The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1895-03-27
THE "GOLD BUGS'' AND THE
HSILVERITES."


rich people, very rich people, such
as capitalists and bankers, are the
"gold bugs" who favor retention
of the gold standard; while the
advocates of silver standard are
all poor people.
In the first place, this is not a
true state of the case, and it will
be worth while to examine the
matter little. Necessarily, the
persons who are most DESTROYS Of
maintaining the gold standard are
those who are holders of Govern
ment bonds and obligations. Nat
urally they do not wish to have
their claims paid off in silver.
Plainly enough, their solicitude is
wholly selfish and not in the least
patriotic. Then there is that vast
ly larger class, the largest class III
the country, composed Of those
people who work for wages and
have no other sources Of income
except their earnings. Naturally,
they do not wish to be paid off in
inferior money; but every one of
them wants his wages or salary in
the best dollars that are in exis.
tence. 1t is true there is an entire
absence of disinte. ested patriotism
in these people in the premises :;
but then people are always selfish
in money matters.
Such, in brief, are the "gold
bugs" but it will be worth while
also to inquire who are the ''silver
bugs.n First and foremost are the
silver miners, who, by the adop.
ton Of free coinage of silver, will
at once have the valne of their
product raised from 20 cents an
ounce to 12O cents an ounce.
When a mere act Of Congress
would confer on them such all
enormous benefit, it would he out
of the entire range of human ma
ture not to expect them to rejoice
in the prospect and to accept the
magnificent gratuity Of SO cents
an ounce OH their silver with all
the grace possible. But it cannot
be claimed that there is any patri.
otism about that. 1t is selfshness
pure and simple.
The next element that makes up
the silver phalanx is composed OF
the Western farmers whose farms
and homes are heavily mortgaged.
Their hope is that, through the
substitution Of a silver standard
for the gold standard, they will be
able to pay off their debts with de
preciated dollars. Certainly, no.
body can blame them for this; but.
all the same, there is no patriotism
i'll their conduct. They are actua
ted wholly by considerations that
are purely selfish. A large ele
ment in the silver ranks is com
posed of dealers who pay larg,
amounts for raw material and il
wages to labor. Their products
are largely exported and sold fol-
gold, and, if they can use depreci
ated dollars in paying expenses
they will profit largely by the op
Grafton. But, plainly, there is
nothing patriotic in all that.
Evidently, when it comes to pub
lie spirit and patriotism, neither
party has anything to boast of
and therefore it would be we'll fol
those who are advocating the two
money standards to drop all pre-
tentions of pure philanthropy ant
settle down on the only logica
grounds that they are working for
their several individual interests
That the majority of the people ii
the country, those who are work
ing for wages, are deeply interest
ed in having themselves paid ii
the best dollars is plain enough
They must spend a large porto,
OF their earnings in paying tn.
costs of living, and hence they
should naturally seek to be pail
in money that has the creates
purchasing power. They need no
expect to have their wages raised
for that is always the last change
which ever takes place, if, indeed
it ever happens at all.
1t is Il remarkable fact that al
through the NOl + H. and West. afta