Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-09-17

have suoh vast hoard In the treasury,
which VIC hold with difficulty at par with
goldS The only object and effect Of this
measure will be 10 degrade the dollar, TO
lessen Its purchasing power nearly one-half,
10 enable debtors to pay their debts at So
cents for dollar and to cheat the public
creditors who hold our bonds II this pol
Icy should be adopted, the United States
will take its place among the nations of
she earth as q bankrupt, closing tt bust
moss at s. cents on the dollar.
Reputation Considered.
There Is another element of meanness in
this free coinage of silver. The United
States 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 1t was
paid by the sale of bonds bearing lower
rate of interest, but we exacted from the
purchasers Of these bonds gold coin or its
equivalent even while our notes were be-
low par in coin About &847, 900, 900 Of
these securities are now outstanding, Of
which $262, 600, 900 was sold by this ad
ministration and paid for in gold coin. 1t
10 Oho VI bhc oDJcCtS VI tnOSc WnU uuNOCssVC
the free coinage of silver to force the gov
eminent to pay these bonds In silver coin
reduced in value. 1t is harsh to express
this opinion of u measure favored by many
good people, but I cannot regard 1t in any
other light than as both fraud and rob-
berry and all the worse II committed by
great, rich and free people. A citizen who
should commit such an offcnse would be
mn MI had INV fha ~ day,A.,naaI
dishonest, but q nation like ours is beyond
thcpower Of any tribunal but conscience
and God.
Now, fellow citizens, have said all
desire to say at present on the free coinage
Of oliver. 1 have the confident hope that
the great body of tho Republican and DEM
ocratic parties, representing the conserva-
tive elements of our people, will stamp
their rcbuke 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 standards of value in
wolves not only questions of money, but Of
honor and good faith. When their honor
Is involved, the people never fail to re-
spond. They have complied with every
promise and paid every debt contracted
since the organization Of the national gov
eminent rs it became due. They have paid
four-fifths of tho debts contracted during
the civil war, and the prospect was hope
full that all Of it would be paid before the
close Of this century, but this reversing
our standards of value has, like the fire
bell at night startled and alarmed our
people. Let us settle 1t by following the
action Of Washington, Hamilton, Jeffer-
son, Benton, Hunter, Lincoln and Grant;
let us maintain silver and gold at par With
each other at the legal ratio Of 16 to un-
til conference among nations can pre-
scribe common standards Of value. In the
meantime let no act be done, no policy be
adopted, no experiment resorted to, that
will tarnish the honor Of this great repub
lie