People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1896-06-04

tnat much silver or gold Tor less than DOL. |
lar. Foreign inducements at times caused |
much of our gold to leave US, as II is doing |
now, but we had silver to fall back on, |
and then again when much Of our silver
left US, we had gold. Thus we walked
down the century on two legs from Il
poor colonies to 80 grand states.
During all Of that century, the metal IN
the two dollars never varied more than
three per cent, and could not, under the
memorable law Of supply and demand. with
the minis open ard the hands Of our debtors
on the governor that controlled the de.
mand. And the fact that we had two
metals to rely on gave US more money and
a safer system than II we had relied on
one Of these metals only. This was the
elasticity that bimetallism gave to our
primary money.
The Crime OF 1873.
In 1873 the law was changed, and gold
only was made primary money. The mints
were left open to the free-coinage of gold,
but closed as to the frce-coinage Of silver,
An unlimited demand for gold for use as
money was left in operation. The unlimited
coinage OF silver was stopped. One Of the
main arteries feeding blood to civilization
was cut off. The debtor was to have no op-
ton to pay in money made from either OF
these two metals. He was to be limited to
gold alone
One Of the fundamental principles OF @
popular government was violated In max,
ing this change. The consent Of the people
was not obtained-the consent Of the gov.
erned-that principle pronounced in the
Declaration of independence. II was not
discussed in any campaign, and 1t was not
known to the people for over two years
afterward. The editors and newspaper re.
porters did not know IL. II was done sur.
reptitiously. have not time to dwell upon
this dark page Of our history and cover
what else 7 went TO in this speech. I viii
dispose eft N this way; Silver was demone.
tiled February IL 1878. I now offer re.
ward Of SlOe TO any man or woman who
will find a word about it IN any newspaper,
published in the month of February, 1873
You will find the newspapers of that yeai
in your public libraries. All you will find
Is simple news telegram Of five lines, that
the amended mint bill had passed The mint
and coinage bill that has been on our statute
books since 1872, and amended frequently,
Is more than 10 pages long, embracing
everything from the cent pieces to the
naming Of the various officers OF the mint
and fixing Of their salaries. 1t has FIRE,
quently been amended in many respects
rs to duties and salaries of officials, alloy
IN the metals, or the size and form of our
copper and nickel token pieces. A tele-
gram announcing the amendment Of the
mint bill conveyed no information to the
people that indicated that the minis had
been closed to silver, It's legal tender char,
acter taken from II, or any other informa.
ton that would indicate that silver had
been demonetiZed. Hcgcc. the people wore
In ignorance Of wha; had been done By that
congress, famous In history as the salary.
grab congress.
Let no man claim that the act was hon.
estiy and openly passed. till he can claim
the reward offer. Ii the type settlers. re.
porters and editors OF the papers did moi
know 1t. the voters dc not know it
The Decline OF Values.
With all the principles Of bimetallism d.
stroyed, with silver thereafter Used "A
token or credit money. like our rapei
e'SA-Sst IA iNoNlAlS OAA tt4tl. NhAN.I nc
decline In value as measured in rold, the
only primary money, and In q years it has
declined 80 per cent, or. rather, gold, under
the demand for II. has appreciated. Fol-
900 years prior to 1879 under bimetauism.
they had not parted more than three pc,
cent-; In q years. under monometallismL
the metal In the two dollars had separated
go Per cent.
All property not supported by trusi
causes. or increased demand, fell with sill.
yer as expressed In dollars As measured
by exchangeable value with each other
or with silver, they had not declined
They have only declined as measured IL
dollars. And these dollars mean gold dol
Jars or their equivalent. What Is meant
by equivalent Is our other forms OF money
copper, nickel SILVER and paper, which h
the new law, are all redeemable In gold
When thing is redeemable In another
thing. the former is made as good as tn,
latter. so long as It can he had to redeem
with.
What Is meant by this Is that gold Is nov
our primary money, and all other form,
OF money are credit mOney. Credit mono,
Is representative money, representing pri
mary money. Our credit money Is tied Il
gold like the tail OF kite is tied to q lite
The tai has some up following the kite
gold has gone UP and is our only prImar,
money, wbsreas before, gold and silve
poth were primary money. neither redeem
able In the other; othe. forms Of money
were credit money. By the change in tn,
law. silver was added t. the credit money
and thequantity OF primary money was Gu
in two.
The simple law Of bimetallism has beex
overthrow and q selfish and poyerhI
Uoneyed interest has sought since to main
tain the gold standard. AZ was 10 be sx
7pected, has resulted in a great strain O,
gold, the only basis OF our monetary sys
TEN. Az thedemand fer gold increased. IL
value rose as compared with other prop
erty. While nominally fixed by bein,
called dollar, the gold in O dollar was RS
ing In value This is one Of the things 4
has been the hardest for the people to IN
~derstand. As the demand is piled on gold
the gold fnthe bullion rises in value as com
pared with other proparty. And the golt
dollar rises with It. ard likewise all form
''of money thst are redeemable IN gold
IL wheat grows scarce, oor the demand fo
1T Increases II rises In value. II golc
grows scarce. or the demand for Il In
ScIeases, II rises In valus But IL the de
mand for gold should increase till II, rela
lively with other property. was ten time
sas valuable as IL is now. the quantity Of |
IN a dollar would still bevworth dollar a
expressed IN itself.
1t does not rice as compared with itself
but rises ss compared with other property
There WAS a time In the history OF tn,
world when thevisest Of men believed tina
the earth stood sui and thss went roun,
II 1t appears to us now TO do so, though
we know better. In like manner. the PEG
pie have been led to believe that the golf
dollar is standing still ard that the sIlve
ina silver dollar has declined 30 per cent.
God. under the demand for It. has ad
Sanoed. and We cali 1t the fall of prices.
What the Result H1s Been.
With falling prices the people have beer
impoverished. Taxes have not been re
duced The farmer must nov give UP twic,
as much Of what he produces. to pay hl,
taxes.as he gave upan 1873 Official salarie,