The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-25

parity with gold. but this can only DC
done by international agreement has
1 mean by a sound doilar Is one tlae
the farmer, mechanic. AID the labor
ing-man can use with a purcnasile
power OF 100 cents, ana buy az much
with IL as any other dollar. whaA 4
mean by a sound dollar Is ono that its
holder may lay away TO buy nome, tase
old age with absolute certainty that u
will be as good as any other dollar "heh
he wants to use II. Gold Is that uoiar,
silver cannot be, unless by internatiohdi
agreement II is made equivalent u
gold dollar
| am for a sound dollar for the poor
man as well as for the rich man. shah
never consent TO the monetary system
which will place IL IN the power OF the
rich man to hoard his gold ana pay his
poor creditors In a deprecated dollar:
Now, in conclusion, IL may be said that
my views nave undergone a chdnse' 10
the superficial observer and reader THIS
may appear TO be the case, but, In TACT
my position while in Congress was one
OF doubt as 10 the policy OF INDEPENDENT
free coinage and 1t was 20 Iesarleu:
/ never attended, and was never invited
TO attend. A free-coinage or anu-free
coinage conference.
During my congressional service j was
on important committees, where my uu-
ties were onerous and engrOssing, and
not connected with the currency ques-
ton, and 1 had very little tune 10 ma
turely consider the silver problem. Lately
/ have given the subject as careful STUDY
as possible, reading the arguments AMI
literature on both sides with an earnest
desire TO reach a correct conclusion anu
the opinions | now express are the results
of deliberate examination.
IT, however. ! mad been warm ana
avOwed Independent free-coinage adNO-
cate, 1 should not hesitate 10 give utter
ance TO my present views. | Trust that
the day Will never come when 1 VIII De
4nH -. e. Il
believe to be erroneous, for the FAKE
OF consistency, or continuing IN a course
which ! am convinced Is wrong because
too cOWardly 10 face the charge or IN
consistency. An obstinate consistency
is the hobgOblin OF little minds, ndoreq
by little statesmen, and philosophers ana
divines."
Consistency would have Kept Paul in
the role OF a dsbenever. Consistency
would have Kept Washington loyal 10 the
King. Consistency would have Kept the
hundreds OF thousands IN Republican
ranks who have come over 10 democracy
and brought victory FOR tariH-feIofni,
local self-government, and Democratic
principles
PRopHIsY.
No. II 1 had been ever so strong sup
porter OF Independent free coinage,
would now, after being satlsned, by care
ful and diligent study. that ! was on
the wong track. admit my error tor II
is human 10 err. and retrace my steps
and seek 10 undo any injury l may nave
done in misleading the people.
Will the Independent free-slver move
ment succeed am not a prophet bat
| predict that II Will meet the rate ~
gTeenbdcklsm, which rev years slhcc
was for time apparently 80 Formidable.
II has reached its noOd-tide. and Is iast
recedlng. me masses are thinking-tnlnk-
ing for themselves The returning TIDE
Of prosperity. the Advancement OF prices
and wages. the resumption or enterprises,
the starting-up OF furnaces ana factories
so long closed, and the general upward
tendency I'm all lines Of business. VIII soon
make the movement thing or the past.
Agitation may continue for awhile yet
TO retard progress and make capital tlmld,
but the agriculturists OF this country VIII
never consent 10 lose foreign market
for their surplus products, nor receive
in the home market depreclateTi silver
dollar simply 10 enrich SilVer-mne OWL
ers or holders Of siiver-rnine stock: they
viii never consent TO unsettle values ana
make them dependent upon the price or
silver: they viii never consent TO drive
all gold out OF circulation and substitute
silver dollars without the purchasing
power or gold: they Win never consent
10 adopt a monetary system Whlch VIII
stop impOrtatiOns and, consequently, de-
prive the government or rs tarlH rete-
nues. and thereby force direct taxation
upon land to meet the obligations ana eN-
penses IF government
The waee-earuers VIII never agree that
this government shall embark upon =
scheme which will double the prices Of
all they have 10 buy, without increasing
their wages I'm n corresponding ratio
They will never agree that their govern
ment shall set itself against a monetary
system endorsed by the leading COM
mercial countries Of the world. and under
which this country is now so rapidly re-
covering fro n the stagnatou from which,
I'm common with an others, II has been
suffering since 1871
CHARLES r. O'FERRATL.
Allegheny Springs. Va, August -. lsJj.