Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-09-13
"The Fear of too Much silver"

To the Editor Of tho Dispatch:
The statement Is made by the gold
rnonometallists that this country viii be-
come the dumping-ground OF the silver
OF the world, and timid men are fright
ened by the statement. 1t is wholly I'M
true; It IS not only distinctly untrue, but
It is known to be untrue by many men
who make tho statement. The present
campaign is emphatically one Of educa-
ton. and, fortunately for the advocates
Of bimetalllsm, which means free sill
yer at 16 TO 1. the people will now read
articles on the subject. and come to a
conclusion for themselves. This is all
the advocates OF silver wish. Let the
opponents Of bimetallism drop all de-
nunciation and meet US upon the high
plane Of honest argument endorsed by
facts. and there IS in my mind no doubt
about the result. And here at the out
set we are met by the singular state
ment Of the Republican party that BIZ
metallism f. desirable q allude 10 the
ST. Louis Republican platform). and that
they favor it; but they couple the decla-
ration with the statement that 10 can
only be accomplished by the nations OF
Europe uniting together TO support IL.
Now. il is a well-known fact that at the
last monetary conference of the world,
at Brussels, IL was conceded that Eu-
rope would never change to bimetall.sm,
except with the consent OF England.
ENGLAND will never willingly consent be-
cause II IS against her interests. She
has had seventy years OF gold mOnome-
a. Zoo
ton on earth. I say she viii never
consent voluntarily; but. If the United
states OF America opens its minis 10
the free coinage OF silver. IL will, in my
opiniOn, force international bimetallism
IN twelve months in Europe. and, In all
probability, In England. The free COIN
age OF silver here Is the only possible
way 20 secure International bimetalism.
In order 10 discuss a question properly.
Il ia necessary 10 give facts and 10 de-
duce legitimate conclusions from those
facts Now, We VIII take first the l0i
years Of the production OF gold and sill
yer I'm the world. Ask the majority OF
people which metal has the world pro-
duced IN the greatest quantity during
that time, and they will unhesitatingly
answer. silver. and will perhaps smile
with incredulity when you tell them
they are utterly mistaken. And vet,
largely more than 100000 OF gold than
silver has during that period been taken
from the mines Of the earth. No man
can deny this fact. II IS stated, and
admitted oven by the present Secretary
OF the Treasury. The world has in
creased enormously I'm 104 years. and Il
is true that. comparatively speaking. the
production Of silver has decreased. Let
intelligent, thoughtful men ponder on
this fact. Let them bear in mind that
owing TO the advancement OF chemical
and mechanical science, as Is shown bv
railroads, steamships. telegraphs. tele-
phones, and telegraphic transfers OF
money, a man can do business much
more rapidly now than formerly. and
hence there 10 an imperative need for a
greater volume OF money. Now. let me
state another fact, and II IS this: From
the year 1850 to 1855. a period OF forty-six
years, the excess OF the worlds pro-
duction OF gold over silver has been over
81 81 600 600. AS remarkable as this state
ment appears, It is strictly true, and
can readily be verified by the very high
est authority.
Senator Francis NJ. Cockrell. in q great
speech, made In the United States Sem
ate on March Is. 1896. made the follow
ing statement:
Search the world over, and I chal-
lenge any man to show 10000, 900 OF sill
yer bullion on this earth"
have carefully examined the subject