Willmar tribune., 1896-02-18

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mittee told mo day or two ago that by
actual computation there were 1900 mil
lionaires in America, whose aggregate
wealth averages 5000, 600 apiece That
is 81, 600, 600, 900 owned by 1900 people.
He said it was going to cause trouble.
think his head is level. 1t is going to
cause trouble, and n deal of trouble, be-
cause they have stolen it, most of them.
It was obtained by iniquitous laws in favor
of classes and corporations and against the
masses, and there has got to be a reckon
ing some day.
1t is not saying too much and I feel
warranted in charging that the derange-
ment in our finances and all this cry
about sound money and maintaining the
credit and honor of tho United States are
all part and parcel of damnable scheme
of robbery, which had for it's object, first,
the utter destruction of silver as q money
metal; second, tho increase of the public
debt blythe issue of bonds payable in gold,
and, third, the surrender to corporations
of tho power to issue all papor money and
givo them monopoly of til at function.
Facts About Silver.
After the enactment of the Sherman
law, in 1890, 1t was supposed that the
price of silver would rise and tho ratio be-
tween the two metals, as bullion, would
be approximately restored to the legal ra-
ito. That law has been defined by the
senator from Ohio as "makeshift to keep
down free coinage" Tho Democratic
platform denounced it as ''makeshift'
for FREQ coinage, and the silver Republic
ans-mind you, instead of this senate be-
ing divided up and down that way, it is
getting divided across this way. Thank
God, for we Of tho south on this side have
been down below, under tho heels of op-
preston, ard We are glad to find that west
Of the Mis- sis. sppi the CALLED jade winces,"
and that to COLLAR of servitudo which
has been f.ia; ;Cned around our necks and
has been there for 80 years is beginning to
mako your shoulders raw-the silver Re-
publioans, who had been tamboozled into
accepting it as compromise, hoping that
it would provide for the absorption Of the
ontiro American silver product, found
themselves overreached and deceived. 1t
cannot be denied that the object of the
law was to increase the prico Of silver and
restore it's parity, and this must be borne
in mind when we come to discuss its pro-
visions. While the struggle was going on
1u COuSfoSS DtIWc6u tllo SllFcF Huu dutiSll-
yer forces, and it was thought probable
that tho free coinage bill would pass, sill
yer steadily rose in tho markets of the
world, and it did not begin to decline un-
til n month aftor the passage of the bill,
at which time it was III, within 12 cents
of tho ratio of 16 to /.
desire to call especial attention to this
fact as an answer to the assertion, so
nd tod Inv II.
bug papers and orators, that legislation
does not affect the price of silver, and that
We would sink to silver basis alongside
of Mexico, China and Japan and have only
SO cent dollars if silver We're res! orcd to
its place alongside of gold. That is
stock argument. We have heard it this
week right here in this chamber. 1t will
come in here next week. 1t will como in
here whenever anybody gets up to speak
on the other side.
But when it was seen that this country
was still controlled by monomot.llists the
price Of silver began to drop and went
down, down, down, below even the price
which ruled before the enactment of the
Sherman law. There was still discrimi-
nation against the white metal. 1t did
not have free coinage as gold, but it was
commodity, not u money It was discrimi
mated against by legislative enactment,
and hence the fall. The silver Republicans
of the west, who had deserted the silver
Democrats of the south and accepted tho
compromise offered by Senator Sherman,
may take warming us to what faith or
trust they can put in any uttcrances or ac-
tions of the senator from Ohio as to legis-
lation in regard to our finances. If they
are honest IN their assertions that they feel
the welfare Of their states and tho welfare
of tho masses Of tho people depend upon
the restoration of silver to equality with
gold, they should be prepared to cross the
Rubicon and fight this battle to a finish
undor whatever banner shall promise vic
tory and relief Partisan political aflilia-
tions and sectional feeling no doubt large
ly influenced their action in 1890. The
time for another presidential election ap-
proaches. They must understand that the
election of any man to tho presidency who
would veto free coinage bill means de.
feat. 1t means more. It means continued
disaster to our industries and increased
poverty to the masses of Our people.
Conspiracy For Gold.
II tho Secret history of the year 1885,
shall ever be written, it will disclose the
fact, which cannot be proved now, but OF
which have not the slightest doubt that
the gold ring Of New York, which en-
braces nearly all the bankers in the eastern
and middle states and the stock gam blers
of Wall street, controlled the presidential
nominations of both the Democratic and
Republican parties and had All under
standing with the managers, Or with both
the candidates themselves, in regard tt
what policy should be pursued toward ou7
finances. They contributed money for tn,
booming of Mr.. Cleveland as the only avail
able Democratic candidate and they abus
ed and ridiculed every other Democratic
aspirant.
There was plain evidence to show tha
the president himself had weakened on th,
question of tariff reform, and the fnancia
plank was cunningly drafted so us to sat
isfy both gold and silver men, with th'
intention that it should be interpreted, i
: Cleveland was elected, as moaning tho ces
sation of silver coinage and the forcing o
a gold standard upon the people,. Inter
preted according to the plain -uso ant
meaning of English words, the platform
means bilnetalIism, but there arc condi
.tions and ambiguous phrases which hav
afforded an excuse to the elastic conscienc
of the bullheaded and self idolatrous maj
who holds the reins Of power to pursue til
policy he has. Whether the scheme wa
aoreed tn nv the nrnsident in narson or M