The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-08-13

good behavior and people have . right 70
criuc.se his official acts.
{" Confidence IS everywhere the parent OF
despotism. Free government exists in
jealousy. and not in confidence Those
are the words OF Thomas Jefferson. and
I submit that they present a truer con-
ception of popular government than that
entertained by those who would prohibit
an unfavorable comment upon a court de-
cisson. Truth will vindicate itself: only
error fears free speech. No public Of
flcial who conscisntiously discharges his
duty as be sees 1t VIII desire to deny TO
those whom he serves the righs to discuss
his oficial conduct
The Money Question.
NOW, let me consider the paramount
question OF this campaign. the money
question 1t Is scarcely necessary to de-
fend the principle Of eimetalhsm. No
national party during the entire history
Of the United States has ever declared
against II. and no party In this campaign
has had the temerity to oppose ii. Three
parties. the Democratic. the Populsst and
the Silver party. have not only declared
for bi-metallisu, but have outlined the
specific legislation necessary to restore
silver to its ancient position by the side
OF gold The Republican platform ex-
pressly declares that bi-metallism is de-
sirahle when 1t pledges the Republican
party TO aid In securing IL as soon as the
assistance of certain foreign nations can
be obtained. Though the minority senti-
ment in the Chicago convention opposed
the free coinage OF silver by the United
States by independent action. on the
ground that In their judgment It would
retard or entirely prevent the establish
ment of International bi-metallism, to
which the efforts OF the government
should be steadily directed when they
asserted that the efforts OF the govern
mert should be steadily directed toward
the establishment OF international bi-
metallism they condemned nonometal-
hsm. The gold standard has been weigh
ed In the balance and found wanting.
Take from II the powerful support OF the
money-owning and money-changiDg class
es and II cannot stand for one day in
any nation In the world. II was fastened
upon the United States without discussion
before the people, and It's friends have
never yet been willing 70 risk verdict
before the voters upon that issue. There
can be no sympathy or cooperation be-
tween the advocates of a universal gold
standard and the advocates of bi-metal-
ism. Between Observation-Disclosures In
dependent or fnternational-and the gold
standard there is an impossible gulf. Is
this auadrennial agitation In favor OF
International bi-metaiism conducted in
good faith. or do our opponents really
desire 10 maintain the gold standard per-
manentiy? Are they willing TO confess
the superiority OF a double standard when
Joined by the leading nations OF the
world. or DO they sttll Insist that gold
is the only metal suitable for a standard
among civilized nations? II they are in
fact DESTROYS OF securing bi-metallisn,
we may expect them 10 point out the
evils OF a gold standard and defend BIZ
mstailism as a system. If, on the other
hand. they are bending their energies to-
ward the permanent establishment OF a
god standard under cover OF a declara-
ton IN favor OF international hi-metsi-
Hsm, am justified In suggesting that
honest money cannot be expected at the
hands OF those who deal dishonesty with
the American peonle
what Is the test OF honesty In money /?
1t must be found In the purchasing power
OF the dollar. An absolutely honest dollar
would not vary in its general purchasing
power; II would be absolutely stable when
measured by average prices. A dollar
which Increases IN purchasing power Is
Just as dishonest as a dollar which de-
creases In purchasing power. Prof Laugh
lin. now OF the University OF Chicago. and
one OF the honest gold standard authori-
ties. In his work on bi-metaliisfn not only
admits that gold does not remain abso-
lutely stable in value, but expressly as
serts that there IS no such thing as a
standard value for future payments, either
In gold or silver. which remains absolutely
invariabie.' He even suggests that a null
tiple standard whereia the unit Is based
upon the selling price OF a number OF ar
tcies OF general consumption would be a
moro Just standard than either gold or
silver. or both, because longtime con-
tract would thereby be paid at It's matur-
fty by the same purchasing power as was
II
at cannot be successfully claimed that
mono-metaiiisn, or bi-metaiIisfn. or
any other system gives an abb
solutely Just standard of value. Un-
der both mono-metaliism and bi-metsi-
ism the government fixes the weight and
fneness OF the dollar. invests II with legal
tender qualities and then opens the minis
20 its unrestricted coinage. leaving the
purchasing power OF the dollar 10 be de-
terrnlred By the number Of collars. 81
rnstaIllsrl is better than uono-uletallisrn.
not because IL gives perfect dollsr--tha.
e. a dollar absolutely uuv&ryias In les
general purchasing powef-hut because i
rnakes a nearer approach to stability. 20
honesty, 20 justice than gold standard
possibly can Prior 10 1873. when there
were enough open minis 10 permit al Iae
gold and silver available for coinage "a
ind entrance into the world volume OF
standard money, the United sates might
have maintained a gold sta.idari with less
injury to the people OF this country, bat
now. when each sep toward q universal
gold standard enbeaess the purchasing
power OF gold depresses prices and trans
fers TO the pockets OF the creditor classes
an unearued Increment. the influence Of this
great nation must not De thrown upon the
side Of gold unless we are prepared 20
accept the natural and legitimate ccnse-
auerces OF such ar act Any legislation
which lessons the worlds stock OF stand
ard money increases the exchangeahlc
value OF the dollar, therefore the crusade
against silver must inevitably raise the
purchasing power OF money and lower the
/ money value Of AL other forms OF prop
ertv.
| .-Our opponents sometimes admit tina;
I =, wa. a mistake to demonetfze silver.
| but insist tina, we should submit 10 present
/ conditions rather than return TO ths hs.
metallic system They err In sGpposxlng
/ that ne have reached the end Of the evil
results Of q gold standard: We have nos
reached The end The injury IL continu-
ing one and no person can say how Ion.
The world 10 20 suffer from an attempt C
make gold tn. cniy standard money. The
sam. influences which are nov operating
70 destroy silver IN TIE United States will.
II SUCCESSFUL here Dc tarne6 against 9th
or sssver-ussnx countries. ar1 each asw
convert 20 the god standard VIII add &c
the general distress. So lorx as TIRE Fcrsn-
bic for gold continues. pr-ces ncst fan
ard again falling prices - Bet another
serritgen - bard tires.
Our orpsreuts shsie claiming entire
Recommendations for themselves. have zp-
pesie1 20 the s.isshn.ss 90 nearly every
class CT secsesy. recognizing TIE a.spez-