Semi=weekly graphic., 1896-08-29

action on the part of tue United States at a ratio of 16 ounces of silver to 1 ounce Of gold. The mere declaration of this pur- pose is menace to our financial and in dustrial interests aud has already created universal alarm It involves great peril to the credit and business of the country, peril so grave that conservative men everywhere are breaking away from their old party associations and uniting with other patriotic citizens In an emphat- ic protest against the platform of the Democratic national convention as an as sault upon the faith and honor of the government and the welfare of the people We have had few questions in the lifetime of the republic more serious than the one which is thus presented.
 No Benefit to Labor.
 The character of the money which shall measure our values and exchange and set tie our balances with one another and with the nations of the world is of such primary importance and so far reaching ia it's con sequences as to call for the most painstak ing investigation, and, in the end, a sober and unprejudiced judgement at the polls. We must not be misled by phrases nor de luded by false theories. Free silver would not mean that dollars were to be freely had without cost or labor. 1t would mean the free use of the hints of the United States for the few who are owners of silver bull. lion, but would make silver coin no treer to the many who are engaged in other en- terprises It would not make labor easier the hours of labor shorter or the pay bet ter 1t would not start a factory or make demand for an additional day labor. It would add nothing to the comfort of the masses, the capital of the people or the wealth of the nation It seeks to introduce a new measure of value, but would add no value to the thing measured. It would not conserve values. On the contrary, it would deraage all existing values. It would not restore business confidence, but its direct effect would be to destroy the little which yet remains.
 What It Means.
 The meaning of the coinage plank adopted at Chicago is that any one may take a quantity of silver bullion now worth 53 cents, to the hints of the United States, have it coined at the expense of the government and receive for it q silver dol lar which shall be legal tender for the pay ment of all debts, public and private, The owner of the silver bullion would get the the silver dollar. It would belong to him and to nobody else. Other people would get it only by their labor, the products of their land or something of value. The bullion owner on the basis of present value would receive the silver dollar for 53 cents worth of silver and other people would be required to receive 1t as tull dollar in the paymentof debts, The government would get nothing from the transaction. It would bear the expense of coining the sil- yer and the community would suffer loss by its use
 The Dollars Compared,
 We have coined since 1878 more than t400, ,0O0, ,000 of silver, which are maintained by the government at parity with gold and are full legal tender for the payment of all debts. public and private. How are the silver dollars now in use different from those which would De in use under free coinage They are t9 be of the same weight and fineness; they are to bear the same stamp of the government. Why would they not be of the same valuea answer: The silver dollars now in use were coined on account of the government and