Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-10-27

statesmen of the country. They would
have MS believe what history does not
support-that gold and silver enjoyed
equal privileges In the mints Of the
United States during all our history
down to 1873. They assert that the
stopping Of the free coinage of silver in
1873 was ''the crime of the century" and
is the cause of the present deplorable
business condition of the country. They
must know that prior to 1873 we had
less than 100000 of silver dollars IN
circulation. We have coined since that
time nearly 500, 100000 of silver dolidSs,
and they constitute part Of the cur lI,
us that when the coinage of both go"
and silver was free in the United States
the per capita circulation in this country
called "crimo of 1873" Why. under
the free coinage of both gold and silver
in the days of the fathers we had IN
1900 per capita of S4.99; In 1883 "
was $3.50; in 1852 it was $1463; In 1917
before the resumption of specie pay
ments, and when we were doing business
with unlimited paper currency, 1t was
$1S.19; in 1894, twenty-one years after
the suspension of free coinage of silver,
we had per capita of ASS, and every
dollar was as good as gold in every part
of the world. We have greater per
capita in the United States than has
the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and a greater per capita than has Ger
many. The per capita of the whole
world is about $5.15. The per capita OF
the gold standard countries is SIS, while
the per capita of the silver standard
countries-of which they want to make
us one--is about $3.50. Even In the
gold standard countries we have more
silver per capita than they have in the
ell pfr,n IS ha world Tho NnlH
standard countries, having popula'
ton of less than one-third of the worlds
population, have nearly two-thirds OF the
circulation of the worlds currency. The
United States has about 512 per cent. OF
the total population of the principal
countries of the world. yet II mas
80 21-100 per cent. of the banking re-
sources and nearly rs per cent. of the
total money supply of the world France
has higher per capita than the United
States, but the banking deposits in the
United States are $77.76 per inhabitant
or S43& greater for each inhabitant than
the banking deposits of France.
Per Capita Rate Would Decrease.
1T must never be forgotten that the
free coinage of silver at the ratio of 10 to-
1 would not increase, but would decrease
our per capita circulation 1t would add
nothing to it, but would rob us OF fhr
good money we now have and put ny
where the silver countries of the world
are today--upon silver basis alone
There is nothing in our present currency
status, therefore, to disturb us, except
to defeat the party which proposes to de-
base it. II is the proposition TO debasc
our currency standard that has created
CONSERVATION in every business center OF
the country; has made times hard, has
driven money from active industry, and
put it behind barred doors, where II will
be kept until confidence Is restored.
The people will not consent TO de-
crease of their circulating medium. nor n
debasement of that medium of exchange.
If by your votes this menace to, the mcN-
ey and credit of the country be dispelled.
and by the same votes you restore the
American protective policy, that will stop
Deficiencies in the treasury, and will pro
tect American industry, and courage
and confidence will come back again.
Open the mills and the mines of our
country by a judicious protective tariff
and you will stop idleness and distress
IN \ the ranks Of labor, and you can't stop
voice of Maryland on the 81 day of No
vember? (Cries of Mckinley, McKin-
ley.o What will be the voice of the
great city of Baltimore? (Cries of Nc
Kinley.o How will that old conservative
city speak for national honor? (Cries Of
tom
Il thank my old comrades of the war
for their presence here at my home to
day. / thank my fellow citizens of every
vocat ton for having paid me this visit.
and | beg to thank them In the name of
the Republican party for their assur-
ances of loyal support to the principles Of
public honor, protective tariff, sound
money, reciprocity, which will bring to
us, trust and firmly believe, good times,
from which we wildly ran away in
1892"