Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1895-10-19
Tic Silver Question.

discussion with my friend, II on. d. w /.
II. Parker. Knowing him to be an az
dent champion of tree and unlimited
coinage of silver and of distinguished
ability, had thought that he would
throw some light on the subject by a
fair, square discussion and show why
and how the country would be bene-
fitted by the opening of our mints to
the free coinage of silver at legal
ratio of 16 to when the market
value is 80 to land that it is right
and advisable even when all first class
governments of the world, with whom
we trade, have closed their minis and
oppose the policy which the free sill
verites are now urging. This is Mr..
Parker's platform as | understand it,
and he would have us believe that it
is good platform, without giving
any reason, but by iuuendo, indi-
rection and mere assertion-border-
ing on the ridiculous. He seems al.
most frantic with the idea. that all
our ills, politically, financially and
otherwise arise from the opposition
made to the free and unlimited coin,
age of silver. Having asserted the
Affirmative of the proposition, it is
his duty, not ours to prove it; we
simply deny the right, justice or
practicability of his platform, and
call for the proofs, not sentimental
rhetorical dourishes.
Listen Democrats of Accomack and
tell me, are you any wiser after read
ing the following quotation from Mr..
Parker? Il am in common with the
people of this county and country
generally opposed to the combined
gold power of this and foreign coun-
tries, by which we are all threatened
TO be reduced to such condition as
God in his wrath has seldom sent TO
execute vengeance on an offending
nation y i that the chain which the
tYrant gold monometalism is faSten-
ing upon us may be broken, nc.
This language does not tell us which
is better for the people Il single or a
double standard, or that this country
alone can sustain Il legal ratio 1t
does not prove that the United States
in her monetary policy ought to OPP
pose the gold policy and standard of
all iirSt-clasS governments of the
world. Yet these are principles nee
eSsarily resultant from Mr. Parker's
platform. cannot within any reason
able range of argument reply to such
empty defamation, based upon mere
assumption. and to say the least of
it, is not very complimentary to the
Intelligence Of those it is intended to
influence. However, to soften the
matter Il little and give more proba-
nj "a l,O ~ rA of no
true, which he asserts is true, per-
haps the weight of his excellent char
acter would accomplish much. |
really think the chief strength of his
letter, viii! be lost in the community,
by his failure TO sign his name instead
of 'Civish But this is matter of
taste and will not find fault, as my
friend is actuated as he says. "by no
desire for notorietyn and has needed
the injunction which says: do not
sound a trumpet before thee as the
hypocrites do in the synagogue and
in the streets that they may have the
glory of men," My friends prudence
is after all perhaps better than his
valor, for predict judging from the
haste so many free coinage men are
deserving their platform and record
and coming over to sound money, my
friend Mr.. Parker may come over
soon and the nom de plume" may
work to an advantage, but it will
not. for then as well as now, great
many citizens OF Accomack, along
with myself, will have to testify
against him. But in all seriousness,
| will proceed to dissect his letter, If
can find a proper place.
Ah here is one. But our friend
Mr.. Scott attempts TO bolster up a
bad cause by trying to maintain that
Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jack
son were opponents to the free coin
age of silver $ : In answer | will
say (says Mr.. Parker) it is not true
that Jefferson and jackson were OPP
posed TO the free coinage of silver, '
and Mr.. Parker Ike, n.tahle. of 81 l., =
5r1rrttslaHe in a9i OF thelr administra
ons@well here is something at last
lat is tangible, and l am glad he
ublished them. l will take it that ,,
ley are correct. / have not had :
me to verify them. But these :
.bles in no wise discredit my state :
ent about either Jefferson or Jack
N. What l said still remains the !,
ct of hlstory-you will recollect :
lat in former letters we had been :
scussing the silver dollars.-Mr. P.
aiming it to be worth 100 cents-I
it to be worth only 30 cents
the market. 1t was the standard
liver dollar | was talking about
hen l cited MIR. Jefferson as stop
ng it's coinage altogether and Presi-
mt Jackson suffering Only $1,000 to
: coined. If Mr.. Parker had read a |
tile further along in my letter OF I
le Goth of August, he would have
en- what sort of silver money | was
king about. Here is exactly what +,
said: Their administrations Jeff /,
son and Jackson have indeed no :
ual in our history save that of Mr.. !
eveland and yet Mr.. Jefferson stop
d the coinage of silver dollars alto :,
.ther and Andrew Jackson suliere,
lily $1,000 in silver silver 1Ci' !
be coined during eiGh y !
II dollars coined TO DE-
93-S427, 1854 ,015, full
his is very plain.
at 50, 456, $50 Of the.
ined to 1850 from 11es
,wn to 1873, and
1898. did not say ,i
actional currency
II dollar was consider
d and unit OF vtice
hich all other value iU
rs measured. The table
II gives represent iract,o 4
ncy, such as half dollars. ON o
mes and do not contain the a
d silver dollar. Mr.. JelTersor
OPP the coinage of the silver dol
id that too when this country noe, "
all the money she could get in .
der to pay $15, 100000 to Napoleon !,
+ the purchase of the territory Of !
had free coinage then
I'd yet according to Mr. Parker's :
IN showing, Mr.. Jefferson had coin
not quite three millions of frac
mol ell ynr not StapJar1 ,,o,o,-