The Wichita daily eagle., 1895-08-31
OFF ON THE COINAGE QUESTION.


OFF ON THE COINAGE QUESTION.
From the Medicine Lodge Cresset
In the Wichita Daily Eagle. of Thursday
Of last week, the editor explains his posi-
ton regarding the silver coinage question
and the enforcement Of the prohibitory
liquor law. AS number Of articles have
appeared tn these columns-principally
Notwithstanding the Eagles
silver policy, We deem IL fair 10 give the
readers Of the structures a chance 10 see
the explanation. AS We have in no wise
mixed into Wichita's whisky war We will
omit that portion of the explanatory esii-
torial The editor Of the Eagle was born
with the true instincts OF Republicanism
IN his heart. His natural inchnations
We're strengthened in participating in the
early struggles TO make Kansas a free
state, and baptized In blood IN the terri
bic Lawrence massacre. There is no
doubt but that down In his heart the ed
itor OF the Eagle 10 Republican: there
is likewise no doubt about his having the
abilities requisite obeing a leader OF
men: but there is a strong and general
doubt as to his being a safe and reliable
Republican leader at the present time, or
for several years past The editor Of the
Eagle would Indignantly deny the fact.
but it nevertheless true, that his ambition
TO build great city on the site of Wich-
ita together with disappointments politi-
cally and otherwise have made him pes
simistic and garrulous. Following is
what he has to say regarding Kansas Re-
publican editors who disagree with him
on the free coinage of silver by the
United States at a ratio Of IS TO /:
Taking the above statement as the po-
sition Of the Eagle on the silver question,
we must say that not to our knowledge
has the editor been ''misrepresented'' or
''maligned." He comes out squarely for
the free coinage Of silver at is to and
still claims he is opposed TO reputation
or deprecated currency. In order to
arrive at this position he must hold that
the mere stamp of the government will
give to a piece Of metal or paper a pur-
chasing power equal to the amount in
dollars and cents indicated by the i'm
preston so stamped. II he holds to this
position he is fully launched upon the
sea of fiatism and is open TO the charge
of advocating a dishonest dollar" If
on the other hand, he claims that the
opening OF the mints OF the United States
to the free coinage of silver would in
crease the market value OF that metal
to the is to coinage value, he Is occupying
a position that is unsupported either by
history or tenable theory; and should
the government SO coin On such grounds
and the market price not reach the COIN
age ratio. then we would have "repudia-
ton" TO the extent OF the depreciation.
and we must say that history tustifies any
man in saying the editor OF the Eagle Is
in favor of Reputation" But II the
Eagle favors free coinage Of silver simply
because this government coined II free
at some previous time or during some
previous period, II occupies the silliest
position of ALL What argument is there
in that? I had as well advocate a return
to the old continental currency or to the
greenback; and 10 would be almost as
to advocate another civil war
simply because we had one in the pact.
There has never been a fixed coinage
ration between gold and silver and never
will be. 1t has fiuctuated from TO l. 10
5 to !, to u TO L to 1s to J. and IN Mexico.
deayore to fix the ratio at to J, and
she was more powerful among the na-
tons of the world at that time than any
nation Is today, and she failed.
The Eagle indmates that the demone-
tization OF silver has created trouble
among price lists. and says: "Our de-
mand for its rehabilitation meant simply
that the value OF silver and OF every
species Of property Should be restored 10
An equitable ratio with gold; that six
teen ounces of silver. that a days labor.
that a bushel OF wheat, that al acre OF
ground. that any value. whatever. should
command as much OF gold as formerly.
and that by the restoration OF silver all
these conditions would be reInstated."
This tells US where the editor OF the Eagle
stands ard what he means. Now II he
Will set his year, We cannot say whether
we Will accept his proposition or not.
Silver was excluded from free coinage
the silverites call IL demon etizei-in ls73.
SO we viii have 70 start back OF that year.
We want year when the ratio between
gold and silver and corn, cotton. cattle,
sheep. wheat. hens. barley. eggs. tobacco.
tin, iron, lumber, hay. hominy. beans |
calico, silk, overalls. sheeting. nails. shoes. |
toethplcks. combs. guns. powder. shot |
rope. hemp. rice. shirts. underwear. oi. |
wagons. harness, thresbing ma
chimes, labor. reapers. mowers. buttons. I
binders. headers. go-6eyi,s. c5-n-sleds. 4
corn-binders. boots. tea. coffee. /
sugar. cigars. peaches. qu3nine. eptcsc. I
right We could extend the list but the /
above VII do. We want a year when !
everything we have 20 sell was dear ard I
what We have 10 buy vas cheap. We I
5oa't want -. because our old friend u. 4
L TsdegrfT. TOW almost - years 81 age and 4
4 resident of this county. says that n that 4
year Re had 10 haul z6out three thoUssct \
bushels Of corn 10 market almost hun
tired niles d-stzr; from rs farm 70 pay j
fer a suit OF clothes no better than could 4
BE purchased today for SO. The ratio q l
Tosd 20 corn and oelthing y - vas a. TOO 1
great 2 variance for us- We 90 co1si9- Il
s-ab,s on corn, especially IL a good corn
year zn1 n corn bread and corn WHISKY !
ySo1i3 TIE editor Of the Eagle Ike 20 see
he ratio between god a-E wichita real
state tor - OF any year yrsvio2S re-
We are u al seT.oEs1s=s
z!ch TIE above. The fact - tAst TIE
value q labor and commodities has .ot