Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-09-17
WHEAT AND SILVER.

Editor Tho Gazette: In your issue
OF last week there appears letter
entitled "The Plea of Silverite, " to
which, il you will permit me, ! would
like to make reply, however made
qustely. The writer of the letter bases
his argument for the advance of the
price of gold upon comparison between
the price of gold and that of wheat, call
ing the gold dollara 200 cent dollar. The
argument employed ia one calculated
to impress and influence the voters who
cannot or will not inquire into its
truth. and who are therefore ignorant
of the fallacy Of his premises, to say
nothing of the wilful suppression of
the conditions existing at the time of
which he speaks. To quote:
d "Twenty-f five and eight-tenths grains
of gold in 1872 procured one bushel of
wheat or two of corn but now this
amout of gold will buy two bushels of
wheat or four of cora, &c Gold, then,
has doubled in value. That is, silver
has deprecated.
Let us look at the facts. In 1861,
wheat sold as low as 55 cents, and sill
yer dollars were worth then more than
gold. In 1882, wheat sold at 81. 40 and
a silver dollar was worth So cents. In
1894, wheat sold at 90 cents and sill
yer dollar was worth 46 cents, bullion
value. Does Mr.. Prettyman ATTEMPT to
deduce the relation OF cause and effect
from these factsY Does he find any
reation which is consistent between
these two, wheat and silver?
How is the fall in the price of wheat
to be explained? AS in the case of
silver, on the ground of increase of pro-
duction. In the years which have
elapsed since 1872, great areas of grain
lands have been developed on this
hemisphere and in Asia. In this country,
in 1875, the wheat crop was 1872. 1876. :.
600 bushels; In 1891, GIL, $50, 600
bushes. In l6 years an increase of 100
per cent in the crop. Does Mr. Pretty
man deny that the price is sometimes
regulated by the supply and demand?
Your correspondent of Saturday also
says that consequent upon the So called
"crime Of '73, ''a piece Of gold be.
came twice as valuable as before, pro.
curing twice as much land, twice as
much property, twice as many commod-
tiles y Has this government, then,
since 1872 failed to maintain the parity
of the two metals? Since when have
dealers in land, in property, or COM
nodities conditioned sales upon pay
ment in gold? N
Does it seem more exact or satisfac-
tory 10 say that gold has increased in
value. than to say that silver has depre.
ciatedf And which seems the more
plausible explanation, for that de-
probation, the act of 1878 or the
fact that tho silver production of
the United States aud Of the world
has more than doubled since 1878?
The silver party, aided by arguments
and manipulated and untrue statements
of facts, is trying to coax the voter
into swallow it's platform, and into vot-
ing for general assignment OF this
country and its interests to Bryan & Co.
at 90 cents on the dollar "A man who
assigns and compounds with his credi.
tors is either unfortunate or dishonest
II unfortunate, he deserves the pity
and encouragement of the more prosper
GUS; il dishonest, no words of condem-
nation are too severe. We as nation
we're never, as to natural resources
more prosperous; but want of conf
dence has wrought havoc with our in
dustries. Is this condition to be bet
tered, or our foreign credit improved,
by policy of Reputation and dishonor?
Ii the men who 20 to the polls in
November will note the radical differ.
ence in tone and import between a
platform which sounds throughout
clear note of business honor and ma
tional integrity, of adherence to law
and order, and one which seeks to in
cite masses and "classes, which
is filled with evidences of the personal
greed and rapacity of it's supporters,
oblivious to private Responsibility or
public honor; IL the voters of this land
consider we'll before they cast their
ballots in November, the results will be
return to confidence and prosperity.
For honor is better than gain, and
honesty is safer than Reputation, as a
national as well us q personal policy.
Sound Money"
Wilmington, Del, Sept. 18th, 1896.