The herald., 1896-10-11
~ manv wears that in the aggregate II

SO many years that in the aggregate 1t
amounted to more than the principal
BY the contract, though the interest
was payable in coin, the principal was
payable in lawful money. By influence
ing, possibly by corruptly influencing
legislation, the bondholders, after more
than the principal had been paid in IN
terest, got a law passed making the
principal payable in coin, thus greatly
augmenting the value of their claims
Then silver was demonetized, and thus
the value of these claims was still more
increased If an ordinary pawnbroker
were to attempt to take advantage of his
victims in this style, the community
would cry out against such greedy,
shocking enormities, and courts would
disdatn and decline to enforce such
claims. but when powerful millionaire
syndicates engage in the business, and
the nation, by one Of its political par
ties. proposes to fulfill not only the let
ter of the &C ntract, but far more, only
stopping at the last greedy, unwarrant-
ed exaction, they call it reputation,
resting their claim upon the illogical as
sumption that the free coinage of both
silver and gold must lead to silver mono-
metallism with a deprecated 53-cent
dollar. There is neither reason, justice
or even decency to be seen In this claim,
but only that extreme selfish bias Wh1cn
blinds persons to the rights of others.
If, as claimed, silver monometallism and
a 53-cent dollar could result, which
seems practically impossible, II might
then In isolated cases operate as an un-
merited hardship. upon some persons.
This. however, would then be unavoid-
able The wrong was done when silver
was demonetized and the few injured
could hardly wish that the prosperity
of the nation and the righting OF the
wrong done should be postponed until
they are paid, but If it is practicable, leg
islation for free coinage might De SO
shaped as to make exceptions OF such
cases. ,I
The cost of living will probably be
higher under bimetallism, owing to the
general prosperity, and the rate OF IN
terest probably lower. This Will force
MANY people of moderate means TO IN
vest in business in the place or idly SUD-
sisting on the interest OF their money.
In the above l have only made men
ton of the general prosperity resultlns
from a redundant supply of coin money
and not at all of the effect on the silver
states. In these an unprecedented gen.
eral prosperity and development OF all
resources would be experienced, ana
this could not fail to react tavoraply
upon the agricultural and manufac-
turing sections.
Natural laws are simple and uniform
in operation throughout all space and
time, and the closer human legislation
can be made to resemble them in these
respects the nearer does 1t come to be-
ing lust and bneficent in its effects; the
more they depart therefrom the more
certain is it to be unequal, unjust, in
furious and corrupting in its influence.
Apply this rule to the respective merits
of bimetallism and protection as objects
of national legislation. Bimetallism is
a simple principle. the same In all sec
tions and times. Protection Is class leg
islation, favoritism, sectional in its very
essence and intent, making the nation
pay more so that some may receive
more. Ikrequires complex and volum-
inous legislation and an immense horde
of officials to carry it out Bimetallism
may be effected by one legislative act,
condensed possibly in a single sentence,
and would not require a single addition
al official to cary it out. Protective leg
islation has to be supplemented contin-
ually in the interest of special classes,
sections and industries, and is an ever
fruitful source of legislative and ad-
ministrative errors and corruptions.
Protection even with reciprocity
means restriction, interference with the
freedom of exchange, and has led. and
of it's nature, must lead to offensive ana
irritating international discrimina-
tions.
These are some of my reasons why.
though at first in favor of Mckinley and
protection, have now decided to sup
port the candidate who favOrs the free
and unlimited coinage of silver and
gold. I.W n.
ing. among sixteen other less important