Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-08-27
THE MONEY QUESTION.
He Lays His Predicate Upon Bald Assertion
and FraiJ Generaiities.

He Laws His Predicate Upon Bald Assertion
and FraiJ Generaiities-
For the first time since 1868, IL ever be-
fore. there is presented to the American
people this year clear and direct issue
as to our monetary system of vast i'm
portance In it's effects, and upon the right
settlement of which rests largely the
financial honor and prosperity or the
country 1t is proposed by one wing OF
the democratic party and its alliances,
the people'S and silver parties, to lnaugu-
rate the free and unlimited coinage oi
silver by Independent action on the par.
of the United States at ratio OF 10
ounces of silver to / ounce or gold. Inc
mere declaration of this purpose is
menace to our financial and Industrial IN
terests and has already created uniNer--
sal alarm. 1t involves great peril 70 the
credit and business OF the country,
peril so grave that conservative . iiien
old party associations and uniting with
other patriotic citizens In emphatic pro-
fest against the platform OF the demo-
cratic national convention as an assault
upon the faith and honor of the govern
mont and the welfare of the people. We
have had few questions in the lifetime of
the republic that were more serious than
the one which is thus presented.
Here Mr.. Bryan Joins Issue.
The character of the money which
shall measure our values and exchanges
and settle our balances with one another,
and with the nations of the world, ise OF
such primary Importance and so Tar
reaching in its consequences as to call
for the most painstaking investiga alton,
and in the end a sober and unpreJud1ced
Judgment at the polls. We must not be
misled by phrases nor deluded by false
theories. Free silver would not mean
that silver dollars were to be freely had
without cost of labor. 1t would mean
the free use of the mints of the United
States for the few who are owners of sill
yer bullion, but would make silver coin
no freer to the many who are engaged in
other enterprises. 1t would not make la
Dor easier, the hours of labor shorter or
the pay better. 1t would not make farm
ing less laborious or more profitable. 1t
would not start factory or make a de-
mand for an additional days labor. 1t
would create no new occupations. 1t
would add nothing to the comfort of the
masses, the capital of the people or the
wealth of the nation. 1t seeks to intro
duce a new measure of value. but would
add no value to the thing measured. 1t
would not conserve values. 1t would not
restore business confidence. but its direct
effect would be to destroy the little which
yet remains.
Trying to Warp the Plfnk
The meaning of the coinage plank
adopted at Chicago Is: Any one may take
a quantity of silver bullion now worth
SO cents to the mints of the United States,
have II coined at the expense of the gov
eminent, and receive for 1t a silver dol
lar. which shall be legal tender for the
payment of all debts, public and private.
The owner of the silver bullion would get
the silver dollar. 1t would belong to him
and to nobody else. Other people would
get 1t only by their labor, the products of
their land or something of value. The
bullion owner, on the basis of present val
ues, would receive the silver dollar for
SO cents worth of silver and other peo-
pie would be required to receive 1t as
full dollar in the payment of debts. The
eogernme MT would get nothing from the
transartioD. Ii would bear the expense
or the coinage of the silver and the COM
Inunlty would suffer loss by its use.
Yes. and We Want Some More.
We have coined since 1878 more than
400,000000 Of silver dollars, which
are maintained by the govern
ment at parity with gold and
are full legal tender for the pay
nnent OF All debts, public and private.
How are Tbs silver dollars now in use diff
ferenr from those which would be in use
under free coinage? They are to be of