The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-05-23
ONE OF THE ..BFAUTIE>'' AN
>WER~.

seattle MAY -. lNS.
To the Editor; The article in your pa
per this morning headed .He Wants 70
Know IS predicated upon the aSsump-
ton that the gentleman who wrote X
possesses the average amount OF tutelli-
sence II he does he already knows. for
MS questions answer themselves. I was
one OF those who sat on the platform and
listened with interest and profit 10 the
addresses - Mr.. Slbley and Gen. Warner.
and cannot but think shat had Mr. Fearl
done likewise he would not need 10 ex-
pose IN the public press his lack OF ahu-
ity 70 draw very obvious deductions from
the convincing arguments OF those gem
tiemen- lie admits (whRt almost every
ono knows that prices are advancing in
Japan. which is an indispuoa hle evidence
81 prosperity, and Japan Is on a silver ha-
SIS He also admits that In this country
prices are decreasing. which Is an undis-
putaNe evidence OF a lack OF prosperity,
ana We are on a gold basis. That very
admission Is enough 20 make a man OF
average intelligence open his eyes and
set his wits 10 work. Japan being on a
silver basis, viii seek first 20 sell her
manufactured products In those countries
having similar money. and she viii ind
Mexico. all the South American republics.
china and the islands of the Pacific on
a silver basis and with money Of sub
stantially the same value. Would not
these countries prefer TO trade with Japan
rather than with countries demanding
gold In payment for products TO get
which they must pay excessive exchange?
Again, she would invade gold standard
countries and sell her products for gold
alongside OF products from gold standard
countries. She would take this gold and
buy silver bullion at 81 cents on the dol
lar (the price being fixed in London)
and. present IL at her minis and have IL
NlI ~,
money. Does Mr.. Fearl claim such priv
ilege for the American manufacturer?
Inc second proposition about wheat is
answered in the same way. The Ameri-
can wheat grower. an Argentine Repuh-
lie wheat grower and an India wheat
grower meet In London where the price
Is fixed for all. Let US say that each gets
$50 in gold for 100 bushels of wheat The
American farmer comes home with his
money and finds his country on a gold
basis and with money OF equal value TO
that which he has received. The Argen-
tine farmer goes home and Immediately
exchanges his gold for 800 of the silver
money of his own country, which is legal
tender for all debts. public and private in
his country. The one receives 80 cents a
hushel for his wheat in the money of mis-
country, the other receives 81 per bushei
Surely Mr.. Fearl. although contrasting
himself gold bug" can understand
this. and any one with even his limited
vision can see that the Argentine farmer
could undersell the American with such
advantages in his favor.
Now, l shall take the privilege of ask
ing Mr.. Feari come questions.
III you favor a gold standard I'm this
country, tell us why.
If you are opposed to the renone TIA
ton of silver you doubtless approved of
ITS decentralization I'm 1873. III so. why?
vxsaG ha rh Z 40
DO YOU believe il possible. by leglsla-
ton. to Increase the value of a com
modify?
If silver were remonetized in this coun-
try and had the same privilege in the law
and at the mints that gold has. and you
had ten ounces Of silver bullion or sny
other amount what would you take for III
per ounce?
DO YOU believe We have a sufficient vol
ume of money with which TO do business
in this country at present? II not. how
would you increase the volume OF money?
According 10 the last census the people
OF the United States owe In national.
state. county, municipal. corporate and
private Indebtedness SO. 600 00a. O00 The In
terest on that per year at per cent. is
81. 900 100000 The total amount OF money
In this country Is 81 500, 600 GOO If there
fore II requires all the money we have In
circulation TO ne used once each year 10
pay the interest on our debt. how soon
do you think we will he able TO pay the
principal?
II you cannot answer these questions.
which, by the way. are very simple 10
ali true bi-metallists. perhaps you could
prevail upon the Post-Intelligencer to do
so. In the latter event would the POST
fntelligencer tell its readers what IL
means by the term bi-metallism So
many gold bugs are hiding behind that
word now that explanations are in order
sometimes.
believe in the free and unlimited coin
age OF silver and gold az the ratio Of Is
10 l, without waiting for the cooperation
OF any other nation on earth. That Is
bi-metallism. Very respectfully,
c. q. HETFNER