Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-06-18

THURSDAY. JUNE IS, 1896.
From 1873 To the present time the
United States has been upon the gold
standard basis. In 1878 we resumed
the coinage of silver dollars under the
Bland llison law. These dollars
were made full legal tender They
were made receivable for all dues to
the government and TO individuals.
Nevertheless, silver was bought and
sold in terms OF gold, and gold was the
only absolute standard OF value. In
1879, January l. came the resumption
of specie payments, and the notes OF
the government were made payable In
gold, and a gold reserve was accumu-
lated for their redemption. With re-
sumption came prosperity-a prosper
ity almost unequaled in the history OF
the country or of the world. We went
through the administrations OF Gar
field and Arthur, and of Harrison. In
December, 1892, President Harrison
said in his annual message TO congress-:
"A comparison of existing conditions
with those OF the most favored period
in the history of the country will, l
believe, show that SO high degree OF
prosperity and so general diffusion
of the comforts of life were never be-
fore enjoyed by our people. +"
We were then, sin effect" upon the
gold basis. At that time, as now, we
had about $40O, OO0, 900 in silver dollars
in circulation, not dollar of which
it is proposed to retire, but only to
maintain its parity with gold, and
thereby make it equal to the best mon
ey in the world.-Detroit Journal.
~
Without "A protective tariff that will
give our laboring men the advantage
of the difference between American
and foreign wages, there will be no
betterment of their conditions, no mat
ter what kind Of currency laws are en-
acted. Without a tariff law that will
raise sufficient revenue To pay the
necessary expenses of the government,
bonds must be issued and financial con-
ditions will remain unsettled 1t has
been said by some that conditions in
this country cannot be worse. They
can be UNNECESSARILY worse, and will
be unless we can secure the enactment
of better tariff laws. There has never
been time in the history of this coun-
try when the Republicans with power
to act have not been equal to the occa-
sion. We believe the party is today as
ready and capable as it ever has been.
1t cannot act unless placed in position
TO do so by the voters, and there is
every reason to believe that this year
will record one of its greatest victories,
tariff and money questions will follow.
~
Jason K. Hammond, the present eff
Gent deputy superintendent OF public
instruction, will be candidate before
the republican state convention for
superintendent of public ms truction to
succeed his chief, the present incum-
bent, Henry r. Pattengill. In his fiji
cial career Mr.. Hammond has won to
himself many friends who would be
more than pleased to see him promoted
to the chief place in the superinten-
dents Office. If it shall be so the con-
vention selects him for the place the
electors OF The state can rest we'll
assured no mistake has been made, nor
will they have cause to regret their
action if by their votes he is elected to
the place he seeks.-Grand Rapids
Herald.
Allegan Gazette: "Col. A. II. Bliss
of Saginaw, the principal Republican
candidate for governor, passed Friday
of last week in Allegan, and it was not
an unlucky day for him, either. He
found the Republicans OF Allegan very
generally favorable TO his candidacy,
and greatly enjoyed his visit with
them, especially the acquaintance he
formed among the old soldiers. The
delegates so far elected to the state
convention are largely in Mr.. Bliss
favor, especially where open contests
have been made between him and
either of his competitors. From the
present outlook there seems to be
scarcely doubt of his nomination.
~
Over in Tuscola county, in the town
ship where Caro- is located, the en-
thusiastic Pingreeites called the cau-
Gus to elect delegates to the county
convention, although the convention
has not yet been called. Pingree's man
ayers gave out the claim that it was
called early in order to have the Re-
publican farmers present as a month or
six weeks later would find them very
busy. Well, the farmers did turn out
and AS a result Pingree was turned
down and solid Bliss delegation was
elected by majority of fifty.