The Irish standard., 1896-08-15

power OF money and lower the money
value of all other forms of property.
Our opponents sometimes admit that 1t
was a mistake to demonetize silver, but
insist that we should submit to present
conditions rather than return to the biz
metallic system. They err in surprising
that we have reached the end of the evil
results of gold standard; we have not
reached the end The injury is a contin-
uing one, and no person can say how long
| the world is to suffer from an attempt to
make gold the only standard money.
The same influences which are now op-.
Grating to destroy silver in the United
States will, If successful here, be turned
against. other silver using countries, and
each new convert to the gold standard
will add to the general distress. So long
as the scramble for gold continues prices
must fall, and general fall in prices is
but another definition OF hard times.
Our opponents, while claiming disinter
estedness for themselves, have appealed
to the selfishness of nearly every class
of society Recognizing the disposition
of the individual voter to consider the
effect of any proposed legislation upon
himself. we present to the American peo-:
pie the financial policy outlined in the
Ii,
result in the greatest good to the greatest
number.
The farmers are opposed to the gold
standard because they have felt it's eff
fects. Since they sell at wholesale and
buy at retail they have lost more than
they have gained by falling prices, and
besides this, they have found that Ger
tain fixed charges have not fallen at all.
Taxes have not been perceptibly de-
creased, although it requires more OF
farm products now than formerly to Sc
cure the money with which to pay taxes
Debts have not fallen. The farmer who
owed 81 900 is still compelled to pay ST.
900, although it may be twice as difficult
as formerly to obtain the dollars with
which to pay the debt. Railroad rates
have not been reduced to keep pace with
the falling prices, and besides these items
there are many more. The farmer has
thus found complaint against the gold
standard. ,~-s
HOW ABOUT SILVER MONOMETAL-.
LISM.-
The wage earners have been injured by
gold standard and have expressed them
selves upon the subject with great empha-
sis. In February, 1895, a petition ask
ing for the immediate restoration OF the
free and unlimited coinage of gold ana
silver at 16 to was signed by the repre-
sentatives of ALL or nearly all, the leading
labor organizatio and presented to con-
gress. Wage earners know that while a
gold standard raises the purchasing pow
err of the dollar. it also makes 1t more
difficult to obtain possession of the dollar;
they know that employment is less per-
nanent, loss of work more probable, ana
unemployment less certain. A gold stand
ard encourages the boarding of money be-
cause money is rising. It also discour-
ages enterprises and paralyzes industry.
On the other hand the restoration of BIZ
metallism will discourage boarding. be-
cause when prices are steady or rising
money cannot afford to lie idle in the bank
vaults. Thief armers and wage earners
together constitute a considerable major
ity of the people of the country Why
should their interests be ignored in con-
sidering financial legislation? A none
tary system which is pecuniarily advanta>
geous to a few syndicates has far less to
commend it than a sytem which would
give hope and encouragement to those who
create the nations wealth.
Our opponents have made special APP