The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-09-19

against silver, or in other words col
silver free and unlimited" just as gol
is coined. making silver one of the stand
ards, and giving to every dollar full lega
tender power as is given to the gold dol
lar. This is what the platform clearl
demands and what the people intend t
have.
We intend that the false mask of bi
metallism worn by the sound money
men shall be torn off.
We intend that he people shall see tn,
cry of Sound money" and "hones
money from this element is fraud an(
deception and that instead of bimetallisn
IS means gold recommendation, and thu
gold standard which they demand "shal
| be maintained inviolate.'
NOW let us examine the resolution.
adopted by the bimetallists of Texas
whom represent, and see if they are moi
IN harmony with the National platform
ana our position more nearly in accord
with its teachings than the so-calleG
sound money" or gold standard element
Please compare with the National plat
form the following resolutions adopted
at Fort Worth on August 6, 1895:
whereas. The policy and traditions OF
the Democratic party since it's organiza.
ton have been favor of both gold and
silver as the standard money of this
country and
Whereas, Every National Democratic
convention since 1876, when silver coin.
age was first made an issue, have de-
clared the party to be in favor of the
coinage of both gold and silver without
discrimination against either metal, ETC.,
Resolved. first That gold and silver
are the money of the constitution and that
congress has no authority to destroy it
or materially impair the use of either as
the standard money of our country.
Seventh, We are in favor of gold and
silver and paper money controvertible
into these metals as the money of our
country" etc.
Thus we see the bimetallists or So
called free silver Democrats of Texas de-
clare for the use of both gold and silver
as the standard money of the country
and the coinage of both without discrimi
nation against either metal. in almost
the exact words of the National platform.
while the sound money crowd have gone
ON record for the gold standard and the
limited coinage of silver.
But it may be asked, allow do you
reconcile with the National platform
your declaration in favor of the coinage
of gold and silver at 16 to II"
L answer that the National platform
upon the question of ratio clearly sug-
gests and authorizes three methods of
coinage as follows:
flrst-The dollar unit of coinage of
both metals may be of equal exchange
able or intrinsic value commercially, or
Second-The coinage ratio may be
fixed by an international agreement, or
Ihlrd-The ratio may be fixed by legis-
IlfInn fhrnI1uh Il.
guards as will maintain the parity of the
two dollars and give them equal purchas-
ing and debt-paying power.
Now it is easily and clearly seen that a
man can advocate either of these three
methods as to the coinage ratio and vet
stand on the platform.
Mr.. Cleveland says he favors the second
method only, and opposes free coinage
at any ratio unless fixed by an interna-
tional agreement and yet he seems to
make no efforts toward securing an inter-
conference.
The bimetallists of Texas whom I
represent adopt the third method and
we believe that congress should, by leg
slation, remove the discrimination eX-
sting against silver and fix by law the
ratio at which the two metals shall be
coined.
We believe that this ratio should be
l6 to j, and we believe that the re-en-
actment of the law of 1884, which was
repealed in 1873, will furnish ample
to maintain the parity of
The two metals, as it always did for 40
years, and that under this law every
dollar will have equal purchasing and
lebt-paying power.
All agree, even gold standard advo-
'ates, that if we are to have free coin
lge at any ratio, then for many I'M
reasons 16 to 1 is the only
practicable ratio to adopt at present |
Certainly all will agree that no change
Il this ratio can be intelligently made |
Until both metals have been given equal |
privileges at the mint.
When we have and unlimited coinage
If both gold and silver at the present
alto of 16 to 1 then, and only then, |
n the bullion price of silver is due to
natural causes, and if so, how much. |
f fair trial should demonstrate the ne
.essity for a change of ratio it can easily |
,e made and in such way as to cause
he least INJURY to society and upon a |
,asis of right and justice as our fathers
lid in 1884 when they changed the ratio
rom Is to 1898. IA study of this ques-
ion leads us to believe that the United |
States commands the situation and can |
lictate Ibimetallism to the world at any |
reasonable ratio she may fix.
Free coinage by the United States will, |
We believe, at once restore and main |
ain a parity between the two metals. |
my nation that is big enough to take all |
he silver in the world and give mex
hange merchandise and home products |
n payment for it will certainly establish
md maintain the parity between it and
,old.
The gold standard element would mys-
ify and confuse you upon this question
sound money" and ''honest dollar"
Let me warn you to be not deceived
" their sophistry and false charges |
f reputation and such other unfounded |
ssertions and nonsense. The issue |
lain and uncolored is gold monometal- |
ism as taught by Cleveland, against BIZ
netallism as taught by Jefferson and
ackson.
Which will you choose?
J. w. BLAKE,
chairman Bimetallic Executive Com.
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