The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1895-08-03

chief source of consumption and,
therefore, of demand for both metals
was for coinage or monetary uses.
Since then that source of demand has
been denied silver as the result of
legislative enactment. If it should be
restored woul not the inevitable eff
feet be to enhance the commercial
value of silver by increasing its con-
sumption, and to lower the CONNER
cial value of gold by admitting into its
principal market n rival and COMPETE
tor where now he has none?
That the free coinage of silver on
equal terms with gold would lessen
the difference in the commercial value
OF the two metals admits of no reason
able doubt, but whether it would re-
duce the relative values from 30 to /
dow to 16 to l is n question to be de-
termined. l maintain that the in
crease in the difference of value from
10 to l up to 30 to l is due chiefly to
the decentralization of silver. Remove
the cause of this increase in the differ
nee of value by restoring silver to it's
Die mintage rights. and I believe that
the two metals will O find about
the same level of relative values they
sustained to each other prior to the
disastrous crusade begun in ls13.
II am in favor, therefore, of begin
ming where we left of. IL we coin at
all we must coin ut some ratio. We
cannot begin on the present m
cial ratio of 30 to |, for the very day
we restore silver To the minis its value
will be increased and the existing mar
gin between the two metals will he re-
duccd. To begin the coinage of both
metals at the existing commercial
ratio would be a discrimination against
silver, and the effect would be to re-
tard the advance OF its price in the
market. Instead of that our policy
should be to so treat the subject as to
encourage and promote, rather than To
discourage and rctard an advance in
the value of silver bullion. We must
begin somewhere. Is it not fair and
best to begin where we left Off?
III, after a fair trial it is demonstrate
ed that we cannot, % that ratio, main
tain both metals in circulation at "a
parity, then congress can at any time
in the future do what it has before
done in the past change the ratio bv
decreasing the amount of gold in the
gold dollar, or it can increase the
amount of silver in the silver dollar. or
1t can do both.
should Maintain n Partly
Both metals should be maintained in
circulation at q parity. That is the
doctrine of sound money and hon
est money But no kind of parity can
ever be maintained as long as
laniSlata1 aud tho nracilaa. aJu,;-;.
tiers the government along the lines of
continued n unrelenting hostility to
one of the metals. Electa and
. president friendly to bimetallism and
there will be no serious or protraeted
difficulty in putting and maintaining
both metals in circulation at a parity"
Speaking on the subject of independ-
emit bimetallism, without European CO.
operation, the governor maintained
that the United States were able to
take care of themselves, and hat it
was our duty to lead in the fight for
the reconciliation of silver as we had
against its decentralization. He said:
"Is 1t not pitiful and humilating tina
In this year of the Lords grace, when
Germany and France and even En-
gland are struggling to free them
selves from the bondage of gold mono
metallism, ademocratic administration
in the United States should be exert.
ing all its enormous power to perpetu-
ate that miserable and destructive
tyranny in our own fair land? The
German reichstag declares for an en-
iarged use of silver money, while al
American congress repeats the only
law which permitted the coinage of q
silver dollar. Balfour is winning vic.
? tories for silver in England, while the
president of the United States is striv
. ing to destroy it forever as n money
. metal. Can Missouri democrats, OF
! M~issourians of any faith, ever consen'
to support a policy of that kind
Z whether it is championed by join
: Sherman or Grover Cleveland? l hop,
not, and l believe not"
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