The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-04-26
FRIDAY. APRIL %. 1885.
THE SILVER QUESTION.


Just now there ,ts, u great deal Of
agitation on the subject of silver,
with the general object of changing
the issue between the political parties
from tariff to silver. This agitation
has taken different forms, some Of the
latest developments being the at
tempt TO organize a "silver party"
and just now the possible presidential
candidates are ln.ing put through the
"sweatbox" to find out their opinions
on silver, for use later ut the nominat-
ing conventions.
The new silver party seeks to unite
all those of every party who believe
in free silver coinage at the ratio Of
16 to /. IT this uarty should be sue.
ccssfully organized and carried out,
1t would draw a'nn,t equally from re-.
publican and democratic ranks, and
probably wholly Absorb, the populistic
party. On Il silver issue, alone, 1t is
probable that the cast would be
against the west, much! az now, the
north ia against the south On the tariff
question.
While we doubt the possibility Of
uniting any great nu aabcr of persons
In Il new party with this single idea,
particularly PERSONS who: differ great.
ly on other questions Of at least, al.
most equal importance, yet the aglta.
..,,, r----.s.siIr sIcxJ year.
The platform at the republican mar.
" OF three years ago contained q
money plank tina: is good enough ror
US. and Is to the effect that every
dollar" put 10 circulation by the 20.
vernment shall Lc exchangeble at mar
for any other dollar In circulation In
this or any other country.
The free coinage people, that is
most OF them, subscribe to this doc.
trine (though some want to demoue.
tize gold,) but they qualify 1t by the
claim that II the government will
take from any person who will bring
1t to the mint, 4l2 grains ofsilver and
coin 1t into a dollar without charge.
then each 4l2 grains Of silver in the
land, coin or bullion, will immediate.
ly become Of the value Of one dollar:
whereas at present before. coinage.
the bullion is only worth about sol
cents. II this result were certain.
ous1y, there Is no doubt that most
everybody would favor the scheme.
even though among the consequences
would be the vast and sudden enrich.
ment of owners Of silver, and silver|
mines.
hut as yet, the vast majority Of
people In Those states not directly in.
terested In silver production, believe
that such free coinage would only en-.
nance the price Of silver temporarily
In the markets, that the market price |
would not at any time equal the dol |
lar value given by coinage. that our
gold would be absorbed by foreign
that silver or q silver basis
would be our only currency. that the
price OF silver as compared with gold
would 90 lower than ever, and this
country be reduced to the condition
Of the war times when We had a
huctuating paper currency Of at only
one third or one half the value Of the
face Of the bill.
1t is because SO many people doubt
The ability of this gover6ment, alone
among nations, to shoulder silver and
1ouble Its market value, that we
loubt the successful formation OF a
silver party.
II the silver party succeeds in car
'ying the next election, and succeeds
n doubling the price Of silver, then
me next thing will be NATIONAL
wheat, corn and cotton party for the
anne ultimate purpose. and VIC win anil :
DIN 1t, out this way. II this govern.
nent by affixlng stamp upon silver
'an double its value, then VIC can see
10 reason why the government !!
shouldn't 20 into the stamping bust.
less on all commodities.