Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1895-10-26
THE SILVER QUESTION.
Some Observations in Reference to
r1r. Janney's Reply.

eiOu uoSo hOt uCdi DIT oil Win LIE iSdA
merits of the subject, but says he will
not attempt to answer me in detail for
the reason that several of the points
in my article are very Irrational as
viewed by one who is convert to the
principles III general as recommended
by the Populist party"
This is certainly an easy way for a
Populist Convert" to set aside what
he finds himself totally unable to
answer in rational manner / have
found it to be All almost universal fact
in my experience that the time-hcn-
ored and experience proved maxims
of all prominent and permanent finan-
ciers the world over have been set
aside-in their minds-by a wave of
the hand and the ejaculation, IRA
tional," by these silver-tongued sages
and financial philosophers. l think
it is not lack of either ignorance or
egotism which prompts Populists in
this course Of evading the real points
at issue.
1t seems to me to lack reason to
stigmatize large number of the peo-
pie of this Nation as ''unpatriotic and
disloyal" just because they persist in
paying for their foreign-purchased
goods with their own gold, especially
when Populist fiat silver and silver
certificates will not be received in pay
ment for goods by foreign merchants
and manufacturers.
As long as low tariff stimulates
purchases abroad, SO long will gold
be drained from this country to pay
| foreign creditors. It is no fault in
the foreign dealer that he insists upon
receiving nothing but gold in pay
ment of his bill, as he knows what
constitutes the best money aud re-
fuses to take any substitute IN the
shape of fiat money and deprecated
silver so-called dollars. Business
matters are arranged on a common
sense basis, and present condition
that no amount of Populistic sophistry
can either evade or displace.
1t is little curious by what process
Mr. Janney convinces his own judg-
ment that standard of measuring
values can be impaired or invalidated
by being decreased in volume. Does
he not know-or is this one instance
where Ignorance is bliss shat one
yardstick is just as much standard
of measurement as a thousand yard
sticks could be?
In my query II, Mr.. ]. finds too
much for one dose, so he divides it
and takes one portion, thus breaking
the connection. l submit that this
savors of unfairness; but as he gives
figures to show that sos, I42, 7o2 silver
dollars are really lying idle in the
vaults of the U. S. Treasury and not
in circulation more than proves my
claim that the people of the country
are not clamoring for free coinage of
more silver 5o-cent dollars, when they
prefer to use substitute instead of
the silver itself. l pass that by.
If even, as Mr.. Janney says, 49,
600, 600 of coined dollars are idle in
the U. S. Treasury and not in circula-
ton, even by representative silver
certificates, is it not a positive and
convincing proof that the unlimited
increase of silver coinage is uncalled
for, and that no more is needed as
long as the present supply is not ex-
hausted, and that the low price of
farm products has not depended and
does not depend upon the free coinage
of silver?
Mr.. j. himself says: "No money.
as | understand the question, can be
held as redemption fund-honestly
and rightfully held for that-and be
in circulation at the same time" Let
the reader decide for himself if this
declaration is not a contradiction of
| his theory that the silver dollars in
the Treasury are Sin circulation" be-
cause large number of the same are
represented by silver certificates, to
be redeemed by the coined silver in
the Treasury, which they are supposed
to represent.
Mr.. Janney poses as the champion
and friend of the farmer, but he fails
to show why he and his Populistic
brethren are not willing to place the
farmer on as favorable basis as the
silver bullion owner in regard to in
creasing the price of farm products by
the fat of the Government. On this
point he entirely ignores my queries
6, 7, and s. Probably it seems cir
rational to a convert to Populistic
principles to inquire why the Govern
ment should not place all its citizens
on the same plane when loaning its
fiat to increase the values of products.
Why did he evade this burning"
question and thereby increase the
ferceness of the growing fire.
Mr.. Janney, ! suppose, did as well
as he could under the circumstances,
as it would be irrational to expect
a convert to be SO we'll versed in a
new belief as to give reason for the
faith that he processes as we'll as the
founders of the party who did the
brain work, and prepared everything,
cut and dry, for the converts who
might be attracted to their standard.
| prefaced my queries in some
what ocular manner, as | often do
when about to ask information in re-
gard to visionary political beliefs, but
did not expect that Mr.. Janney or
anybody else would find serious fault
,,,,tI, <1,,e ,aro~J 49,.