The Meeker herald., 1895-08-17

a single gold standard that the free
coinage of silver IL In the special in
terest Of the mine-owners. Are not the
people interested in the coal mines Of
Illinois as well as the owners, and u
we should have legislation against the
use Of coal would not the people rise
in indignation? Are not the people.
then, interested in the development OF
silver mines as we'll as the owners? /
have heard men with virtuous swaS-
ger declare that they did not want .
dollar with 80 cents worth of silver In
1t. Then restore its value by legisla.
tion. as 1t was by legislation that the
intrinsic value of the silver in the dol
lar was reduced.
When the facts are considered there
is nothing very difficult to understand
in the silver question. but it reQuitvs
great deal Of Misrepresentation on tae
part of the so-called "honest-moncy"
men to confuse and mislead the "un.
wary" They have forced to the front
much talent, for by their means they
can command talent" 1t is a wonder
ful aggregation of genius. Wall street
stock brokers, money-lenders. pre-
tended political economists. fedsPal
ofice-holders and those yet hoping TO
hold Office under the present admins
tration-the whole pack in full cry
against the money of the people. Here
let me suggest that, considering the
intuition and knowledge Of men dis
played by Mr.. Cleveland. it is some
thing remarkable that he should have
chosen only gold men for the
offices when this issue of gold against
gold and silver had not yet been promi-
nent. The honesty of their belief Is
a.most equal to that of Senator Palmer.
who in 1892 advised the "1O1" to intro
duce and vote for free coinage of sill
yer 16 to l resolution in the legislature,
which. by the help of Cockerill. made
him senator. He is now reading the
honest members of the "101" out of his
party. Will be retain Cockeril?
Prof. Lawrence Laughlin addressed
himself to the Bankers association Of
Chicago in a manner that must have
led some to suppose that what he said
had the stamp of deity upon 1t. He
said: ITO suppose that the coinage Of
silver would make the country richer
is to suppose that the moreebridges we
build the more corn and pork we shall
have" He also said: at is an insult
to the intelligent people of our land to
believe that they can accept and main
tain a doctrine that more money creates
more goods" Labor is wealth. But
the laborer is obliged to have food and
clothing. There are millions of acres
OF wealth-producing uncultivated lands
and thousands of honest toilers who
are ready to put their hands to the
plow." AS they have no money to Sc
cure Checks. drafts or bills OF ex-
change" II Prof. Laughlin will fusntah
the money we will show him INV
more money creates more goods" and
more wealth." 1t is an old and homely
saying, and yet true. that money
makes the mare CO."
The common people must not be mis-
led by men with high-sounding titles.
Their theories. like their conclusions.
and lead to startling statements which
have no support either in reason or
In common sense. On this financial
question their point of view embraces
the few instead Of the masses. which
is not just. patriotic or wise. They do
not fully define their position on the
question. They declare for Sound
without explaining what they
mean by sound money" while they
at heart are gold monometallists and
favor an increased circulation of cur
rency based on our debts. Those who
have their country's and their own
good at heart must use their own good
sense and the knowledge they have
gained from experience in determining
which is better for the people at large
gold monometalIism or gold and sill
yer bimetallism, with or without inter-
agreement.