The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1895-05-11
a eouAlrInan's View Of ne Situation,


Enthusiastically the almost universal
agitation Of the financial Question
throughout the country points IA ,
csisis in national Affairs thai NAV "a.
sui most disastrously 10 the nation
tnoagntiai conservatism calls for !
nsit ere 1t be too late to check the
avalanche OF popular sentiment that
seems daily to add greater impetus 10
movement that is already far In adj.
vance OF Its original purpose. Let NJ
90 back but q few years or even
months, and the men who Advocated
'ne extreme idea as 10 silver coinage
as prevails and is popular today. were
considered too visionary TO be worthy
OF any following, and truly they were.
out . season Of depression and finsn.
eisi stringency has befsllen US and
some measure Of relief Is sought by
tne people until, Ike q drowning man
eaiehing at strsws, they have en-
oraeed The delusion that the free aud
unlimited coinage OF silver is the
psnscea for all our ills-the veritable
Aladin's lamp that will supply all our
wants. The strangest thing Of all is,
that this delusion Is not confined TO
tne thoughtless and ignorant, but is
held and advocated by many OF our
most thoughtful and prominent lead
ers (tor even such may be given to
delusion.) To characterize the free
silver movement as craze, or the
scheme Of knaves and fools, is but
using epithets that conditions do not
justify, and hard names are not argu.
ments, and do not tend 10 convince
any one OF error. This IL undoubted-
ly q question that concerns our whole
people, and calm discussion should
prevail In the efforts to elucidate II.
Nearly every one Is In favor OF bimet-
allism aud the chief desire Is to place
silver upon q parity with gold aud so
augment the currency by the use oil
both metals 40 welded that they shall
DO equal as measure Of value. Can
this desirable condition be attained,
and by what method? There must be
q standard Of value, and for this the
world has fixed upon gold. There
cannot be two standards, no more
than two quart measures. BY Gov
ernment fiat we cannot decree the
equality Of two unequal things and so
maintain II as against the balance OF
the world. II stands to reason that
the better, or naturally more valuable,
will 60 into hiding and be appreciated
and sought for to the depreciation
and injury Of the other. With coin
age Of $600,000,000 Of silver now
adoat, gold has become a stranger to
the people and Is only held In the
vaults and strong boxes Of the very
rich-a power to do injury aud a
menace to our prosperity. And how
can the further coinage of silver 10 all
unlimited extent relieve this condition
Will 1t not rather aggravate IL, giving
still greater power to the holders ol
gold to manipulate and control every
avenue of speculation, or TO grind aud
oppress the people? 1t Is not more
silver that we need, but wise leglsla.
ton to establish the relation OF the
metals and so regulate their coinage
and distribution that each shall have
Its place aud be blessing and source
of strength to our nation. Gov
Stones expressed views on this ques
ton mark him as safe councillor, ant
one In whose hands the honor anC
highest interests of the State woult
be conserved should he be chosen al
the successor Of Gen. George in thu
Senate.
AS you perceive, the writer is ne
politician. Neither does he propos,
10 solve the intricate problems O.
finance. A sufferer from existing con
ditlons and anxious to secure relief
yet he eau see no hope of relief IL
silver monometallism, but to the con
trary, disaster and financial ruin t.
our country. | am not the learned
physician TO diagnose the disease and
prescribe the remedy, but | do believe
there is enough of patriotism and
good, sound sense among our people
to overcome the danger that threaten;
US, by selecting wise. conservative aud
CONSCIENTIOUS statesmen to legislate
for US, trusting TO them to so guide
the ship of state that we shall moi
founder upon the rocks.
The blatherskites that stand ready
to whoop up the people on any and
every popular cry, simply to get into
office aud enjoy lis emoluments, are
not the men for this OCCASION. We
need men of strong fiber in civil life
never more than now-men Of brain
aud backbone, with unfinching and
unpurchaseable integrity, with strong
convictions Of duty-men who Will
not barter convictions for place, mol
stultlfy themselves to gain popular ap
proval. When we give more though
aud consideration to the qualification
and fitness of those whom we call te
. serve us In every official capacity, ther
we may fear no evil. This hue aud
, cry for free silver that is attempted te
be forced into the selection Of every
candidate from constable to governor
is but the work Of willy, wirey, slip
cry demagogues, seeking office fol
themselves SIMPLY fer gain.
The Book Of books tells US that 20
good man out Of the good treasured
Of his heart briDgeth forth that which
10 good, aud an evil man out OF the
evil treasures OF bis heart bringetf
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