Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1896-08-21

Besides the gold we have nearly $431,-
100000 Of silver dollars; that is, we
already haye that amount of the So
called 53-cent or dishonest dollar.
The silver in each of these dollars has
commodity value of SO cents. But
each one is worth every mill as much,
dollar for dollar, and always has been, as
the gold, which is complete evidence
that the money value OF these silver
dollars does not depend upon their COM
modify value.
We have.also in round numbers $346,
100000 of greenbacks, the commodity
value of which is almost nothing. But
these, too, are equally valuable, dollar
for dollar, with gold.
We have, too, about $21G,0O0,000 in
silver subsidiary coin, halves, quar-
ters and ten-cent pieces, containing
less silver and more alloy than
our silver dollars; also our nickel
and copper coins with small COM
modify value. And yet all of these in
limited amounts are equally valuable
with the gold coin, dollar for dollar. 1t
thus becomes entirely evident that the
value of money does not consist in the
material from which it is made.
1t follows, then, that we already have,
and have had for years, vastly more Of
the 53-cent dollars that the supporters of
Mr.. McKinley-that is, some of them
now speak OF as dishonest dollars, and
other dollars with commodity value still
less, than we have of the gold so-called
100-cent dollars; and when it is perceived,
as it will be by everyone that looks into
the subject, that they are worth every
mill as much as those made of gold, it
will be seen that the dishonest" quality
is not in the coin, but in the man speak
ing of it. The coin is perfectly honest;
it Is the critic that is crooked.
1t is noticeable, too, that the above
silver money which we already have is
irredeemable. In what, then, consists its
value? 1t comes from the fdt of the
government that created it. 1t is
due to the fact that this silver
money lis legal tender for all debts,
public and private, in this great nation,
except where otherwise expressly stip-
ulated in the contract" This last clause,
quoted from the so-called Bland act of
1878, is another Illustration of the way in
which our lawmakers have attempted to
undermine the value of the peoples
money, and will of course be repealed
if the free coinage of silver prevails. 1t
has not, however, as yet injured the
money. The debts of the country
amount, it is estimated, to $50, 100000
900, more Or less. In any case all our
money-gold, silver and -paper-is but
bagatelle in comparison with the debts
to pay which it is a legal tender.
: Those who desire to remonetlze silver
so that we may have larger volume of
money-and this is the only reason for
doing it-simply wish to issue more just
such silver dollars as we already have.
The free coinage of both silver and gold
might give us double the amount of
perhaps would be sufficient for our
wants, but certainly not too much. We
do not consider that with such free coin
age there would be the slightest question
but that every dollar would be equal to
every other dollar that we have. Nor do
we believe that the money power, which
opposes such free coinage, expect that
there would be any difference in the
value of the dollars. Their real opposi-
ton is against an Increased volume of
money, which would make money less
and other property more valuable.
,, Never since the government began
has it issued single dollar of full legal
tender money, of whatever material
made, that wasn't as good as every other
dollar. All the trouble that we have
had In our finances, beginning with the
depreciation of greenbacks that so vastly
increased the expenses of our war, and
l followed by all the evils of a contracted
4 currency and the recent borrowing of
= 1862, 100000 in gold ,.has been due and due
only to the robbers, thieves, scOundrels
and conspirators who, led by Senator Sher-
man of Ohio and sustained. whether from
ignorance or design we do not know, at
present by nearly all, and throughout all
this time a part of the representatives
from Vermont and New England, have
t held the United States treasury on tap
: for more than 30 years, gorging them
S selves and their friends with the wealth
a of the nation until its vast resources are
l inadequate to sustain so great robbery.
= Once we have elected as president a
q man free from the influences of the
= money power, and members of congress
e intent upon making just laws for all the
e people instead of special laws for the
: wealthy. the horde of plunderers that