Birmingham state herald., 1896-04-26

a
 ultimate bankruptcy and ruin to all in- dustry, enterprise and business for no man will engage in an enterprise of any kind that requires the use of capital when the fact stares him coldly In the face that his investment must necessari- ly and daily depreciate in value from the force of conditions which no amount of industry. skill experience and attention can avert. ;1e would be acting foolishly to do so, and he knows it; and hence, if he has capital, he either hoards 1t or in- vests it in bonds or real estate mort gages instead of putting it into the chan neis of trade and commerce. No sensible business man needs to be told what this means and what ef- feet it has upon legitimate en- terprises of all kinds Factories and mines running on half time, low wages and short hours for employees, scarce money, light trade and lighter profits, all kinds of industries langushing be- cause they cannot be profitably conduct ed-and why? Simply and solely because the price of commodities Is constantly falling off and the value and purchasing power of money constantly increasing. No reasonable man needs to be told that under such conditions there can be no general prosperity, no development and no progress, except backwards. Nor does such an one need to be told that these conditions are due to an inadequate supply of standard money of final re- demption to conduct the business of the country in an easy and normal way, and will continue until the demand for such a medium of exchange can be met by large in- crease of metallic money, the gold and silver coinage guaranteed to the people by the constitution.
 1t is perfectly ma tural that those whose wealth consists in bonds, mortgages and securities solvable in money alone should be ardent supporters of the gold standard and wish to control the money supply, for with every turn of the screw in the direction of lessening the amount of legal tender circulation and money of final re- demption their holdings are greatly en- hanced in value without being increased in amount, while all commodities and products of human toll, skill and genius are correspondingly decreased in price. No wonder this class are satisfied with the present financial condition, and de-
 
 and at all hazards.
 But we repeat, it is mystery how men whose holdings consist of real estate, goods, ehattels and merchandise and the Ia bor of their hands and brains can advo- cate or tolerate a system that constantly and forever forces a progressive depre- cia ion of all they have to sell-all they produce and can give in exchange for money. Perhaps it is due to the fact that they devote themselves so closely to their business that they do not give the sub ject the study and consideration it's para mount importance entities it to. If th's be true, then indeed are they acting un- wisely, for this question must be settled sooner or later, and settled in the interest of right and justice and humanity, and they must have a voice in the settlement
 Let every business man of whatsoever calling, trade or profession, who has not already done so, acquaint himself with | the essential facts and principles in l Volved in this great contention, with the
 honest purpose of doing that which is | right and best for this great republic
 and it's 70000000 of people, rather than 1 for it's few thousands of idle holders of l idle capital and the money kings of Eng
 land and Germany, and the advocates of | the democratic doctrine of bimetallism will have no fears of the conclusion that | will be reached.