Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1896-08-26

re receive this bullion frc.n the owners
OF silver mines at nearly double its mar
ket value when we have such a vast hoard
IN tho treasury. which we hold with dim
cIity at par with gold? The only object and
effect Of this measure will be TO degrade
inc dollar. to lessen its purchasing power
nearly onc-half. to enable debtors TO pay
their debts at 50 cents Cor a dollar and
10 cheat the public creditors who hold our
nonds. IT this policy should be adopted the
United states Will take its place among
the nations of the earth as bankrupt.
closing It's business at 50 cents on the dol
La.
There IS another element of rneanness
IN this free coinage of silver The United
Etates has always paid it's bonds in gold
coin or its equivalent. In the darkest hours
OF the civil war we stipulated to pay our
bonds. principal and interest In gold or
its equivalent. All OF the war debt has
been paid in this way. a portion of II was
paid by the sale OF bonds bearing a lower
rate or interest, but we exacted from the
purchasers OF these bonds gold coin or
its equivalent even while our notes were
below par in coin. About SSi7. COO eco OF these
securities are now outstanding, of which
&c.. eco was sold by this administration
ana PAID Tor IN gold coin. IL is one OF the
objects OF those who advocate the free
coinage OF silver to force the government
to pay these bonds in silver coin reduced
in value. 1t is harsh to express this opin-
ion OF n measure favored by many rood
if'ppit, Out cannot REGARD ~ IN any OtNer
light hut as both fraud and a robbery.
and all the worse III committed by q great
rich and free people. a citizen who should
commit such an offcnse would be punished
by the courts or denounced as dishonest,
hut n nation like ours is beyond the power
OF any tribunal but conscience and God.
Now. fellow citizens, / have said all I
desire to say at present on the free coinage
OF silver ! have the confident hope tina:
the great body of the republican and DEM
ocratic parties, representing the conserva-
tive elements OF our people will stamp
their rebuke upon this measure of infamy
and thus preserve intact the honor the
credit and glory Of our great country.
This matter of the free coinage OF silver
and the degradation of the standard OF
value involves not only questions of money,
but Of honor and good faith. When their
honor Is involved the people never fail &c
respond. They have complied with every
promise and paid every debt contracted
since the organization Of the national gov
eminent as II became due. They have paid
four-hfths OF the debts contracted during
ful that all OF 1t could lie paid before the
close Of this century, but this reversing
our standards of value has like the fire hell
at night startled and alarmed our people.
Let US settle II by following the action Of
Washington, Hamilton. Jefferson, Benton
hunter lincoln and Grant: let us maintain
SILVER and gold at par with each other at
the leEal ratio OF 10 TO until conference
among nations can prescribe common
standards OF value. In the meantime let
no hct be done, no policy be adopted no ex-
pedient resorted to that Will tarnish the
honor OF this great republic.