The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-09-23
DOLLAR DEMOCRATS
Continued From First Page.


first coinage laws passed by congress, under
the constitution. made the silver dollar the
monetary unit and admitted gold to free coin
age upon the original basis with the silver
dollar unit. This language commits the con-
vention, It's candidates and their supporters
to the distinct, definite measure of the coin
age of the silver dollar Of Az grains of
standard silver with unlimited legal tender
qualities. One of those declarations must be
false in principle and Is necessarily danger
Gus to the business and credit of the coun-
try and It Is for the Democratic party to de-
termine, in the approaching election, which
Of these two is to be accepted, a true ex-
position OF the party faith. The free coin
age OF silver, as interpreted by Mr.. Bryan,
OF all the silver bullion and coin, and, in
deed all the commercial silver, to an equal
ity In commercial value to gold Mr.. Bryan
and the more intelligent Of his supporters,
reject the shallow definition Of bimetallisnI
which demands more than the admission Of
both gold and silver to the mint at the ratio
OF Is to /: but, he asserts that the free coin-
age Of silver at that ratio to gold, will pro-
dgce real bimetallism a double and equal
standard Of value. the acceptance of both
gold and silver. with equal power, in the
market in the payment Of debt.
Let US consider the import of this startling
proposition for one moment. First, it as
sumes that the unlimited coinage of silver on
private account. at the ratio of 16 of silver to
/ Of gold, with full legal tender quality, by
the United States alone, will give to the
434. 00,000 of silver dollars already coined an
ing power to the dollar containing twenty
five and eight-tenths grains of standard gold,
which at present the gold dollars are supposed
to possess, supported by the national pledge
to maintain the parity in value of those sill
yer dollars with gold coin. Second. it
sumes that the same cause, free coinage of
silver, will maintain the equally acceptable
value Of all dollars that may hereafter be
coined private account by the United
States. Third. It assumes that the free coin
age of silver by the United States alone would
yer Of the world to that of gold. 1t would
in the same manner effect the value of all
the silver coinage of all civilized nations
1t seems astonishing that in the light Of all
not only be entertained by sane men,. but
that upon it's acceptance and belief a great
party should demand public confidence
The real question then is, can the Amer
lean people by law authorizing the unlirn-
tied coinage of silver dollars on private ae-
count, at the ratio of 16 to l. with full legal
tender quality for all debts and dues, public
and private, make the silver coinage OF the
world OF equal acceptability and value and
of equal power IN the markets and in the
payment of debts with all the gold coined in
the world. This statement Of the question
Is made In an unusual form, buS neither fts
truth or its exactness will be questioned by
any thoughtful man, after he has fully con-
sidered the rapid methods of modern inter-
communication and the activity of modern
commercial life. In my judgment, results
such as | have described, are impossible of
accomplishment by the measure proposed
Every interest Is opposed to this rufnous
measure The Democratic party, true to its
principles and traditions, Is compelled to OBJ
pose 1t. The United States must continue ia
enforce its own laws by it's own methods
In the states and elsewhere the courts must
De sustained III the exercise of their largest
authority If legislation Is necessary to en-
large expand, limit or define their iurisdic
ton that proper legislation must be adoDted
by the la"-making departments of the United