The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-07-21


Some Of our contemporaries OF the
weekly press Of the state are showing
considerable temper in the discussion OF
the silver question. We refer 10 those
who favor silver. Naturally they DO no.
approve Of much they see In the Morning
News on the silver question. and they
allow their feelings 10 get the better OF
their judgments sometimes in their criti-
cisms Much Of the heat they display IS
cue probably 10 the consciousness that
they are in the wrong. II Will not be for
gotten that the Morning News was sub
jected 10 a good deal Of abuse because II
took the ground that if the Farmers All
ance went into politics IT would cease 10
be Of any benefit TO the farmers. The alli-
ance went into politics. and where is the
alliance? What did the farmers gain
through the alliance? The farmers who
joined It parted with their money and
got no return. Tho only benehciaries Of It
were a few politicians.
When the silver issue became prominent
the Morning News was found on the side
Of sound money Il could not take any
other side. It has never been on any
other side It is the side Of honesty the
side Of the people and the side of the
Democratic party.
II is the side Of honesty because free
silver coinage means silver monometaI-
lism, a 5O-cent dollar as standard money
and a deprecated, nuctuating currency.
In proof Of this we point TO the currency
OF every country in which the coinage OF
silver is free and unlimited. That cur
rency fuctuates with the market price
Of silver. and is a deprecated currency.
1t is the side Of the people
because free and unlimited coinage
would give US standard money that would
have only half the purchasing power
Of the present standard money which
is gold. The wages Of the wage earners
would be paid IN this deprecated money,
and it would be didicult if not impossi-
bic, to get wages increased. Wage earn
ers, therefore, and all other creditors, such
as depositors in savings banks and the
benefciaries Of life insurance companies
would be deprived. practically, Of one
half Of their resources.
It IS the side of democracy, because
the Democratic party is the party Of
the people and to remain the party Of the
people. it must favor a sound and stable
currency. That party has never declared
in favor Of free, unlimited. and independ-
end coinage OF silver at the ratio of 16
to /, and we venture to say 1t never will
Free silver coinage is a doctrine of the
Populist party, and Of that party alone.
The platform Of the national Democratic
party defines the democratic position on
the silver question
The Morning News was right when
it advises the farmers alliance of Georgia
to keep out Of politics. and it is right
In advising them and all others to give
their support to sound money.
A deprecated currency checks pros
perlty and has a blighting effect upon
all kinds OF business and all industries.
The history Of this country and other
countries furnishes innumerable instances
OF the truth Of this statement.
Many Of those who are now trying to
lead the people in this and other south
ern states towards free silver coinage
were active in getting the farmers al
lance into politics. They are not safe
leaders. Past experience should teach
the people to beware of them.