The record-union., 1896-08-06

more-the man who, after all this long
debate, wants to know what 16 to l
means"
1t is the ratio as to quantity and
value between silver and gold, assumed
in our coinage. That is, it is assumed
that the value of sixteen ounces of
silver (or, to put it exactly, the value
of 1o.9SS ounces of silver is equal to
the value of one ounce of gold. The
assumption, however, is not true, since
it requires over thirty-one ounces of
silver to equal the value of one ounce
of gold. That is to say, our Is to 1
coinage ratio is widely at variance with
the commercial ratio of the world In
other words, the actual value of silver
is but lite more than one-half the
value assumed for it in our coinage
1t is this fact that requires US to
limit the coinage of silver. Our legal
ratio is a false ratio. If we do not re-
strict the coinage of silver on this false
ratio, it will be impossible to maintain
its exchangeabilty with gold. Free
coinage of silver, therefore, would
cause the disappearance of gold,
change the basis OF cur money from
gold to silver, and give us the single
silver standard and silver monometal-
lism, with dollars worth, at the present
value of silver, only fifty-three cents.
How do we know all this? Because
it is principle derived from universal
experience with money in all countries,
through all ages. It is a law of money,
as certain as any principle of science,
that upon a fixed legal ratio between
two metals, the one that is underval-
ued in the coinage will disappear, and
the one that is overvalued will alone
circulate
A DENIAL.
Colusa Sun: The Democracy is hope
lessly divided and that fact alone in
sures McKinley's success.-Marysville
Appeal. No such thing. The party was
never more solid and it daily welcomes
rev, important accessions. That old
wedge will never divide the Democratic
party. Get up another cry.
DANGEROUS POLICY.
Middletown Independent: 1t is very
common to hear a Democrat argue for
free silver and offer as one of the prin-
cipal benefits the payment of a debt
with cheap money. That may be Dem
ocratic, but Notwithstanding it is a
dangerous policy. Supposing, however,
that free silver was thrown upon the
people. How would they secure it any
faster than they do to-day? The cost
of living would be doubled, the gold
would be withdrawn during the period
of free silver, and our circulation would
be cut short until ell the gold was re-
turned to the regular channels of trade
after confidence had been restored
through a Republican Administration.
A COMPARISON.
Los Angeles Express: Major McKin-
ley is statesman who has shown by
his many years of public life that he is
not only able, but eIninently fit man
TO preside over the destinies of this
great country. He has been tried and
found to be always in line with the
progress and advancement of the coun-
try and the uplifting of the great
masses. He is no experiment. On the
other hand the Democratic nominee is
a very young man, barely within the
limitations of the Presidential age and
wholly an unknown quantity. He was
not nominated because of his intrinsic
worth and known ability, but in mo-
ment of hysterical excitement and in
an orgasm of turbulence and disorder
The country is in no mood or condition
for an experiment. These are times
when none but cool heads and expert
enced hands should be at the tiller Of
the ship of state.