Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1896-08-28
FREE COINAGE OF SILVER.
Tissue of Vast Importance Presented for
Consideration.

Consideration.
For the first time since 1868, if ever be-
fOre, there is presented to the Americans
this year clear and direct issue as to our
monetary system of vast Importance in
its effects and upon the right settlement of
which rests largely the financial honor
<and prosperity of the country. 1t is pro-
posed by one wing of the Democratic par
" and it's allies, the Peoples and Silver
parties, to inaugurate the free and unlim-
dted coinage of silver by independent &C.
tion Oh the part of the United States at a
ratio Of 16 ounces Of silver to l ounce Of
gold. The mere declaration of this pur-
pose is menace to our financial and in
Glnstrial interests and has already created
universal alarm. It involves grcat peril
Ito the credit and business of the country;
n peril SO grave that conservative men ev-
sHywhere are breaking away from their
old pHrty associations and uniting with
either patriotic citizens in emphatic pro-
test against the platform of the Demo-
11zatic national convention as an assault
slpcm the faith and honor of the govern
1nent and the welfare of the people. We
have had few instances in the life time of
THE republic more serious than the one
thus presented.
No Benefit to Labor.
The character of the money which shall
measure our values and exchanges and
Gettle en1r balances with one another and
with the nations of the world is of such
Trimary importance and so farreaching in
HIS consequences as to coll for the most
EainstaEng investigation and in the end
n sober and On unprecedented Judgment at
the polls. We must not be misled by
phrases nor deluded by false theories.
Free silver would not mean that silver
dollars are to be freely had without cost
or labor. It would mean the free use of
tho minis of the United States for the few
who are owners Of silver bullion, but
would make silver coin no freer to the
many who are engaged in other enter
EHises. It would not make labor easier,
the hours of labor shorter, or the pay bet
1er. 1t would not make farming less la
R,oGiuus or more profitable. It would not
9tarta factory or make demand for an
additional day. labor. 1t would create no
new occupations. It would add nothing
to the comfort of the masses, the capital
of the people or the wealth of the nation.
1t seeks to introduce q new measure of
value but will add no value to the thing
measured. It would not conserve values
; On the contrary, 1t would derange all ex-
listing values. It would not revive bust
mess confidence, but its direct effect would
he to destroy the little which yet remains.
What Free Coinage Means.
The meaning of the coinage plank
adopted at Chicago is that any one may
take q quantity of silver bullion now
worth So cents to the mints of the United
Estates, have it coined at the expense of
the government and receive for it a silver
dollar which shall be legal tender for the
payment of all debts, public and private
The owner of the silver bullion would get
the silver dollar. It would belong to him
nud nobody else Other people would get
1t only by their labor, the products of
their land or something Of value. The
bullion owner, on the basis c. present val
ues, would receive the silver dollar for So
cents worth Of silver, and other people
would be required to receive it as q full
dollar in the payment of debts. The gov.
eminent would get nothing from the
transaction. It would bear the expense of
coming the silver and the community
would suffer loss by it's use.
The Dollars Compared.
We have coined since 1876 more than
h 400, OOO, 600 silver dollars which are main
tained by the government at parity with
gold and are full legal tender for the
Payment Of all debts, public and private
iHow are the silver dollars now in use diff
Eerent from those which would be in use
4 under free coinage? They are to be of the
same weight and flneness; they are to
Z bear the same yalueS I answer:
The silver dollars now in use were coined
ca account of the government and not for
private account or gain and the govern
ment has solemnly agreed to keep them as
good as the best dollars we have. The
government Bought the silver bullion ct