Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-10-08

lands that require no outlay for fertilizer
and little for buildings and fences, is maxi
ing that competition more severe In 1868,
the freight on wheat from Chicago TO New
York by rail was 426 cents per bushel, by
rail and lake 20 cents per bushel. In 1895,
the freight on wheat from Chicago to New
York by lake and rail was 61a cents per
bushel Yet. Mr. Bryan complains that
there has been no reduction in railroad
charges. How are we to trust ourselves to
the influence of eloquence, founded on such
huge misinformation. This is too serious
question to be misinformed about. We
don't want appeals to passion or
prejudice, but clear statement and accurate
thinking. What intelligent farmers does not
know that the enormous increase In area
OF wheat-producing land and the increased
product, brought about by the causes /
have indicated, has caused the decline in
the price Of wheat2 How idle to tell him
that his situation can be relieved by any
conditions that are not as broad and as far
reaching as the economic causes that have
produced the result. /, indeed, sympathize
with the hard case OF the Delaware farmer.
But should be poor friend IL sought to
tell him other than the truth, as / see
the truth. l have sought to remove bur-
him for the benefit of industries no more
worthy than his own. and should be
false to him and myself If were now to
say that he may rightfully seek relief by
violating the principle fought for in his in
terest, and lay burden by legislative act
on the shoulders of others. He might as
Justly claim to restore by legislation the
freight rate of AZ cents per bushel on
wheat from Chicago to New York and
thus relieve himself from the competition
which has brought the industry of his
fields to SO low state. Free silver coinage
at 16 to 1 will not help him, for the plain
reason that neither coinage laws nor cur
rency had anything to do with this present
condition.
AS AFFECTING LABOR.
have pointed out in a general way the
causes OF the decline in the prices OF the
necessaries of life, and Of the staple commo-
dities that enter into daily consumption.
cannot go into a more particular recital of
them. They are obvious and cannot be as
they never have been controverted. They
sufficiently account for the facts, and not
one of them has any relation to or points
to an appreciation of the money standard
On the contrary, the constant and vehe-
ment assertion of the silverites, that gold
has appreciated since 1873, and upon which
their whole case rests, is not only unsup-
ported by evidence, but can be overwhelm-
ingly disproved. / have just shown you In
general way that causes obvious and, on
the surface account for the fall In prices OF
the staple commodities of trade and COM
merce, and that therefore you cannot guage
an appreciation In the money standard by
the depreciation Of these things. 1t is hard,
| know, to get a standard for a standard,
but what measure of value can be better,
more Just and reliable, than human labor?
Measured by that standard, gold has not
appreciated during the last thirty years.
Wages are better now, measured in grains
of gold, than they were in 1873. Or were
better, up to the money panic that was
brought about two years ago by the agira-
tion OF this silver question:, and the threat
that the country would be put upon de-
preciated silver basis I have tables here.
carefully prepared, which show this II
anyone wants to verify the statement, he
can consult the report Of the Finance Com
mittee on wholesale prices and wages.
made under the supervision Of Carroll ID.
Wright the commissioner of labor, a most
competent and accurate expert in such mat
ters.
ANpWt IL WdStS themselves are nlBUeT, ana
their purchasing power greater, why, In
The name OF heaven, do you want a change?
Who is to take the risk OF the change? Will
guarantee the wage-earner against
loss? All experience proves that wages
never rise If at all in proportion to the rise
in price Of the things that wages must buy.
1t is true, as Mr.. Carlisle said. that there
is not silver country in the world where
fair DAVIS is maid n fai daut
work. They propose to put this country
upon the same monetary basis. and thereby
reduce the purchasing power of the dollar
10 per cent. or put up the price Of commo-
lities corresponding ratio which is the
same thing, without any guarantee or
promise that employers will increase the
rate OF wages one cent. Who is to make up
he difference? Are the wage-earners to
AXE all tho risk themselves? Working
men sometimes justly strike against re-
luction of wages. Here is a chance next
November to strike against the most cruel,
widespread and wanton reduction of wages
hat ever threatened the honest toilers of
his or any other land.
My fellow-countrymen, what surer mark
If an advancing civilization can be suggest
ID than gradual improvement in wages.
accompanied by an increase in their pur.
,hasing power, brought about by causes
uch as have mentioned? Do you want to
'etard that advance and turn back the
lands of the clock for twenty-five years?
% you want to increase prices by arbitrary
egislation? Has anybody demanded that
'rices of the necessaries of life should be
educed by legislative act? And yet, what
nswer will you make, II some periodic re-
urrence of hard times, when distress and
want sit by the fireside, when bread is dear
nd wages not abundant, the cry should go
p that you should cheaper the necessaries
4 life by fiat of law? Who shall say nay,
1t be wise and Just by act of Congress to
aise the price of the things that wages
lust buy? We cannot trihe with great
rinciple without paying the penalty OF
ur folly. No, no, we must keep our hands
# of the methods and processes by which
utilization is working out its benefcient
esults. Keep stable the standard of value,
nd as unfiuctuating as possible, the money
nd currency of the country. Leave to the
activities and intelligence of
he country the furnishing of credit cur
ency wherewith to supplement the gold
nd silver coin, and the creation and
ealthy operation of those credit devices
y which, in modern times to an increasing
Stent, the great mass of exchanges are ef-
,cted. Take away from the business as
ir as possible the interfering hand of gov
rnment, and relegate it to its proper place
keeping the peace, while a free people
rrlr Dut tbair fuvr N, Salyatin,, and