The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-05-08
the GREAT CRIME
AGAINST THE PEOPLE.
THE DEMONSTRATION OF
SILVER.
Proof That It Was Corruptly and
Surreptitiously Accomplished.
Show Your Neighbor and Then
Keep For Future Reference.
(From tho Philadelphia Americana

"SOund Currency" a series OF PAIN
phlets in which are discussed various
phases of the money question. AL
though the purpose Of these publlca-
tions is to present arguments for the
maintenance Of the silver gold stand
ard, we are bound to say that the ef-
fort appears usually to be to deal fair
ly with the whole matter. An excep-
tion must, however, be made to some
of the statements contained in an es-
say on "Bimetallism in History" in
No. 3, Vol. Ill. On page 10 of this
pamphlet it is asserted that
1.-THE act of 1873 was in reality a
mere formal declaration Of fact.
Silver was not demonetiZed by it.
That was done by the act of 1884
changing the ratio of the two metals
and the amount of fine gold in dol
lar. The bill simply provided
that certain pieces, naming them,
should constitute the silver coinage
of the United States. 1t has
been the fashion of some controver-
sialists to say that the silver dollar
was surreptitiously demonetized. HIS
tory does not sustain the conten-
tiOn."
Every one of these statements is in
correct. No man can successfully dis
pute the fact that on the first Of Feb
ruary, 1873, the silver dollar OF 3714
grains Of fine silver was, as it had been
uniformly and without interruption
or alteration since 1892, the lawful
s'unit of value" in the United States.
Nor is it possible to dispute the fact
that on the same date silver and gold
both had the privilege of unlimited
free coinage at the mints, which
privilege was exercised by owners of
gold and silver bullion. Now, it is on
ly necessary for anyone to turn to the
act of February IL, 1873, to learn that
the law which was signed on that day
made two revolutionary changes in
the ancient practice. First, 1t threw
downthe silver dollar from it's high
place as the unit Of value, and for the
first time in OUT history made the
gold dollar the unit OF value. Second,
Vt withdrew from the silver dollar, not
simply the privilege of free coinage,
but the right to be coined upon any
terms whatever. 1t would be difficult
10 COuCC1NC VI lOkASAdUlOA VAAOAA
should be more radical or that should
more seriously discredit silver. The
writer who attempts to disguise the
facts concerning this performance
presumes much upon the ignorance of
readers who are not willing to pursue
the truth for themselves. No cOnfir-
nation of our statements is required.
II it were, we might refer to the fol-
lowing declaration made by Senator
Sherman in the Senate, on March 6,
1876:
"Our Coinage act came into opera
tion on the first of April, 1873, and
constituted the gold One-dollar piece
the sole unit Of value. Thus
the double standard previously exist
ing was finally abolished"
Equally beyond reach Of successful
dispute is the fact that this change
in the money system of this country
was made eptitiously. Judge
William d. Kelley is actually alluded
to by the author of the pamphlet re.
ferred to above as having favored the
change. On March 10, 1878, in the
House of Representatives, Judge
Kelley said:
Never having heard, until long
time after its enactment into law, OF
Ul1C SuOS III UllC kOCAdUC VI CA1C
section which dropped the standard
its history; but | am prepared to say
that in the legislation Of this country
there is no mystery equal to the de-
mOnetiZatiOn of the standard silver
dollar Of the United States. l have
never found man who could tell just
how it came about or why"
Judge Kelley also said:
II was chairman of the committee
that reported the original bill, and /
aver on my honor that did not know
the fact that it proposed to drop the
standard dollar, and did not learn
that it had been done for eighteen
months after the passage Of the sub
stitute offered by Mr.. Hooper, when !
disputed the fact
Mr.. Holman, on July 13, 1876, said in
the House: "The method Of its (the
act of 1879 passage through the
House was colossal Swindle. | as
sert that the meas ure never had the
sanction Of this House, and it does
not possess the moral force of law. .
Senator Bright, Of Tennesse, said
ut passed by fraud in the House,
being subs titute for the printed bill
Aye, sir, it was fraud tha,
smells to heaven!" Senator Thur.
man said: 'There is not single man
in the Senate, l think, unless mem.
ber of the committee from which the
bill came, who had the slightest idea
that lit was even sQuint towards de-
monetization." Senator Allison, on
February Is, 1878: But when the Sc
cret history of this bill Of 1873 comes
to be told it will disclose the fact that
the House of Representatives intend
ed to coin both gold and silver and in.
tended to place both metals upon the
French relation, instead of upon ou1
own, which was the true scientific
position with reference to this sub
ject in 1873, but that the bill after
ward was doctOred."
These are but fragments of great
mass of such testimony from eminent
public men-some Of them still in
Congress-who are alleged by the gold
monometallists to have voted know
ingly for the reconciliation Of silver,
In the presence Of such evidence how
can it be possible for the advocates Of
the gold standard to persist in declar
ing that the act demonetizing silver