The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1895-09-14
DECLINE OF THE CRAZE.
weighty Evidence In the Free silver Con-
froversy.

There is a pretty general feeling in
the business community that the signs
Of the times are very suspicious, SO
far as the silver craze is concerned
This view.is continually supported by
advices received at the chamber OF
commerce both by person and letter.
II is confined alone to the merchant or
banker. but it is reflected in every |
avenue Of business.
Among the more prominent ones
who have been careful observers OF the
trend of things in James c. Fargo, |
| president of the American Express
company. Mr.. Fargo has pretty good
opportunity of gauging the situation
among the masses and the classes, ana
had this to say rs to the outlook:
1T seems to me pretty evident that
the silver craze is subsiding; all signs
indicate this. st would be very good
thing IL it were buried four hundred
feet deep and could not be resurrected
again. 1t Is nothing more or less than
the echo of the greenback imitation
that occurred few years ago. do
| not believe that the silver craze will
cut serious figure in the business
| world much longer. 1t seems to be on
the wane, and the one thing that is
| bringing this about more than any
other is the constantly improving busi-
ness situation. Our business has been
slowly improving for several months
past We noticed it first in New Eng
land, then in the middle states, and
finally all over the country.
II am confident that the promised
prosperity will be permanent. With
farmers, mechanics and everybody at
work l do not imagine you will hear
much more of the silver question. I'm
less am very much mistaken, the sill
yer tonpued orator has mad his day.
Honest money is the life of trade, and
people will certainly not be carried
away with any wildcat notions OF
finance.
II am persuaded that the silver craze
has spent it's force, and were 1T not for
the politician it would soon drop out
of sight. OF course, the political par
ties are making the most of the issue in
the hope of getting all the votes they
can, but it is my honest opinion that
no president can be elected on any but
a sound money platform. Indeed, |
feel pretty sure that the presidential
candidates will have to declare their
position on the money question before
. they can enter upon the campaign.
THE great mass of the people are
inbued with good common sense. and
I they certainly will not elect man to
the presidency who has any notions re-
garding the currency question that are
, not sound and in line with the best ex-
perience.
II am opposed, of course, to free
1 silver, but feel SO confident that the
sound money cause will triumph and
that the silver craze will fall by its
own weight that do not think 1T will
e be necessary for me to advance any
arguments to support the work the
chamber of commerce is doing.
II am confident that the prosperity
!. in sight for all the people, as | see i
. reflected in every line of business, viii
Z be tn. most effective argument against
fallacious financial schemes"
!, President Henry ID. McCord, OF The
q produce exchange, is one of those who
q believe that the silver craze has spen
a its force. He is very emphatic il
q stating that practically the whole prod
: uce exchange, numbering some three
!. thousand members, is a unit in favor o
sound money. In order to demonstrate
, this fact, President McCord stepped t.
the entrance of the building the othe
q day and said: Now will show 70,
= lust what the actual condition OF al
e fairs is by accosting at random mem
= beers who happen to come during tn
!, next ten minutes" Sure enough
every one who entered was button
nv holed as to his position on the silve
% question and answered promptly tina
Iv he was gold bug"
a You see, we are all for SCUM
10 money, continued President McCore
,s 1--WE feel that our interests are idcI
:. tilted with those of the farmer in d.
d manding a good currency system, an
II any scheme that tends to debase or a.
q. preciate money, such as that advocate
81 by the free silver people, seriously a
"A fects business. 1t may interest you
). know that the indications on chang
he are that things are picking up ever.
~ where. There is slow but gradual in
m provement all along the line. and "
al feel that business will, in the fall, a
-. sumo it's normal condition, and ever.
av thing will go with boom. The silv'
y agitation is largely due to the haI
times that came upon the country. Hs
~ there been no depression it is doubtf
nd whether we would have heard an
al thing at all of the silver craze. 81
~. things are righting themselves just
IA they did after the greenback craze h;
!, ,, flourished like green banyan tree Il
= time and then dropped out OF sig
when business began to improve.
It will be with the free silver Graz
~ The returning signs OF prospect
-. noticed on every side and the gener
~ and gradual improvement in busine
v;ll soon cause the silverite deniZen