Birmingham age-herald., 1895-05-03

The position which they now assume of necessity eliminates from their ranks all who heretofore have struggled to bring about a larger use of silver in the country's currency at an increased ratio, and drives into the camp of the opposi- tion every honest champion of Inter- national bimetallism. The plan laid is of their own making, the issue of their own choosing, and in the face of their acts the believer in the single gold standard and the believer in standard of both gold and silver should give them neither aid nor Succor. They challenge the one and repudiate the other, and from both should come a united opposi- tion.
 The contention which is now made by the single silver standard adherents re- duced to it's last analysis is silver fiatism, pure and simple. It differs in degree only and not in principle from the Yfn- tention of twenty years ago of the ad- Vocate of the unlimited issue of ire deemable greenbacks and from that of the issue of the fiat cur rency of the period of the conti7l mental congress and the era of colonial ism. It finds counterpart in the argu- ments of the French revolutionists, who bankrupted the citizens of France with their millions of worthless assignats and mandats. It resembles the reason ing of King Alexis of Russia, when more than three centuries ago he impoverished his subjects and fomented civil strife by undertaking to force upon them copper kopecs of the same form and value as a substitute for silver.
 It is the theory of the socialist and populiSt applied to monetary science. It is based upon the belief in what has been aptly termed "the all powerfulness" of the state, and is In utter disregard of that great fact in financial history that me diums of exchange and standards of value did not find their origin in law but were born of the needs of trade and com- merce. They came into use through no legislative action save that which was wrought in the great parliament of com merce and from then until now the en- acted laws of councils and of congresses in violation of the principle underlying them have failed to control and regulate them.
 The question to which the friends of the maintenance of a medium of ex- change of unquestioned and unquestion- able value must address themselves is not to temporarily defeat the advocates of free coinage of silver as they now put 1t, but how to permanently insure the country against the danger which would flow from any monetary suggestion which is based in whole or in part upon the doctrine of fiatism. Such result can not be obtained by either scoffing at their leaders or understanding the sources of strength of those who range them selves under their banners. As long as they have the enthusiasm which springs from the belief In their lessening the woes of the debt burdened classes to urge them to effort and the encourage ment of the timorous and compromising in the ranks of those who oppose them, they will continue an active force in mon- etary agitation and an element in Amer ican politics that warrants recognition and sturdy opposition.
 The forces of fiat silver currency, of ir- redeemable paper and their populistic allies can be permanently eradicated as factors worthy of consideration and sources of di5content and financial loss in but one way and that lies through the gateway of sound monetary education
 To this work the individual and the nations good demands that in season and out there be such labor performed as shall at no distant day result in their being beaten squarely upon the issues for which they stand and the country rid of the disasters attendant upon their hope of ultimate success.
 Discussion of the currency came in appropriately as part of MT. DepeWs discourse upon his topic. He said:
 "There should never be any doubt as to the currency of the people. It should be such that the world will rec ognize 1t upon common standard. 1t is said that the debtor can pay his
  rency. There is an easier and quicker way, and that is not to pay them at all The United States Is a debtor, national, municipal, railway and indi- vidual, to an extent of about $14, 4,000,- 100000. We have developed our mar tai. Of this sum one-thrd is held abroad. A well defined policy to pay our debts at 75 cents or at 50 cents on the dollar would lead to $2,00o,00OOoo or $3, 900, 900, 900 of securities coming home | here for us to take. The presentation danger the stability of every bank de- range every exchange and paralyze every industry in the United States. The fiat of the government cannot make paper of value, nor silver of value, nor copper of value nor gold of value, though it may compel any or all of them to be taken in payment of debts within the limits of the United States. There can be but one standard of value, and that is a metal which will bring the same price whether 1t is in the bar or has the stamp of the government upon to pay dollar is to be redeemed at the treasury in a coin which Is worth 100 cents anywhere in the world then the dollar which pays the laborer for his work and the farmer for his wheat and the merchant for his wares represents the full value of the labor and the pro duct for which it is paid. Anything less as money ruins our trade with for eign countries, robs the wage-earner and producers, and makes us a nation of spectators.
 But, gentlemen, I have no time to dis cuss the question. simply hint at it as the one which, unless settled, will make impossible that prosperity for which we are longing and praying"
 Negro Inforrner Killed.
 Atlanta Ga. May 2.-News comes from Butts county that the illicit distillers have killed negro informer named Tom RrownIee If Is reporfed that he was tor-