New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-17
MR.. BRY4N'S GOLD BUGS.

Tbi. ve1r for The first time in the history OF
the country an appeal is made 10 the people
i'm the name of one of the great political parties
with distinct avowal of class antagOnsnl. an
attempt TO get the poor To range themselves
against rhe rich The voters have at times
hitherto divided on sectional lines and in ac-
cordance with trade interests. but not until now
have they been asked except by petty bands
OF fanatics and dcmagogueS, To separate th"hi-
selves according 10 their store of worldly goods.
And This attelnpt at separation is made not 10y
the prrSeproud. who are always viewed sus-
picouSly rs persons desing 10 destroy the
Republic by means of an ar>tocracy. but by
self appointed leaders of farmers and wage
Farmers who most cry out against such dis
1inctionS being made These leaders go among
the poor preaching class hatred and pretending
great devotion to the common people. ana
advocating theories which are advertised TO
bring an economical miller MUM 70 all men.
But how much do they themselves believe
in theS. doctriacst How do they prepare for
the coming OF the great day: DO they put
themselves on the level with the farmers. saw
ings-bank depositors insurance policy holders
and wage-earners: Look at Stewart and Alt
geld for the answer. Stewart is we'll known
Il
his contracts and mortgages the fervent critic
who denounces an alleged plot Of capitalists to
corner the gold of the world while he himself
takes measures to insure the payment in gold
of all debts due him when through his efforts
silver coinage shall be free and gold driven
10 prcmiua. Algeld. too has been shown to
be playing tie same game. He is the president
and largest stakeholder of the Unity Building
tbn laaSa for
building in addition to the usual form of words.
is a provision that the rent is payable in
standard gold coin Of the United States" How
clever this is of Altgeld, He is working hard
to bring about free silver coinage. 50 tina, the
average citizen will receive his wages in sill
yer, sell his products for silver, take silver for
his fees if he is commission merchant or
doctor or a lawyer, but have to pay his rent in
gold wherever Altgcld is his landlord Altgeld
knows as well as anybody that if free silver
coinage comes gold will go TO a premium and
the man who pays rent in gold will be paying
so much more rent over what he now pays as
it costs him TO turn his silver into gold
That gold clause in the contracts shows good
business sense on the part of Altgeld and Stew
art but it also shows them to be dishonest in
advocating free silver and more rapacious than
the Eastern financers whom they denOunce.
Not one contract in ten thousand made III tins
city calls for gold payments. Offices are rent
ed and money loaned on the promise to pay
lawful money, and the most hated gold bug
deals frankly with his fellows and. even under
The provocation of threatened cheap tloney.
there has been no general insstence here upon
payments in gold The men who see most
clearly the evil effects Of free coinage refrain
for the most part from making gold contracts.
II is reserved for the most blatant of the silver
prophets to preach the cheap metal TO the pco-
pie and corner the dear one for themselves.