The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-08-22
Senator Stewart, of Nevada, ON the Gold
Standard.

In speeches delivered by him in tho
United States Senate. the Hon. William
NJ. Stewart, OF Nevada, expressed the
following views in 1874. just about one
year after the passage OF the coinage
act, which the same Senate now calls
The Crime Of 1873"
why. sir, everything we have got is
measured by gold. Your sreenbacks are
measured by gold. But your contriyance
is 50 uncertain that the middleman reaps
all the reward, while the producer is rob-
bed continuously. In every coun-
try where gold has been treated nkind
ly, where the government has favored a
dpreciated currency. gold has left the
country. Gold left France at the time
she undertook this same experiment.
Gold left England when she allowed II
redeemable paper TO be circulated, AMI
she had TO go back 10 the regular stand
ard before she could get it back. Gold
left Holland I'm the same way. . You
have legislated gold out Of your coun-
try. Invite it back. and 100000 people
Will get you all the gold you want.
You will have all the gold you
need as q regulator. as a basis for your
currency. and il Will come very shortly.
Then We shall have prosperity based upon
a certainty ."-February ~. 1874, Congress
sional Record. page 1913.
IL do not care how much YOU discuss
70 or how many resolutions you pass, they
do not make any difference: you must
come 10 the same conclusion that all
other people have-that gold IS recognized
as the universal standard Of value. II is
the measure that must be- used. IL Is
I'll. I~ .HH- nAnru nHLnNfA rmHnnH
be tested. and whether 10 be pennies or
millions matters not. it is the measure
that must test AN wealth. The wealth
Of the United States is tested by thu
same rule. 10 has been and always Will
be- the toachstOno of measurement. and
when YOU depart from hat % try 10
nguro up any other measure which the
world does not recognize You get into
confusion. Attempting TO recognize them
it is idle 10 talk about. II is idle 10
talk about compromising on any other
measure OF value. the world viii not ac-
cept IL. We have the experience Of
every nation that has tried 10, and 10 has
been tried in almost every civ.zed ma
ton. DO not let Us try to deceive
the American people. 10 not let Us try
20 make them believe by some hocus DO
Gus Of legislation that We can give them
something OF real value, We can give them
q measure OF value that is better than
the universal standard OF mankind. Do
not deceive them IN that regard. Let
them know the facts now / believe that
it would be highly injurious to this coun-
try 10 again initiate the currency. . :
/ need not enlarge upon the evils OF a de-
preciated currency. This country has
felt them too sereye.y TO require that I
should mention them. II matters not
what kind OF a deprecated currency you
have, IL necessarily entails many evils
January %, 1874. Congressional Record.
page $50.
"Th question never VIII be settled until
you determine the simple question wheth-
or the laboring man is entitled TO a gold
dollar II he earns IL or whether you are
going 10 cheat him with something else.
That is the upshot Of the whole thing.
Tho people will hold right on 10 that.
and they will come 20 the conclusion,
L am entitled 10 just as good money IS
my neighbo-.' And 90 that party they
will all finally come. until IL Will get to
be a big party. There have been
a great many battles fought against gold.
and gold has won every time. Gold
never has compromised. You say yon
have got up a compromise bill on the
question whether gold shall be respected.
Gold has made the world respect II all
the time. The English people once thought
they could get along without gold Tor 4
while. but they had TO go back to it,
June y. 1874. Congressional Record, page
400.