The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-07-22
FREE SILVER OR NOT.
That is the Entire Question Says
Mr.. HOrrs
Gives Up the Discussion OF the
\ Act of 1873.
WON'T LET HIM OFF.
Mr.. Harvey Isn't Through With
That Matter Yet.

Saturday session OF Ln6 harvey 1OII O0-
bate, Mr.. Horr, breaking away from the
long continued discussion of the circum-
stances surrounding the enactment Of the
law of 1873, stated compactIy his version
of the existing conditions of the debate,
and then sprung the main question:
Ought we again to throw open the mInts
of the United States to the free coinage
of silver?"
Mr.. Harvey was evidently taken by
surprise, but stood by his guns and in
sisted on proceeding with his attempt to
prove that the demonstration of silver
was ACCOMPLISHED with d surreptiuous-
ness that was criminal Here is what
Nj. Horn said eparatory to springing
the chief issue:
"There are some things about which
Mr.. Harvey and myself agree. He thinks
that our forefathers established a single
measure of value and that that measure
was 371M grains ofspure silver, and gold
was made a simple companion metal OF
silver, and that its value was to be all the
time measured by silver dollar be-
lieve those early patriots attempted to,
establish a measure Of value out of two
metals, gold and silver, and that they
supposed they had hit upon ratio which
would secure the use of both gold dol
lars and silver dollars side by side. We
agree that up to 1884 the measure of
value in actual use in this country was
the silver dollar [ assert that in 1884
the ratio was changed, that the gold dol
lar was made smaller
He admits that [ insist that when
the gold dollar was cheapened it became
the actual measure of values in this
country, and remained SO up to the sus-
pension of specie payments, that the
silver dollar, though still legal mea-
sure of value, was not used in this
country as the actual measure after 1884
He denies that We both agree that
from 1882 to 1879 the domestic business
of this country was done by using the
greenback dollar as the measure of val
ues, which was during none of those
years equal in value to either the gold
dollar or the silver dollar He states that
in his book-we both agree. Now mark.
We both agree that in 1878 the coinage
of silver dollars was stopped by law, and
that since 1879, since the resumption of
specie payment, the domestic and inter-
national business of this country had
been done on gold basis. We agree
that Great Britain has been on gold b&-
sis since 1916; no dispute about it.
claim that Germany ceased the coinage
of silver in 1871, and he claims that it
was not done until later, in 1873, but we
both agree that since January l. 1874,
Germany has been entirely on a gold ba-
Sis. we agree LnAL IH0 nations WHICH
compose the Latin union, to wit: France,
Belgium, Switzerland, Italy aud Greece
are all of them today gold standard
countries. There is no dispute be-
tween US that British America and Aus
tralia are also gold standard coun-
tries.
1--WE agree that Mexico, China, Japan
and several of the republics of South
America are silver standard nations.
ia fan IF
the earth that is actually using double
standard. The actual measure of value
in each of the countries of the world is
either gold alone or silver alone, except
in some countries where deprecated
paper money is the only circulating me-
dunn and metal money is bought and
sold as commodity, Just as was the case
during the suspension of specie pay
ments. MIR. Harvey claims the law of
1878 was secretly and fraudulently
passed. He won't deny that he claims
that [ have denied it and still deny it
say there is not grain of truth in such
Il statement But We both agree that the
law was passed and is in force today.
Now the important question before the
American people at this moment and the
one we are here to discuss is this: Ought
the law be repealed? Ought we again
throw the minis of the country open to
the free coinage of silver at the ratio of
is to l, when the actual ratio of value in
the markets of the world is fully 80 to 1?''
Mr.. Harvey: when I have read the
printed record of what MI Horr has
just now said, it will be time enough
for me to take up q new subject
am not done with the present subj ect
yet.
"The act of 1873 served the purpose OF
the men who were seeking to overthrow
our constitutional standards of money in
this way. In 1858, on account of the ex-
portation of our silver coins by reason of
the French ratio of 1911 to l being less
than our Is to l ordered by act that the
fractional silver 80 cents and less should
be cut down in size to the French ratio Il
stop its expectation. The silver unit wal
preserved without even coming a single
one of them. 1t would regulate the
other cOins all the same Now thei1
fractional silver had its legal tender char
acter taken away from it because it wal
not of full weight. 1t was not made full
ton, and it was made non.
legal tender because it wa
not OF full weight, awaiting further con
slderatiOn whether we would 90 to tn,
French ratio as a whole or not So tina
when the bill in 1878 was being cousid
cred at tho time when nobody was think
ing about coins and very few knew any
thing about it, these men who were steer
ing the bill said: EWe are re-enactip,
the act of 1852 There can not be any
thing wrong about that, and that is wha
they made senators and congressman be
lieve they were doing, except that the,
were going to reduce the size of the sill
YER dollar to put US on the French ratio
By talking TO men who knew notbin,
about bimetallism or the previous histor'
of coinage, the act of 1873 served tn,
purpose to get the language in the bill
concerning the fractional coin and tn,
preceding clause that had the silver in !
into the language of the act of 1858. S(
that all they had to do was to strike on
the line that had the dollar in it in RI,
srords Of the AFT IF 1872 .whi.L 80