The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-08-02

the heSIOTalfOn Oh Siitcf e.AhNA~oS ~
the Action of other Nations
Topeka, Kan, Aug. L-(Special)-
Free silver means 'bimetalhsm. 81
metallism with gold as the standard is
an impossibility. The address issued
by the Republican Silver League Of
Kansas has been printed and sent out
to the papers of the state. Free silver
and protection together Free trade
and single standard of gold are syn
onymOus.
The Subcommittee appointed to pre-
pare this address was Chief Justice
David Martin, Colonel A. Il. Jetmore
Of Topeka and Governor c. V. EskridSe
Of Emp0ria.
The language in which the commit
tee expresses itself disclOses an earn
estness and a conscientious conviction
upon the aestion. Ii shows itself TO be
for true bimetalisIn, and that without
beating around the bush 10 fool some
body. 1t is modest in its pretenjfons
and asks that the Republicans Of Kan
sas give the question due consideration
and act in the place of power-uhe pri-
mary in the township and ward.
Protection and bimetallism have been
proclaimed by state and national Ike
publican convention lon" and often and
the Republicans now ask tT1a+, the party
more clearly define its position ana stare
it's belief in unequivocal language. that
the people may know what 10 expect
The address is as follows:
To the Republicans of Kansas:
The most important problem Of cur
rent politics. confronting the Repubil-
can party at this time, Is finance Up
on the attitude and proper solution Of
this question. i'm our judgment, de-
ponds the perpetuity Of the party. This
great political organization has been
called upon 10 deal with the most com
plicated questions, and. so far. has al
ways been found capable Of their proper
settlement That it VIII prove c0mpe-
tent to adjust the present financial
problem we entertain but little doubt.
However, in order to secure this result,
Republicans must be active az the pri-
maries and in the convention of the
party. It is only by persistent agita-
ton that we can hope to secure party
action. Kansas leadS-She never fol-
lows. She should lead in the restoration
Of silver.
The issue is: Shall we have bimet-
hlEsm, by restoring silver as standard
money with gold to the position il occu-
pied when demonetiZed by congress in
1873?
Or. shall recommendation. or the single
gold standard, be maintained and per
petuated in this country?
This is the issue before the people
We, as Republicans. favor the former
proposition and oppose the latter.
To rhe patriotic and earnest cOnsid-
GRAFTON of These questions we respect
fully Invite the Republicans of Kansas.
The gold mOnOmetalliSts cannot tOler-
ate the idea Of bimetallism. or the res
toration of silver as standard money.
They forget that gold recommendation
Is an experiment, having been in prac-
teal operation in this country only
about sixteen years. Silver has the eX-
perience and tests of centuries behind
St The advocates of bimetalliSm are
the conservative element, adhering 20
theory as old as the nations Of men;
the gold monomeUallists advocate
new theOry-One that is revolutionary.
Gold and silver are the standard
money Of the constitution. That in
strument authorizes congress to ''coin
money and regulate the value thereof"
1t prohibits the state from making any
thing but gold and silver coin a tender
In payment Of debts The first cur
rency law enacted by congress under
the constitution, in 1892. made gold and
silver standard money. And silver, al
though the less precious metal. was
made the unite Of value. The value Of
gold and all the property Of the country.
as well as its commercial transactions,
was. from that time until its demone-
fization, February L. 1873, measured
and transacted by the silver standard.
And this held good throughout the civil
lied world, except England. which eS-
tahlished gold recommendation during
the suspension OF specie payments in
that country in 1916.
This country, with silver as the unit
of value, in its social and material re-
sources. prospered as no other nation
happy and contented. No strikes or
lock0Uts. But, notwithstanding the
country progress and prosperity. in
the absence Of oVerproduction of silver,
and. six years before the resumption
of specie payments, when no standard
money OF either metal CirmUlatiOn,
and when the value of silver was per
cent in excess Of that Of gold. even in
the markets of London. where gold
recommendation had been in vogue
fifty-seYen years, without any appre-
ciable effect on its value and without
any demand or even agitation by the
people. congress. for some unaccounta-
bile reason which has never been salts
factorily explained, demonetiZed silver
and made gold only the standard
money and the unit value. By this act
the money which the people
possessed. with which 70 pay the great
war debt and to redeem the outstand-
ing obligations Of the government. was
destroyed.
Congress having provided for the re-
demrtion - specie payments. in 1870
enacted law fixing the date Al Jan
uary l, 1879. Having destroyed silver
as final redemption money. this act
provided for the purchase of gold. by
:he sale of bonds. with which to redeem
the grecnhackS. although by the eX-
press terms of their issue they were
payable i'm coin.
The standard measure being the
measure of value Of all property. il
should he established on firm and
basis. neither too high
nor too low. The trainers Of the con-
recognized silver as the stand
ard money. and by act Of congress es-
tn blished silver the more conservative /
metal as the unit Of value. This. a.
experience has fully demonstrated. had (
the effect 10 preserve the standard /
money from fluctuation in value In
fact the best obtainable statistics show
that the commercial ratio Of silver 10
gold in l.>9 was l511. and in 1873 was
la-93 Since the characterization 81 sill
yer the value IF gold has constantly 1
risen until Al this time il viii take !
about thirty-two pounds Of silver To |
guy one fPuHe OF gold And the same /
holds good as - the general value Of |
property which has deprecated in the /,
same proportion " The Brussels 1
conference in 1852. the tables Of the
Scetheer and of the LONDON EcouO- /
mist we're exhibited. and admitted by /
the conference to be correct. These 4
tables showed that The general prices /
" property had fallen 40 per cent. In /
a te years the fail has been much NOR. /
'apid. and 1t Is safe - say that since !
s12. the fan in general prices. includ- /
ng that Of labor. If the UNEMPLOYED 4
De considered. has baen over 80 par
cent. In other words. ii viii take As
much again property today In buy a .
lx1far L.,