The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1896-10-16
LIVE ISSUES.
The Honey Question.

II. SHIRLEY, of Chicago, 744 pages,
price $3.50 in cloth binding, 80 cts.
in paper covers. 1t treats of "the
so per cent Fall in General Prices
and the Evil Effects. The Remedy
of Bimetallism at Is to 1 and Gov
ernmental Control of Paper Money,
in order to secure Stability in the
General Prices of Commodities
Stable Money" Also "Monetary
History 1S5O-1S96."
Each point is established by his
torical data. The defense of the
opposition is also given, thus pre-
senting both sides of the case, point
by point. On the points consid-
cred, the data is the most complete
of anything we have seen and is
quoted verbatim in most instances.
This makes the work especially
valuable for the campaign, as the
issue is made up of facts, and it is
by establishing them by conclusive
evidence that converts are made.
Over so pages of illustrations and
10 charts help the reader to grasp
the ideas intended to be conveyed.
Two principal divisions occur in
the work. First there is syste-
matte treatment of money, and then
a monetary history in the order Of
its occurrence-ch chronological order.
In the former there is given the
laws of the United States which
determine the quantity and quality
of our money, and then there is
pointed out the means whereby the
exchange value of money is ascer-
tanned and the method by which it
is registered-in short, general
prices are set forth in the simplest
way that we have ever seen them
stated. The author points out that
a clear understanding of general
prices is absolutely essential, as it
is the basis. understand this
fact" he says, "and the money
question is simplified. Deny it and
you are in error; and as the error is
basic, your entire superstructure is
a mass of error" The truthful
ness of this is borne out by the facts
set forth, and it is shown that those
who excuse the fall in prices which
we have suffered, by assigning it to
improvements in the methods of
production, do not understand gen
eral prices.
The next point established is that
falls in general prices injure society.
Here the evidence is tremendously
cumulative and convincing. All
wage earners, business men, farm
ers and employers should read the
facts of history here set forth, to-
gether with "The outlook for gold
prices.o
The book shows, also, that rises
in general prices have always re-
suited in prosperity for the masses.
The second great evil of the exist
ing gold standard which the author
points out, is the division Of the
world commercially, and the injury
to the gold standard countries and
the benefit to the silver standard
countries. The treatment of this
little understood and complicated
subject is very clearly set forth
through a logical analysis and the
treatment of each point by itself,
supported by the evidence secured
by the British Gold and Silver Com
mission during 1SS6-'SS. Every
man who now thinks that he will
vote for a continuance of the gold
standard should read this, and then
bear in mind that no mention of this
evil is made in the platforms of the
gold standard parties.
The third great evil of the exist
ing gold standard, Mr.. SHIRLEY
says, is the use of 80 cents worth of
silver bullion as the equivalent of a
gold dollar, and he shows who was
responsible tor the law and the
object aimed at by them.
But to those who are already ia
miliar with monetary history, the
most interesting and instructive
portion of this great work is the
analytical classification of the data
concerning the bimetallic laws
which existed previous to 1873 and
their effects. Here is where the
law of nature termed Gresham's
Law is encountered, and he shows