The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1895-10-11
Useless to Talk to Men Who believe That
the Money Lenders VIII Not Limit the
supply Of Money to suit themselves If
the People Allow Them.

/ OF Europe are more powerful than the
opinions of the people inshaping legis-
lation, but that is not the case in Kan
sas.
81 do not expect to sway your minds
by oratory. but I want to appeal to your
reason. I recognize the fact thatit is a
principle Of human nature that permits
the opinions of the people to be formed
by habit and surroundings, and when
so formed, they are not easily changed.
"When our forefathers freed them
selves from English rule and establish
ed this government it was to free them
selves from the seltishness that had be.
come national selfshness.
"England had the old feudal law
which provided that all property in
lands should descend to the oldest son
and the result was to form an arts
tocracy of land holders and our fathers
were their tenants. It was to guard
against this system that our fathers
when they established the republic
provided in the constitution that no
estates should be entailed.
The Same Old Question.
'But now, after a hundred years of
national life, we are confronted by this
same question Of selfshness enacted
into law. When the people understand
that by the control of money few men
may absorb the earnings of the whole
people, they will be able to see cause of
the present financial distress.
Underlying the principles which
control and govern money is the neces-
sity for money. We could get along
without wheat or corn OF beef or pork,
but money is the lifeblood of commerce.
Tt is a necessity of our civilization and
there is as much need Of a normal sup
ply Of money as of bread or clothing,
and when there is a shortage of either
somebody must suffer.
81 want you to just imagine only one
third the bread-stuffs we now have and
what is actually required. Now what
would be the result? Why, all bread
stuffs would sell at a high price and
somebody would suffer for want of food.
The same rules that govern the price
of breadstuffs applies to money.
"We have made the mistake of leav-
ing the consideration of this question
wholly to dealers in money. Suppose a
cattle dealer out here on the prairie
owns 10000 head of cattle and then
suppose cattle were created by law like
money and the cattle men should limit
the supply of cattle to one-half our
wants. What would be the result do
you suppose? You can all understand
the price of cattle would go up. We
can all understand that. If the cattle
men consulted their own interests they
would certainly limit the supply of
cattle.
st is useless to talk to a man who
believes that the money dealers will
not limit the supply of money to suit
themselves if we allow them to make
the laws regulating money. JefeFson's
idea was that it was better to trust all
the people to settle such questions
than to leave it to a select few. The
selected few will work to their own in
terests while the consensus of opinion
of the whole people will be for the best
interest of all the people.
81 would like to make you an argu-
ment that would be conclusive for BIZ
metallism and the free coinage of sill
yer, but feel that would be useless as
you have studied that question. I once
heard a story that was intended to
show how the people of this state re-
garded the silver question.
Coin Tells Story.
"Tbere was a stranger found dead on
the streets Of a Kansas town. Nobody
knew him. The minister took him to
the church and he was laid out and the
people fled in and viewed the remains
but no one could identify him. Then
the minister said: If anyone present
wishes to make a few remarks BETTING
this solemn occasion an opportunity
viii now be offered, There was a pro
found silence for four or five minutes
and finally a man rose in the back part
of the house aud said: IF no one else
else wishes to speak I viii say few
words on the silver question.
aBimetallism Is the right to use
either Of two metals, If congress was
to say one busheI Of wheat shall be one
dollar, then the bnshel Of wheat will be
/ your only dollar. The law Of supply
and demand governs the price OF pro
perry and the same Law applies to gold
and silver and this law kept the two
metals at a parity in this country for q
hundred years
when the debtor has tie option Of
two metals ne uses that which is easiest
to get This creates a greater demand
for the cheaper metal and this demand
raises its price, and that is scientific
bimetaliisn. and when it prevailed the
two metals we're kept at a parity. Our
fathers had learned the lesson that ne
are Row learning.
Beef cannot 90 up to an enormous
price Wills in competition With pork
aRd mutton, and neither can gold Thea
ia competitioa V.th silver. i there IS
q hsaseE here Be kaoHs that he alsfb his
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