The record-union., 1896-10-10
AN ALTERNATIVE.

The radical free silver men insist that
the scheme as advocated by Mr.. Bryan
is the only possible one for the enlarge
ment of the silver currency. They will
listen to no other plans than their own.
It is with them q question only Of this
or nothing"
Coinage Of silver of American product
will not satisfy them; attainment Of
the desired end by international agree
ment they treat as among the impossi-
bilities and not worth striving for; coin
age upon Government account will not
serve tho purposes Of the owners of sill
yer mines; coinage upon private or in
dividual account alone will satisfy them.
Claiming to be biTnetallists, they insist
upon a policy that must result in mono
xnetallism. They do not wish the Gov
ernnent to purchase and coin silver on
Its own account to the full needs of do
mastc trade: no, the sole and only
scheme to which they will consent is
the absolute use of the mints for pri-
vate gain. They wish the policy and di-
mines, or of silver of any character,
shall have the unlimited and unre-
strained right to take bullion, no matter
where produced or what it's source, to
the United States mints and have every
81 cents worth commercial value,
coined into legal tender value Of 100
cents, thus pocketing at the expense of
the people the broad and comfortable
difference. In other words, it is scheme
to sell silver bullion at higher rate
than the commercial value. They de-
fend this policy upon the assumption
that the increased demand for silver
will raise it commercially to par.
The Record Union" has suggested a
plan that will avoid the danger of the
theory Of the radicals, not operate to
establish monometallism; not drive gold
out, nor yet make silver the sole basis
of exchange of products. 1t is pro-
posed, since we hold that the volume Of
silver coinage should be enlarged to the
full needs Of the people, that all the sill
YER in the treasury Of the United States
shall be sent to coinage and made into
dollars with the full legal tender quality
of 100 cents. That our silver money OF
aA kinds snail be declared to be legal
tender to the extent of $50; that then it
be ordered that no gold be coined, and
no issue OF paper based on gold be made,
in denominations less than $40; that for
the convenience of handling large sums
there shall De issued a silver note, duly
fortified by coin behind 1t, in $40 de-
nominations.
This would enlarge silver circulation
to something like S75O.00o.00O. furnish
ing enough for all domestic exchanges
and leaving to the office Of gold the
foreign exchanges. We would then have
both metals in use without conflict;
with no necessity for the panic which
Ms. Bryan admits Will follow the change
10 silver basis; without disturbance
of commerce, the breaking down OF con-
fdence or the dLsarrangement Of trade
with foreign countries or ths unsettling
OF credits at home.
In the meantime the effort in the di-
reoton Of securing international agree
nent for unlimited coinage Of silver
could proceed, and would do so, with
Tar more likelihood Of success. There
Is nothing whatever in the platform or
traditional policy Of the Republican
party. which is a bimetallist party, that
VIII prevent it from adopting this plan,
or any other that wisdom may suggest.
short Of the absolute free coinage un-
Arnitedly. at the ratio Of 16 to /, as de-
rnanded by the apostles of Bryanisun.