Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1896-10-24

stH4iN a tHat hOb ~ VIZ - ute>>s Nfs%e ~ /
for 1888 ,7S4 tons more in seventeen
months under the Wilson law than
in the same number of months un-
der the Mckinley law, loss to the
American farmer Of So, 1881, $40. We |
have as much money in circulation
as we need. All that is needed is
confidence, so that capital will be in
vested, labor be employed, and q
market provided for the products OF
the farm. If the free coinage Of sill
yer, at the ratio of is to /, viii in
crease the circulation, why is it that
in the free silver countries, having
a population of 900,0O0,000, the
money in circulation is only So per-
capita. while in the countries that
are on gold basis, with a popula-
ton of 1874 100000, the rate per cap
tia is sls? All the enlightened and
progressive nations of the world are
on q gold basis. No country upon
which the sun shines has made the
advancement that this country has
made in the ten years from 1889 to
1892, during which time it was on
gold basis and under Republican
administration, excepting from 1884
to 1888, when the Republicans con-
trolled Congress, preventing tamper-
ing with the tariff. This Government
cannot make 50 cents worth of sill
yer worth $l.00 by simply placing
its stamp upon it unless there is
something TO back it that is worth
dollar. Tie Government simply
creates the supply and then the own
er OF the money must go out and
compete with the other money in
circulation in the world. The Gov
eminent has no further interest in it
and it would pass for only what the
silver in it is worth, which will
be constantly changing. No one will
be benefited by free silver except
ing the silver mine owner, who has
his capital doubled. We fail to see
how it would benefit the farmer or
the laborer. Another claim that is
made by the free silverite, and one
that will not hold water, is the claim
that silver will advance to $l.25 an
ounce. fit did then 1T would pay
the owner of it better TO sell it as
bullion and not have it coined into
dollars, hence he would hold itand not
put itinto circulation as money. But
it will not raise the price OF silver.
If it will why was it that when this
Government was purchasing 4,500,-
600 ounces of silver month that it
steadily declined in value ? As it is
now, by limiting the amount to be
coined and by having hundred
cents interest In the silver dollar,
and having it backed up by the Gov
ernment's promise to redeem it in
| gold, the silver dollar is kept at a
parity with gold. But as soon as
we have free coinage, at the ratio Of
Is to /, we become the dumping
ground for all the silver of the
world, and, as silver is the cheapest
money, the 1926, 0O0,000of gold now
in circulation would be driven out
Of circulation, as gold would st once
increase in value and would be
worth considerably more IS bullion
than it would be if used as money.
1t would take the minis of the Unit
ed States three years, running night
and day, to coin that much in silver,
and our currency would be contract
ed to that extent The free silyerite
says that gold has never been in cir
culation. There has never been a
time, until the present, that you
could not go to the banks of our
city and get gold if you desired it,
and the employees of the B. & o. r.
r. often received gold when they
were paid off. AS long as the silver
dollar is as good as a gold dollar, in
purchasing power, every body will be
willing to receive it as such. This
country has more silver IN circula.
ton than any two of the gold basis
countries of the world. For this Gov
eminent to give to the 100 odd silver
mine owners of this country $1.00 for
every so cents worth of silver taken
from their mines would be unfair to
the millions of men who have to work
day after day for the money neces-
sary to keep lie in their bodies. If
they have no selfish object in view
why don't they put dollars worth
of silver in dollar? Talking about
trusts, Mr.. Bryan, IL be is elected,
will create the most gigantic trust
that has ever grown fat upon the
Government. And once in power,
it viii fasten itself upon our coun-
try, and it win be years before we
will be able to recover from It's evil
effects. Mr.. Bryan tells the laboring
man that his wages will increase, but
we know that our wages are the last
thing to rise. Study this question
well, you, who like myself, are day
laborers. II the price of farm pro-
duets 20 up, which every free silver
orator who has spoken in our city
this fall claims they win do, and
your wages remain the same, as they
will do, then you will have to pay
that much more for what you con-