Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1896-10-09
COMPARISONS WORTH NOTING

make themselves and others believe
that the act of 1873 was a great crime
and that its effects have been very dis
astrous to our country.
y good way to test this is to see how
the condition of the country in 1880
compared with that of 1870. since one
half of the years between 1870 and 1880
passed without the coinage of any
standard silver dollars, and there were
coined but 53o0OOOO of them during
the entire decade
In 1870 the total money of the coun-
try amounted to SD, 22,S6s4Gl. In 1880
the total moneyin the ecountry amount
ed to sl,2o5, ,929, ,l97, an increase of sixty
per cent. Does that look as though
the country was ruined by the crime
of 1873?
In 1870 the money in the country
amounted to s1S.73 for each individual;
in 1880 it amounted to S24.O4 for each
individual, or per capita as it is called.
Thus the amount of moneyin the coun-
try increased much faster than the
population during that fatal decade in
which the ''crimen was committed, and
the country was kept for five long years
without the coinage of single stan
dard dollar. Does that look as though
the people suffered for currency be-
cause of the .crime of 1872"
In 1870 the wealth of the country
amounted to $50 per individual: in
1880 it amounted $50 for each individ-
ual. Does this look as though the
country had suffered during that terri
ble decade in which such a crime
against its prosperity had been COM
mitted?
In 1870 the amount paid as wages by
the manufacturers of the United States
amounted to s776.OOO,OOO; in 1880 it
amounted to s94S,OOO,OOO. In 1870 the
number of people finding employment
in the manufacturing establishments
of the country was 22,O54 600; in 1880 the
number was 2,73S,OOO. In 1870 the
goods turned out by the manufacturers
of the United States amounted to 81
DE-. 100000; in 1880 they amounted to
s5,370,OO0,OOO, gain of over billion
dollars in the decade. Does this look
as though there had been a scarcity of
money or depression of business in
that "dark decade in which we we're
without the light of the free coinage of
silver?
In 1870 the average wages of labor
stood at 137 in gold, taking the rate
paid in 1860 rs the unit of 100. In 1880
they stood at @43 upon the same unit
or basis of calculation, thus showing a
marked increase in wages during that
decade of no free coinage. Does this
Look as though the 'crime" of that
period had affected the country or the
people disadvantageously?
In 1870 the average gold price of COM
modities of life stood at 119 compared
with unit of 100 in 1860; in 1880 they
stood at los, compared with the same
unit, thus showing a marked fall in
the cost of living while there had been
a marked increase in the
wages earned. Doesthis look as though
the years in which no standard dollars
had been coined had been especially
disastrous
A comparison of 1870 with 1890 would
produce much more startling contrasts
but 1880 has been chosen for the COM
parison because the years 1870 and
1880 are the beginning and the end of
decade in which it is claimed that a
great financial crime was committed
and retained as an absolute pail over
the country until within twenty-five
months of the end of that decade.
Think it over. Remember that the
suspension of free coinage occurred
only about two years after the census
of 1870 and that it has never been re-
sumed. Then remember that the
wealth of the country jumped from
$3.50 per capita in 1870 to 81 1,O39 in 1890
in the absence of free coinage. Re-
member that labor will earn more gold
today than it did in 1870, despite the
constant assertion that gold has appre-
ciated since the suspension of the free
coinage of silver. Remember too that
the dollars thus earned will buy much
more than they would at that time.
Remember that the country was never
SO prosperous as it was four years ago
WREN the people were persuaded to
vote for free trade. Then consider
whether it is free silver plus free trade
that you want for the next four years.
with Bryan in charge, or protection,
reciprocity and sound money, with Nc
Kinley in the White House?
The republicans are going to carry
Fall River and Custer counties on Nov