Rock Island Argus., 1896-09-22

only demand their lawful rights.
For few months am permitted to
vote for half OF this great state. and
| mean to give no Just ground to any
one to charge me with being repu-
diator.
Hard times compel us to study
all about gold, silver and paper cur
rency: and people ask, what is
money? 1t isn't realty or personali-
ty. nor high wines nor hymn books.
Some say 1t is accumulated capt.
tai. Well. then. how much does an
average man need oft? Some say $40.
some $50 and some say 500 head.
The amount differs in different coun-
tries and statesmen differ. One
morning our people woke up and
found the silver dollar had sliked
out-not the Mexican. or the spanish.
or the Japanese, but our dollar
Many believe there was a fraud and
q trick in this-a plan concocted by
capitalists to swindle us. These iel-
lows deny this. but they appear
mighty glad Of it. Well, very few
knew Of it: the people were not con-
suited. and they feel that they were
tricked by somebody. The peo pie
are usually quite revengeful. when
sharp practices are played on them
You all remember when the Dred
Scott decision. and when the Ne
braska bill were sprung upon the
people; well. they did not rest until
they took revenge upon the interests
assisted by these measures. Well,
the people feel the same way about
this silver business, and capitalists
had better take it back.
81 shall vote for the remonetiz alton
OF silver just as it was ~ the first op.
portunity. Here comes n fellow and
says: Governor, don't you know
that silver isn't worth as much as il
was before?' Why, YES. know it:
lots Of other things are in the same
fix; but we will give you Just as
many grains OF silver as we agreed
to; and l mean to vote to coin as
much OF it as our mints can make
Great applause). Now must be
careful OF my votes, you know. But
silver and gold has been the coin OF
the world for all time, and both hav g
an equal right to stay as money; all
creditors everywhere understand
that they must take these coins
When our debts were created gold
and silver was what we agreed to
paw in. The silver do lar then had
4,2i grains. Now the 60 .dites claim
there was no trick in demonetizing
silver. and it was done just when sill
yer began to be plenty. Aud W..
lind all these fellows full OF book
and tables and documents to oppose
it's recoinage as money. There is
something strange about this.
"They say silver IS too heavy.
Give us. green backs then. Great
Applause But they answer: They
are unsubstantial. Great Britain
has unfolded the gold standard.
And we find many are just dying to
follow Great Britain and British in
stitutious. We don't want their
idea.; their laws of entails wee
brushed off long ago and we don't
want them back again. Now. sup
pose we coin $4,000 900 aud give
employment 70 1.O00.' 90 idle men.
Would that be wrong? think not.
1t is desirable to cramp us all i.to
bankruptcy with 50 much means to
pay out only waiting to be coined ?
1t wouldn't be American, no, nor
good sense. want to make myself
fully understood; to talk as would
in the senate. There are Is states
and territories that produce silver
now why demonetizs it? l don't
see. We get $4,000, 900 a month
from one hole Under our law gol
is worth ~ times as much AS silver;
in France gold is only Is! as valu'
liable as silver. think il is right
TO put it back as it was"