The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-06-29
THE SILVER COLLAPSE.

a coA0 - 81 liz 49, 49,
wind blows, but straws may be easily
whipped about. When the current OF a
river is SO strong that heavy craft as
well as the driftwood Is swept along its
power and velocity are u~nmistakable.
The drift OF public sentiment relative 10
the free coinage of silver has passed be-
yond the straw indicating period. The
opposition can now be better compared
to the onsweeping current OF a great
river. A limited number will not see
this, but none are so blind as those who
will not see. Nearly three months Ago..
when the silver-mine syndicate deliv-
cred their sudden and well-directed as
sault, they created a decided furry in
favor of their proposition. Many we'll
meaning people were carried away by
ii. Coins" book was read by almost
everybody in large sections of the coun-
try. Thousands of honest people were
deceived by it. For two or three weeks
the silverites had things their w way.
Many alleged politicians clambered
aboard the free coinage wagon and
warned the of their respect
i've parties that if they did not follow
tnem a season OF crOW-edtllS dWSittu
them.
This was nearly three months ago.
Since that time the advocates Of sound
money have got into position and fought
a winning fight. Coins" book, which
was the main cause of the free silver
furry, has been riddled until all fair
minded men who have been seeking for
the frIr.h haNa Gonna m regard II as "A
tissue of f~alsehoods and misrepresenta-
ton. The whole subject has been dis
cussed with ability and candor. The re-
suit has been that the proposition to coin
fifty or sixty cents worth of private
silver into a dollar was never so we'll
understood and really never so unpopu-
lar as now
Who doubts this? Let him look at the
facts. In Ohio and Kentucky, where
Republican conventions nave been held,
not a delegate stood forth to advocate
the free coinage of silver. AT the con-
vention of the Lincoln Leagues it was
demonstrated that the free coinage adj
vocates could control but one or two
small delegations outside of the silver
producing States. All of the business
and commercial organizations in which
the subject has been discussed and acted
upon. outside of the silver-producing
States. have declared against free silver
coinage. The Altgeld element of the
Democratic party in Illinois early called
a convention to declare for free silver,
but 1t is said that the same committee
would not call it to-day. The silver
convention in Kansas was a Populist
gathering. and not a significant one at
that. Similar meetings in Iowa and
Michigan the past week were miserable
failures. Two months ago a majority
of the Democratic State committee in
Indiana were In favor of a convention
to declare for free coinage; to-day not
over two members would sign such a
call. Six weeks ago a majority of the
Democratic editors of Indiana were
clamoring for an opportunity to declare
for free silver; now at their meeting
they dare not do it. Six weeks ago, if
the Kentucky Democratic convention
had been held, free coinage would nave
been indorsed. This week the leading
silver champion in the State. Senator
Blackburn, appealed to the convention
In vain to defeat reaffirmation Of the
national platform, while an out and out
free coinage proposition did not receive
fifty votes. In Ohio. six weeks ago, two
thirds of the Democratic papers were
for free silver; now the two-thirds are
against it. All these changes have been
caused by the silent but potential ac-
emulation of informed popular senti-
ment against the proposition to coin
silver free for the bullion-owners.
The people have considered the SUBJ
ject. They have seen that nobody but
the silver mine owners would be bene-
fitted by stamping fifty cents worth of
their silver bullion one dollar. and that
everybody else would be injured; they
have learned from history that the free
coinage of silver would destroy as
money all the gold used as such by the
country at the present time; they have
learned that the volume of money, sill
yer and gold. has increased three times
as fast as population during the past
twenty years; they have learned that
the assumptions of Coin and other
calamityfteS that we are a country OF
bankrupt debtors is a SANDER. and that
IL we were the free coinage of silver
would not help us unless We owned
silver mines; they have come to the con-
clusion that the free coinage demand
originated with the minc-owning syndi-
Gates, and has been cried up and down
the country by their regularly paid
lobby and by politicians out Of a job.
Having learned these and many other
things of similar import, the intelligent
people of the country are hostile or are
fast becoming hostile to the mine-own-
ers' demand that their wealth be doub-
led by free coinage. Six months hence
the raid of the silver syndicate will be
talked about very much as were Coxey's
armies six months after they disband-
ed. The sober second thought of the
American people may be a little slow,
but it is dreadfdlly fatal to humbugs.
4 SYNDICATE TRANSACTION IN GOLD.
There has been considerable clarifying
in administration papers during the last
fau a. avs over the fact that tho cold 20