Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1895-06-21


gold-the accepted and conventional
representative of value aud great medium
of exchange-will continue to grow in
value, and, on the other side, there will
be an apparent reduction in prices. l do
not say that from year to year this In
creased value will be discernible, because
for time it may be checked by an un-
usual output of gold or apparently modi-
fled by "a scarcity of or Il speculation In
commodities. In the course of years,
however, it must inevitably result that
gold will continue to appreciate to the
advantage OF the creditor and money
holding class. 1t Is the very system
which will, il it has not already, fatten
and fasten plutocracy on the world. Al
ready less than per cent of our popula-
ton own more than half the wealth of
our country.
james G. Blaine said in the senate in
1876: sit would not be difficult to show
that in the nations where both gold and
silver have been fully recognized and
most widely ditlused the steadiest and
most continued prosperity has been en-
iOyed-that true form of prosperity
which reaches all classes, but which be-
gins with the day labOrer, whose toll
LAYS the foundation of the whole super
structure of wealth. An exclusive gold
nation, like England. may show the most
massive fortunes In the ruling class. but
it shows also the most helpless and hope
less poverty in the humber walks of
life" Do our opponents say that gold
has not advanced in value? | can quote
against them Blaine, Sherman, Carlisle
and nearly every man who has occupied
a prominent position in this country.
According to Sauerbecks reliable slatls-
ties, the value of gold at the beginning
of this year, as measured in commodities,
had incr .ased G6 2.3 per cent over the
period between 1861 and 1917. If gold
has not risen in value and decreased the
price of everything else, what do the
demonetizers mean when they say to the
laboring man that the purchasing power
of the dollar is greater now than ever
before? Don't they know that they are
exposing themselves to the charge of
hypocrisy when they deny the apprecia-
ton of gold, and at the same time argue
that the dollar now is more potential
than ever? And don't they know that
if the dollar will buy more than hereto
fore, it is harder to get-that you must
give more labor for it, more produce
for it?
OPPONENTS ARE CRITICISED.
Again, these monometallists say that
the characterization of silver has hot had
a tendency to lower prices; but almost
IN the same breath they charge that the
reconciliation of silver will unduly en-
nance prices. They deny that the prices
OF commodities have gone down, and the
next moment explain that the reason for
the decline Is oveIpToduction. They
don't care for consistency; they try to
avoid the necessity of being consistent
by predicting panics and calling names.
We who are in favor of the remonetiza-
ton of silver say there is no Injustice
even to the creditOT-if the government
shall restore to silver its old place in our
monetary system. We grant that it will
check the appreciation of gold, and in
time cheaper it, but hold that the cred
itor will get as much in value as he lent
and become happy participant in the
prosperity of the people. Even If it
were TO work an I'M Justice to the creditor,
we must remember the debtor and the
toiling masses of mankind. Even if it
works an Injustice to the creditor. we
must reflect that he is not alone to be
considered. Our poor men and our
! young men want "A charc Posterity,
for which we are really living, must not
be saddled with system worse than that
| devised 10y any tyrant monarch of The
past. y system which enriches the
money-owner at the expense of the pro-
Queer offers IA premium to sloth, lays Il
burden on toll, and checks useful enter
prise of every kind.
Gentlemen, IA financial system devised
by Hamilton, jefferson and Washington,
under which we had prospered rs IA PEG.
pie and grown great rs nation, was
suddenly overthrow by the machina-
tons of millionaire senatOr-wIthout
any appeal to the people. Jefferson en-
Joined us TO often return to cOnsidera-
ton of first principles. And, therefore.
it seems to me that the great party of
which he was the founder very properly
leads in the great work of restoring to
the people IA financial system which met
all their needs and which was as much a
badge aud IA guaranty of their indepen-
dence as immunity from the stamp law
or the tea tax.
CAPITALIsTIC INFLUENCE ALLEGED.
The reconciliation of silver is re.
turn TO system under which the world
developed from barbarlsm INTO civilza
ton. Through all the centuries oi
progress, and almost keeping pace viii
il, there have been added large stocks ol
{ the precious metals. With their aid tn,
! llbutN VI bdl tNl NNlt NlSCOullDutu ant
commerce became free, humane and be
, nefcent. Nations grew closer to eacl
/ other and comforts began to spread
. themselves over the face of the who'll,
world. | don't want to say-for don
believe it-that conspiracy was formed
= to make those who had wealth richie
t than they were. but, just as if such wer
e the fact, the capitalists Of the world be
{ came eager to restrict the circulatin!
e medium of exchange. And this grea
| movement, iniqultOus in its results. wa
/ very appropriately initiated in England
= the creditor nation and the most seliisl
e nation of the world. 1t was not there
5 nor in France, nor in Germany, nor her
e that the decentralization of silver wa
: demanded by the people.
? 1t was not among those nations nor il
; ours that this mOnometalist Legislation
= was prOsOsed and efiectuated to relieN
any condition of business distress. Her
and elsewhere the great change was tn
result of captalistc advice, and not tn
result of any movement Oh the part o
the peOp.e. And among us it was don
l | so 0uiptlV that even great senators Wh