appointed by the bimetallic conference, called
at Washington, February %. 1895:
A. ]. Warner, president American Bimetailic
league, chairman.
John z. Jones. United States senate.
VIM. NJ. Stewart, United States senate.
j. L. McLaurn, of South Carolina.
Arson WoIcott, of Indiana.
George a. Merrick, of Colorado.
Henry Jones' of Georgia.
J. C. Green. of California.
Joseph Sheldon of Connecticut.
c. j. Hillyer, of the District of Columbia
Byron E. Shear, of Colorado
Mortimer Whitehead. of New Jersey.
A committee consisting of the fol-
lowing named gentlemen, Gen. A. J..
Warner, president American Bimetallic
League, chalrman; Hon. VIM. Stewart,
United States senate; Henry Jones, of
| Georgia; Hon. Francis G. Newlands,
| of Nevada; Hon. Arson Wolcott, of In
diana, and Hon. j. L. McLaurin, of
South Carolina, was appointed to Sc
lect provisional national committee,
to consist of one member from each
state and territory and the District Of
Columbia, to take charge of this move
ment in the several states and terri
tories.