The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-09-12
Paterson, n. j.. Sept. 10. 1886.

publican National Convention.
the nomination for the office OF the Vlre
presidency rendered me by the Natohal
Republican convention, expressed my ,tp-
proval Of the platform adopted by tnat
body as the party basis of doctrine. In ae-
cordance with accepted usage beg now TO
supplement that 6rlei statemeno OF nny iny
the questions which are in debate before
the American people.
The platform declarations In reference 10
the money question express clearly ana
unmistakably the attitude of the Repub-
lican party as to this supremelX imporIdnt
subject. We stand unqualifedly for hon
esty in finance. and the permanen, ADJUST
ment Of our monetary system. In the null
Hilarious activities OF trade ana commerce.
TO the existing gold standard of value.
We hold that every dollar or currency Is
silver or paper. must be worth a dollar
in gold. whether in tho pocket of the man
who tolls for his daily bread. in the vault
posits, or in the exchanges OF the world.
The money standard Of great nation
should be as fixed and permanent as the
best should he the desire of every right
minded citizen. Resting on stable founda-
tions, continuous and unvaryinH certain
characteristic. The experience OF all his
tory confirms the truth that every coin,
made under any law, howsoever that coin
may be stamped. will iinally command IN
OF the materials which compose IL. The
dollar of our country, whether of gold or
silver. should be Of the full value of one
hundred cents, and buy so much as any
dollar is worth less than this in the mar
ket, by precisely that sum will some one
be defrauded.
money value between nations as well ms
individuals has grown out of the inter-
change Of commodities. the trade and bus
mess relationships which have arisen
ha M n yvnrl1
enlargement of human wants and the
broadening of human interests. This ne
cessity has made, gold the final standard
of all enlightened nations. Other metals,
including silver, have u recognized com
mercial value. and silver, especially, has
value of great importance for subsidiary
the advocates Of free coinage to create a
contrary impression, it cannot be too
strongly emphasized that the Republican
party In its platform affirms this value in
silver, and favors the largest possible use
of this metal US actual money that can be
maintained with safety. Not only this, II
will not antagonize. but will gladly assist
in promoting double standard when ever
II can be secured by agreement and CO.
operation among the nations. The bimet-
allie currency. involving the free use of
approved by Republicans. But a stand
aru and currency are vastly different
things. -
NO NOR JUGGLING.
If we are TO continue to hold our place
among the great commercial nations we
must cease juggling with this question,
and make our honesty of purpose clear to
the world. No room should be left Cor
language used In the bonds of the govera-
ment not yet matured 1t should not be
possible Tor any party or individual TO
raise a question as to the purpose of the
country to pay all It's obligations in the
best form Of money recognized by the
commercial world. Any nation which is
worthy of credit of confidence can afford
TO say explicitly. on a question so vital to
every interest what ii means. when such
meaning Is challenged or doubted. 1t is
desirable that We should make 1t known
at once and authoritatively, that an ''hon-
est dollar means any dollar equivalent to
gold dollar of the present standard of
weight and tineness. The world should
likewise be assured that the standard dol
lar of America is as nfexible quantity
as the French Napoleon, the British SOW
creiSn. or the German twenty mark piece
Tho free coinage of silver at the ratio of
siXteent TO one. is policy which no ma tion
has ever before proposed, and IL Is not to-
day permitted in any mint in the world
not even in Mexico. 1t is purposed TO make
the coinage unlimited, at an absolutely
fictitious ratio. fixed with no reference to
intrinsic value or pledge of ultimate re-
demption. With silver at its present price
of les sthan seventy cents per ounce in the
market such policy means an immediate
profit 10 the seller of silver for which
there Is no return now or hereafter TO the
pcOple OF ttt IL means lniI
for each dollars worth of silver bullion
delivered at the mint practically two dol
lars or stamped coin Will be given in eX-
change. For one hundred dollars worth
of bullion nearly two hundred silver dol
lars Will be delivered.
Let 1t also be remembered that the con-
sequences of such an act would probably
be cumulative in their effects. The crop
OF silver unlike that of hay. or wheat, or
corn-which being Of yearly production
can be regulated by the law Of demand
and supply-s fixed once for all. The sill
yer which has not yet been gathered Is all
In the ground. Dearth OF other accident
OF the elements cannot augment or d.
minish 1t. Is it not more than probable
that with the enormous premium offered
for Its mining the cupidity of man would
make an over-supply continuous, with
the necessary result of steady depreca-
t!on as long as the silver dollar could be
kept In circulation at all? Under the laws
OF finance, which are as fixed as those Of
any other science. the inevitable result
would finally be currency all and abso-
lutely fiat. There IL no difference in prin-
ciple between dollar half fiat and one all
nat. The latter. as the cheapest, under
the logic Of Cheap money would sure
ly drive the other out.
AN IMMORAL ACT.
Any attempt on the part of the govern
.ent to create by its nat, money Of q iic-
.i,ious vai,e would dishonor us in the
eyes of other peoples, and bring infinite
reproach upon the national character.
lie DuSlHeSS anu UUuHCldl consequences
OF such an immoral act would be world
wide. because our commercial relations
are world wide. All our settlements with
other lands must be made not with the
money which may be legally current in
our own country but in gold, the standard
OF ali nations with which our relations are
inost cordial and extensive, and no leg
Inevitable necessity. 1t is a known fact
s,aS shat more than eighty per cent. of the
or on gold basis.
Such free coinage legislation. II ever
consummated, would discriminate against
every producer of wheat, cotton. corn OF
rye-who should In justice be equally en-
titled. with the silver owner. to sell his
products TO the United States treasury, al
profit fixed by the government.and
aSns aga;nst az producers Of iron, steel zinc OF
their metals made into current coin. 1t
would, as well, be fraud upon all persons
forced to accept currency thus stimu-
lated and at the same time degraded
In every aspect the proposed policy is
partial and one-sided, because it is only
when profit can be made by mine OWL
er or dealer. that he takes his silver to the
mint for coinage. The government is al.
ways at tho losing end. Stamp such fic.
titious value upon silver ore. and a dis.
honest and unjust discrimination will be
made against every other form of indus
try. When silver bullion, worth a little
more than 30 cents is made into legal
tender dollar, driving out one having a
purchasing and debt-paying power of 1Ot
cents. II will clearly be done at the eX-
pensc and injury of every class of the com.
rnunity.
Those who contend for the free and un.
limited coinage Of silver may believe In
all honesty that while the present ratio OF
silver TO gold Is as thirty to one mot six
teen to one), silver will rise above the eE.
listing market value. If II does so rise the
effect will be to make the loss to all the
people SO much less. but such an opinion is
put q hazardous conjecture at best, and
r. rot justified by experience. Within the
iast twenty years this government has
bought about f60 millions of ounces Of sill.
yer from which 1t has coined approx
imately 4S0 millions Of silver dollars and
issued l30 millions of dollars In silver GER.
tihcates. and the price Of the metal has
6s cents per ounce. What will be the de.