Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-05-22
The Silent Mans Sentiments.

The Silent Man sentiments.
There seems no longer to be any
doubt OF the position OF William Nc
Mckinley on the currency question,
although he is silent as clam on all
matters Of public interest just now.
1t has been ascertained that on Oct
Sth, 1891, at Ada, Hardin county, Ohio,
he used these words:
u am opposed to free and unlimited
coinage, because it means that We will
bc put upon silver basis and do bust
ness alone with silver, instead OF with
gold. silver and paper money, with
which We do the business of this coun-
try to-day, every one OF them as good as
gold"
This language was used by McKin-
ley in Joint discussion with James
4. Campbell, Democrat, who was max
ing canvass OF the State on a free
silver platform.
A second utterance leaves no doubt
that that the gentleman still adheres
to his position, for no longer ago than
last February, Major Mckinley before
the Marquette Club, in Chicago, said:
No one need be in any doubt about
what the Republican party stands for.
1t stands now, as ever, for honest money
and chance to earn it by honest toll.
1t stands for currency of gold, silver
and paper with which to measure our
exchange, that shall be as sound as the
Government and as untarnished as its
honor. The Republican party would as
soon think of lowering the flag of our
country as to contemplate with patience,
or without protest and opposition, any
attempt to degrade and corrupt the me-
dunn OF exchange among our people. 1t
can be relied upon in the future as in
the past to supply our country with the
best money ever known, gold, silver and
paper, good the world over"
The language, it will be observed, is
go very diplomatic as to be almost tur-
gid. 1t does not come out with the
clear ring OF the true metal, as in the
previous utterance, Of whose meaning
there can be no doubt. But every
body knows what 10 meant by the
term "honest money" and "sound
money" when uttered by the gold-bug,
and nobody is now parading those
terms as a stock in trade but that
class. The public know just what is
meant by such phases as degrading
the standard" and corruptiug the
currency" when applied to the length.
ening span between gold and silver
since those metals were made to part
company in their primary sphere as
money. These terms, with their mod
ern Specifications, are only found on
Wall street.
If this matter were discussed with
the candor which applies to ordinary
matters, we would freely admit that
gold is the "best money" in the sense
that it outranks silver sixteen to one
when measured by weight, but it is
just as true that silver is the most val
liable money ever supplied to man,
because it is able to enter into so
many transactions from which its pom
derous ally is debarred. The peculiar
attributes of each metal are such that
when united, when they 60 hand in
hand, they make perfect medium Of
exchange and their power is enabled
to meet all demands of trade. The
one aids and sustains the other. They
are just as much dual in their nature
as the husband and wife in perfecting
the economy of the household. One
unites power and strength to achieve
the greater objects. while the other
supplies the eentleness, the patience.
the attention to detail which is as es-
sentiai counterpart to the financial
as to the social autonomy.