The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-24
wbat DOCS the ChronicIe ucnn,

is sincere in what It says on the siIve
question. but We think that it should max
il plain what il means. In an articl
entitled THE Absorbing Issue" it make.
several statements which, from on
standpoint. need explanation. For in
/ stance. it expresses the belief that th'
low prices Of cotton and wheat are due
I to a conspiracy in this country and Eu
/ rope 20 degrade silver. II the Chronicl,
really believes this why does it advise
cotton planters and wheat growers tc
plant less cotton and wheat? II the low
prices OF the two products in question
are due 10 the alleged conspiracy, why
would reduction of the wheat and cot
ton acreage cause rise in the prices OF
those articles? We submit that If the
Chronicle intends to be fair with its
readers 1t win give straightforward an
swer to these questions.
Again. we assume that the Chronicle
will admit that the corn crop is a greater
crop in this country than either wheat or
cotton. IN 1870, the year the silver dollar
was demonetized. corn sold as low as p
cents a bushel For few days of that
year it sold as high as 81 cents a busheI
At no time this year has it sold as low
as 20 cents a bushel and it is now selling
as high as So cents a bushel. II the al
legged conspiracy against silver causes the
low prices. of cotton and wheat why is il
that it does not keep down the price OF
corn? Why is it that corn is selling at
much higher price now than before the
icle answer this question? If not, why
not? II it does not answer and answer
frankly, viii it not have to admit that
it cannot defend its position on the silver
question? In a matter Of this kind simple
assertions and beliefs will not do. Rea-
sons must be given. We ask for reasons.
We believe that the low prices Of wheat
and cotton are due to overproduction Of
those products, and that is why we urge
a reduction of the acreage. The supply
exceeds the demand. The price of corn is
relatively high. because the demand for
corn is greater than the supply. Does
the Chronicle say our position is not
correct? II so let 1t give its reasons for
saying so.
The Chronicle says: THE south stands
for a sound currency and honest money,
but not for gold monometallism." Does
the Chronicle believe we now have a
sound currency and honest money? If it
says yes. then it must admit that the
south stands for the money we now have
which is the gold standard. the standard
we have had since 1894. If it says no. then
we would like it to point out wherein
our currency is not sound and honest.
Does the Chronicle want the free coin
age of silver at the ratio Of 16 to /? If
so. win it please point out how that will
give us sound and honest currency, #
we haven't it now? II we should open our
minis to the free coinage of silver at the
ratio of 16 to ], does the Chronicle be-
lieve that a silver dollar would continue
to have the same purchasing power as a
gold dollar? If so will it say why it
thinks so? 1t must have some reasons
for thinking so, and it should not hest
tate to give them. If it does not think
so then il must admit that it favors a
debased currency--a kind of currency, ac-
cording to its own statement, the south
is against We hold that free silver coin
age at IS to l would sooner or later put
the country on silver basis-a basis on
which a silver dollar would have only
half the purchasing power it now has
One gold dollar would have the purchas-
ing power of two silver dollars, just as
it has in Mexico and every other coun-
try in which the minis are open to the
free coinage of silver
But If the Chronicle favors a debased
currency. notwithstanding the fact that
the south is against it, will it give some
reasons for thinking we should be more
prosperous with such currency? VIII
it give some instances of prosperity due
to a debased currency in this or any other
country? VIII it explain why it is that
every f-st-class nation that has had a
debssed currency has gone back to a
sound currency as quick as it could get
there? Why was it that this country
incurred a great expense to get back 20
the gold basis in 1879? viii the Chronicle
answer the foregoing questions?
1t seems that in South Carolina there is
a disposition to try government by injunc-
ton for a while. with the federal court as