The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1896-10-08
MAKES 1T PLAIN.
Judge Lawrence on the Effects
Of Free Silver.
he TELLS WHERE HE STANDS.

4 Well Known Citisen VINO Has Besn
woolgrowsrs and Farmers Of Ohio In
This Csmpaign-Free and Unlimited
Coinage Of silver Can Bring Only Dis.
aster and wretohedness to the Toiling
Masses.
Judge William Lawrence Of Belle.
fontaine has written q letter concern
ing the political situation, which was
published in the News. Republican Of
that city, and from which we take the
following extracts:
II am distinctly and unequivocally
opposed to the Independents free or un.
limited coinage Of silver under present
conditions, and have not ut any time
expressed any other view. Il would be
one Of the greatest political oalamities
that could come TO the people Of this
country. This must be apparent for
many reasons:
"The first effect would be, within
thirty days. TO take out of use az coin
money more than half Of all in this
country.
'The claim that FREQ silver would in.
crease prices of farm products is decep.
tive. Let us suppose Bryan elected
president and free silver congress
not suppcsable case at all. And then
suppose the panic period Of some years
ovex and the volume Of silver coin made
even to or even greater than now-
what then? Silver would be our only
coin money. The demand made for
silver bullion would perhaps increase
the value or selling price Q very little.
The silver dollar might possibly .e
worth 90 cents measured by the gold
price Of the world. II farmers then
sold wheat for 9l bushel the nominal
price would indeed be increased, but
the money value received by the farmer
would not be increased. The free silver
price would buy no more then than the
price under the present standard, even
in this country. Thus the condition of
the farmer for all purposes Of buying
merchandise, etc., would be no better
than now. All he would buy would be
on the silver standard value.
"Free silver under Bryan means free
trade or it's kindred low tariff and this
is high ruin. We must bear in mind
that free silver does not stand alone in
this political contest. Free silver is in
tended us thin sugar coating for big,
bitter, free trade, poisonous pill. The
coating is thin, very thin. It is q
"white sepulchre full Of rottenness and
dead mems bones"--Bryan's bones.
''Now let me ask somo questions of
farmers.
"How will free silver help our wool
growers if free wool ruins our sheep
husbandry? And by experience we
know it will.
"How will free silver help the farmer
who has wheat to sell when free trade
takes from him good part Of the home
market for his wheat?
"How will free silver help the labor.
ing man when free trade transfers
labor from his hands to the factories
and shops and mines of Europe? Yes,
how?
''The country needs international
bimetallism and protective tariff.
The Republican party favors both.
"The Republican national platform
says in substance.
1--WE will maintain the present money
standard until we can induce the lead
ing commercial nations to agree to bi.
metallisn-the full equal use of both
gold and silver as money for all pur-
poses.
"To this the Republican party is
pledged. McKinley's letter of accept.
ance so declares.
"Under free silver, if we export cot
ton. or wheat, or pork, we will procure
only European low gold prices. London
will fix the price, and the London value
will be all we will obtain. But with
bimetallism the gold price will be in.
creased into real, substantial, bi.
metallic value. and when we export our
farm products we will obtain a greater
value than under free silver.
"But I can not further elaborate the
argument now. In every view free sill
yer is ruin now.
MCKINLEY has given the true doc.
trine in one terse sentence: The Re-
publican party stands for honest money
and chance to earn it by honest TOLL
A protective tariff will give "a chance
to earn it. bimetallism will give honest
money"
Hamerd0wn's Good Reasons.