The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1895-06-20

| lie DlfnptalllSIS SidtltiTu CT silver
and gold has behind it the experience
of ages and has been tested and APP
proved by the enlightened and deliber-
! ate judgment of mankind. The gold
standard is a departure from The as-
tablished policy Of the civilized world.
with nothing to commend ii but TWEEN
ty-two years Of depression and disas-
ter to the people ard ey traordinH"- 90
emulation of wealth In the hands OF
a few.
There are some facts bearing upon
this question recognized ana admitted
by all candid men, whether advocates
of bimetallism or Of the single gold
standard. Among these is the fact
that every year that marked the
change from the bimetallic to the sin
gle gold standard is the very year that
marked the change from condition OF
rising prices, large profits, general con-
tentment and great prosperity, to
condition as follows: Failing prices,
diminishing profits, insecurity Of in
vestments, unemployed labor, and
heavy depression in all branches OF
the trade and industry 1t is not
matter of dispute, even among the
honest advocates of the gold standard,
that general prosperity came to an end
with the destruction If the bimetallic
system, and that lard II es. falling
prices. idle wOrkingmen and vide
spread depression came in with the
gold standard and prevails to-day
wherever the gold standard has been
adopted. Every inter- atiOnal none
tary conference that has been called.
every demand in this country and Eu-
rope for an international agreement to
re-eStablish the bimetallic STANDARD is
confession that the decentralization
of silver was blunder if not crime;
that its consequences have been disaS-
trOus, and that the conditions that it
has wrought are full Of menace and of
peril. The logic of facts establishes
beyond intelligent question that the
destruction of silver as primary money
by a conspiracy of selfish interests is
the cause of the widespread depres-
sion and suffering that began with the
gold standard. There can be no rcsto
ration Of prosperity no permanent re.
lief from prevailing conditions until
the great cause has been removed by
complete restoration of silver to its
proper place as a money metal, equal
with gold.
We believe in money of stable
value: we believe least of all in an ap-
preciating standard: it is only through
the practical operation of bimetallism
that stable standard of value can be
obtained. \ standard constituted of
money constantly increasing the value
Is not sound, single or a stble stand
ard. but constantly changing stand.
ard. The effect of gold recommendation
is 10 establish one standard for the
creditor and another for the debtor.
AMI there can be no more dishonest
monetary system than that Which
gives Il short measure to the borrower
ana long measure 10 the lender. In
der the measure prevailing prior to
1913 there can he no violent change in
the relative value of the two metals.
Tor rise in value of one metal is
counteracted by decreased demand
ana fall In value by an Increase de-
lnand. Under the operation of this
benetcent law stable relation was
malntalned between them in spite of
the most extreme changes in relative
productions. From the earliest period
or our history up TO 1878. the right of
the debtor to choose whether he should
/ pay his debt in silver or gold coin was
always recognized. The subsequent
policy has been to transfer this right
to the creditor, thus tending to con-
Stantly Increase the value of the dear
er metal and destroy the parity be-
tween them.
Believing that it is absolutely neces-
sary 10 reverse the iniquitious and
runOus policy. we therefore resolve:
That we favor the immediate reSto-
ration Of silver to its former place as
q full legal tender standard money
equal with gold. and the free and I'M
limited coinage of both silver and gold
at the ratio of Is to and upon terms
| of exact equality.
That while we should welcome the
cooperation Of other nations. we be-
lieve the United States should not
wait upon the cooperation of other
governments or the pleasure of cred
itors. but should themselves proceed
TO reverse the grinding process" that
is destroying the prosperity of the peo-
pie. and should lead by their example
the nations of the earth.
That the rights of the American poo-
pie. that the interests of American Ia
Dor ana the prosperity Of American in
dustry have Il higher claim to the con-
slderati"n Of tie peoples lawmakers
than the greed of foreign creditors or
the avericious demands by idle hold
ers of idle capital
The right to regulate it's own none
tary system in the interests Of its own
people is right to which no free GOV
crnmcnt can barter, sell or exchange.
This reserved right is a part of every
bond, OF every contract, and Of every
obligation. No creditor or claimant
can set up right that can take prece-
lpnCp over a nations oIl;,,,.;.,,-, !.