The Van Buren press., 1895-07-20
senator Jssss At Clarksvills.


BY invitation, Hon. Jas. K. Jones
addressed the citizens Of johnson county
at Clarksvflle ON the 4th Of July. After
prefacing his remarks. complimentary
to the large audience present. he entered
at once upon the discussion Of the
monetary system Of the county. Among
other things he said:
That never had principle bean 90
firmly 6xed In his mind - the belief
that the prosperity Of this country
depended upon bimetallism. No one
would undertake to say that the money
system Of the world = what 1t ought
TO be.
Sir Rufus Wilson. chairman Of the
Brussels monetary conference, WA
quoted at length to ahow that the
diAlculties Of the present times are due
TO the continued falling prices oi
commodities, which had IT. period Of
commencement In 1873. A fall IN
prices \ not 8 Misfortune under some
circumstances, but very unfortunate
under such conditions that the prices ol
the commodity \ lowered BY IN Increase
IN the value of money. Supply and
demand regulates the price Of every
thing gold and silver NO exception "a
tho rule.
This eternal grinding and nsve,
ceasing tall Of prices y the chief cause
Of the present depressed condition Of
business now prevailing throughout the
world and that condition has been
brought about by the demonstration Of
silver. When you decrease the quantity
Of ultimate redemption money you
decrease the prices Of everything else.
The Senator thinks the country made q
grievous mistake In adopting the
monometallic system, but IL inclined to
view IN the Light Of charity the acts Of
individualD who were instrumental In
bringing about this result.
The ableGt men IN political life
today throughout the world are
bimstallists. but we hsve many din
culties 10 overcome in securing
bimetalltsm.
In New York the collection Of funds
70 be used in the education Of the
people up to o single gold standard
began moro than twelve months ego.
The bonln and most Of the leading
papers Of the country are owned or con.
trolled BY the gold bugs. Again, there
y N old adage among business men to
lot well enough alone.
Regardless Of the difficulties men.
toned. he believes that tie intelligence
and patriotism Of this country h equal
to tho solution Of this or any other great
question. He predicted that the gray
haired men in the house would live, 70
~ silver triumph and occupy the place
II formerly held in our currency, and
was Of the opinion that the rich would
wake up the morning aftar the naxt
presidentia1 election 70 dnd themsslves
greatly surprised q ths result. A debt
that means one thing when made should
mean the same whea Il .fAllD due. The
bonded deht of ~ United Eta1s in
about 1871 was Q, 900, 900, ard could
hsvs bean paid With %. 000. 900 balss Of
cotton, but now, owing to the increased
value Of gold, Il would take more than
twice that amount Of cotton.
The large amount Of idle capital now
In the banks means staGnatiOn il busi-
ness. Money cannot and profitable
employment. There y not single gold
standard country in TIE world that haa
bean entirely prosperous sinco 1873.
On the other hand, every country ON .
silver basis has boen moro or les pros
porous since t67S. Every railroad In
Mexico is paying dividends upon it,
capital stock, and mot ous Of. them u in
ths hands Of . recsivsr. This u mot the
oondttion Of ~ United Statss.
Ths action of Great Britain In the d.
mcnetlsatioa a silva. n 1919 was Also
lstsly hasnlsu sntD IN.