The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-12-15

with all tie enlightened aud progI eseiYs
nations of tho world, and were despcr.
ialely and l.opelessly striving to meet the
stress Of modern commerce and conlpe-
ltition with delnsed and unsuitable
currency and il association with the few
weak and lagsard nations. which hay,
liver aiona us their standard of value.
All l!i6tory wa;ns us agninst rash ex-
rrriments which threaten violent
changes in our monetary standard aud
tho degradation of our currency Tho
pnst is full of lessons teaching not only
tie economic dangers, hut tho national
immortality that follows in the train of
such experiments. 1 will not, believe
shnt the American people oRn bo per-
nnaded after softer delibcratiou 70 jcop-
ardize their nation's prestige and proud
standing by encouraging financial nos
truns, nor that they will yield 10 tho
false allurements of cheap money, whom
they realize that il must result in the
weakening Of that financial integrity and
rectitndc which thus far in our history
have been so dovotolly cherished as one
of tie fruits of truo Anericanism.
Our country's Indebtedness whether
owing by the government OF existing ba-
tween individuals, has been contracted
with reference tn our present standard.
TO decree by act Of congress that these
debts shall be payable III less valuable
dollars than those within tho contem-
plation and Intention Of tho parties
when contracted would operate TO trans
fer, by the fiat Of law, and without com
pensation, an amount Of property and IL
volume Of rights and interests almost
inculGulable.
Those who advocate 81 blind and head
| long plunge TO free coinage in the na,no
OF bimGtnlliSm and protesting tho be-
lief, contrary to all experience, that wo
| could thus establish a double standard
and concurrent circulation of both
metals i'll our coinage, arc certainly
reckoning from cloudy standpoint.
! Our present standard of valre is tho
standard of the civilized world and per-
,nits the only bimotallsm HOW pGssiblc,
or vt least that is within the indcpend-
cnt reach of amy single ration, however
powerful that nation may be.
There is vast difference between Il
standard of vulue and currency for
monetary nse. The standard must nccrs-
sari]y bs fixed and certain. Tho currency
| may be in divers forms and uf various
| kinds, No silver standard country has u
gold currency i'll circulation, but III ell
| Eghtencd and Wise systoIn of finance re-
| cures tho benefits Of both gold and silver
ne currency and circulating medium by
keeping the standard stable and all
other currency ut par with it. Such Il
| system and such n standard also give
| FREQ scope for tho use and expansion of
safe and conservative credit, so indis-
| pensnhle to broad and growing CONNER
| cinl transactions and so we'll substituted
for tho actual uso Of money II q fixed
| and stable standard is maintained sucl,
| az tie magnitude and safety Of our com
| morcial transactions and business re-
| qnirc, tho uso of mouey itself is con-
veniently Eiinimi=ed.i Every dollar Of
| fixed and stable valuc5 Inns through the
| agency Of confident credit an astonishing
capacity Of multiplying itself i'll finan-
cinl work. Every unstable and nuctuat-
ing dollar fails MS II hlSis Of credit, and
its use bcgets gambling speculation and
underlnines the foundations OF honest
enterprise.
have venturod to express myself on
this subject with carnestness and plain
ness Of speech because cannot rid my
self of the belief that there Turks in tho
proposition for the free coinage of sill
yer, SO strongly approved and SO enthu-
sinstically advocated by a multitude of
my couutrymcn, Il serious menace to Our
prosperity and IN insidious temptation
of orr people to wander from the allie.
glance they owe to public and private
integrity. 1t is because 1 DO not distrnst
the good faith and sincerity Of these
who press this scheme that I have i'm
perfectly but with zeal submitted iny
thoughts upon this momentons subject.
cannot refrain from begging them &c
re-e1am!ne their views and ba1iefs in
the light Of patriotic reason and familiar
experience, and to weigh again and
again tho consequences of such leaisla-
ton ms their efforts have invited Even
the continued agitation of the subject
adds greatly to the difficulties Of dan
Serous financial situation already forced
upon Us.
Three Children Sliding Oh tho Too.