The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1896-07-31

their views.)
Question-What is meant by sixteen
to one?"
Answer-It means that sixteen ounces
of silver are considered primarily to be
equal in value to one ounce of gold.
Question-How is this ratio of value
ascertained?
Answer-It is ascertained by careful
estimate of the relative production of
both metals during a long period of
years.
Question-Is this estimated ratio the
same in all countries?
Answer-No, in Mexico it is 161a to 1,
in France 151s to l. and in India IA to /,
but in all countries it is ascertained
upon the same basis, /. e. of relative
production.
Question-Have gold and silver any
other ratio of value?
Answer-Yes, they have a commercial
or exchange ratio of value, that Is, a
rate of value at which either one will
buy the other, or will buy any article
which the other will buy.
Question-Is this commercial ratio of
value liable to be affected by q greater
or less production of either metal?
Answer-No. not essentially, for the
ratio of production as already found is
not liable to vary much during q term
of years, from 16 to l.
Question-Is the ratio of commercial
value ever affected by the action of any
government upon the coinage of these
metals into lawful money?
Answer-Certainly, any discrimina-
tion, by the government. against either
metal, necessarily lessons its market
value, and for the same reason, gives TO
the other metal a fictitious value.
Question-.To what extent has the ac-
ton of our government affected the rel
ative value of silver and gold?
Answer-By the action of congress in
1878. demonetizing silver. it has become
simply a commodity of trade by which
its value in relation to gold has been de-
stroyed nearly one-half and the govern
ment has been driven to the expedient
of bolstering up our present dishonest
dollar with gold.
Question-Why then should silver be
restored to its original and historic
standing with gold?
Answer-BecauSe no national finan-
cial system like ours, thus divided
against itself can long endure. Half
honest and half dishonest 1t must ulti-
mately fall. In popular government
no system can stand which arrays the
rich and the poor against each other.
Question-During how many years of
our country's history was silver as well
as gold admitted to our minis for free
and unlimited coinage?
Answer-It was so admitted from 1892
to 1878, period of eighty-one years. or
nearly two-thirds of our national life.
QueStion-What is the proportion of
millionaires made during the eighty-one
years of silver free coinage to the num-
Der made millionaires during the follow
ing twenty-three years?
Answer-Surely not less than fifty now
to one then.
Question-Is It then not a "brazen
falsehood" that there is as much money
now, per capita, II the hands of the
people as there was up to 1873?
Answer-Of course it is, for in cannot
be in the hands of the people while the
rich have it in their Golfers.
Question-How, then, will a return to
the free coinage of silver affect the rich?
Answer-It will so increase our circu-
lating medium that gold will necessarily
depreciate in value, and the rich will
be compelled either to loan 1t out at
a low rate of interest. or put 1t into some
industrial branch of business. It IS easy
to see, then, why the rich are opposed
to the free coinage Of silver.
Question-What is the probable pro-
portion of workingmen during the last
ten years out of employment or on half
time, to the number employed during
any ten years previous to 1873?
Answer-Certainly not less than ten
now to one then.
Question is il not, then, another
''brazen falsehood" that the aggregate
amount of money now earned will pur-
chase as much as that earned before
silver was demonetized?
Answer-It Is. and for the simple rea-
son that ten men at work on full time
VIII earn more than one man at the
same wages on short time.
OupStfOn-Whv then should Tho pOor
and those in moderate circumstances
favor the free coinage of silver?
Answer-Because an increase of mon
ey always means a proportionate in
crease in business, in manufactures, in
wages, and in prices of all products of
human skill and toll, with a decrease
Of interest on money, of debt of poverty
and of crime
Question-How will the free coinage
of silver affect our government?
Answer-It will save us from the dis
graceful necessity of borrowing money
from foreign countries with which to pay
our domestic debts. 1t will give us the
lawful coin with which to redeem our
silver certificates and the interest upon
our present bonded indebtedness 1t
will, in short, put our financial system
upon two legs instead of one, each ready
TO sustain the other in case of any spe-
cial strain upon it.
foreign countries oppose the free coinage
of silver in this country?
Answer-Clearly because they will no
longer be able to loan US their gold at a
high rate of interest, or buy our wheat,
meat, corn, cotton or silver at our pres
ent ruinous prices.
Question - Why, then. should every
patriotic and, liberty-loving citizen of
this country vote for the restoration of
silver to free coinage?
Answer - Because this, and nothing
but this. will save the masses from being
crucifed on a cross of gold with money
near them which they cannot reach be-
cause their hands and feet are fastened
down with the iron spikes of law.
Bryant's Opponents on the Defensive
The New York Journal which Is sin
gle handed among the great dailies of
New York supporting the Democratic
ticket. has been doing mastery work
in that line. Its cool and logical rid-
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