Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1895-08-21
CJCRloUS EFFECTS OF FREE
SILVER AGITATION.

While there has never been any real
danger that the advocates OF free
coinage would be able to gain control
of the National Government and es-
tablish the silver standard. the threat
OF such a radical revolution in our
financial system has been a positive
evil. The business interests OF the
country have suffered a loss through
the cheap money agitation which can
hardly be calculated, and so long as
the clamor for the fiftv-ceat dollars
continues, its effects will he felt In all
branches of trade and industry. 1t Is.
therefore, OF the greatest importance
to every farmer. workingman. mer-
chant or manufacturer, that they
should understand that their best in-
terests demand an emphatic declara-
ton against the 16 to l delusion at
the earliest possible oDportunitv.
Honest and intelligent citizens who
have laughed at the free silver move
meat as a temporary craze which must
soon die out, should realize that 1t Is
their duty to take q positive stand on
the side Of sound money and the main
tenance of our present financial pol
lev. Since the sjlverites have forced
their Issue into State AMI local poll
tics they should be boldly met on
their W groun l, and their defeat
made to serve as evidence that this
country is not ready for the silver
standard of China aud Mexico.
At tne basis OF the complex system
of modern industry AMI trade is that
mutual confidence which makes great
manufacturing AMI commercial enter
prises possible. Without this conf
dence in the good faith OF others we
should be still living in the primitive
conditions of crude production and
the barter of goods. All the great adj
vances of civilization, and the
wonderful increase in wealth
during the past century have
only been possible through the
well-founded belief of those who have
invested or loaned large amounts OF
capital that they would be p~rotecte
in the secuee enjoyment OF their
property. 1t follows that anything
which tends to unsettle the belief Of
one portion OF the great community
of the United States in the willing
ness or ability OF another portion to
fulfill its obligations. must strike a
blow at all the operations o. proluc-
ton and distribution which depend
invested capital. Aud 80 inter
deuendent is modern society that an
to one interest is a direct in
jury to all.
In view of these conditions the
nature of the evil wrought by a wide
spread agitation fer the overthrow of
our present monetary system, the
reputation OF one-half of the debts
OF the country, AMI the adoption OF
an inferior stan lard OF value, n
readily be seen. Owners of idle
capital which should have been in the
hands OF the farmer, manufacturer or
transportation company, have been
unwilling to invest, fearing that they
would be repaid in MONEY worth one
half OF that loaned. With a large
class openly protesting schemes OF
reputation, confidence in National
good faith is impossible. And in
ability on the part OF employers to
secure capital for carrying on their
business has kept workingmen idle
and deprived farmers of large markets
for their products.
This country is slowly recovering
from q period of business depression
caused chiefly by unwise silver legls-
lation. The only barrier to permanent
prosperity is the threat OF a debased
currency. The sooner that this in
jurious agitation is buried under
sound money votes, the brighter will
he orr industrial outlook.