The record-union., 1896-08-10
VOICE OF THE PRESS.
From Coast Papers on Both Sides of
Political and Other Questions.

Stockton Record: Much comment
of an unfavorable kind is current be-
cause the Bankers Association of Cal
lfornia issued a circular in opposition
to the free coinage of silver. But why
should it be surprising that any asso-
citation of men engaged in lawful and,
indeed, necessary occupation, should
take measures to protect themselves?
The campaign started by the Demo-
Gratis was initiated by fusillade
against banks and bankers. 1t has
developed into a series of discordant,
but unintermitting cries against bank
ers and capitalists generally. So when
the real intent of the campaign be-
comes evident, and every form of
prejudice is resorted to, when all that
is stable, fixed, safe and convenient
in monetary affairs is attacked and
threatened with destruction, those who
have been invited to that form of busi-
ness and investment by the laws of
the country, laws made by the people,
feel called upon to justify their posi-
tion and oppose the storm. No COM
munity, class or condition of men can
be persistently and Indignantly at
tackled with the expectation that they
will join in the attack. The right of
self-defense is dear to the heart of
every patriotic American, whether he
be a banker or a workingman, and
that right will remain and be cherished
to the end of the republics existence
and the end of time.
HOW?
San Jose Mercury: Admitting, for the
sake of argument, that free silver can
be kept on a parity with gold, how are
people going to get it? Money cannot
put itself into circulation. 1t can reach
the people only through the channels
of enterprise, industries and business.
And with the continuance of free trade
the openings for investments, for fac
tories and for business generally will be
just as limited as they now are under
the Democratic tariff.
A SURFEIT OF UNCERTAINTY.
Tulare Register: There is a vast
amount of energy wasted in discussing
a per capita issue of money and
volume of currency" raising points
which only befog the minds of people
without pointing the way to any reason
able conclusion. w. l.. Trenholm, in
THE Peoples Money" says the main
tenance of freight cars per capita would
he as reasonable as issuing dollars on
the same basis, which is true enough,
yet we are treated to much threshing
of old straw over this point in which
there is no vitality.
The amount of money in existence
cuts no figure, but all depends upon it's
use. Within the past three years we
have seen deDositors withdraw from
banks money for which they had no
use; we have seen those who usually
have money loaned out in small sums
call 1t in and keep it idle, while banks
have kept in their vaults more than
they required in better days; men have
kept money that they could we'll have
used in hiring help, buying stock, ma
chinery or clothes; and the Register
knows of at least one man in Tulare
who had proposed to build residence
| and who has had money sufficient for
| that purpose ''salted away for two or
three years.
The cause of these various instances
of boarding was not dearth Of money.
for these people had money. They
didn't use it because they didn't know
what the future would bring forth.
There has been uncertainty through
| proposals to change laws which might
affect investments of all kinds and they
have waited to see what would turn
up" What we know to be true in our
| own little communities we have good
reason to assume is true of the whole
| country.
A REPUTATION.
Riverside Enterprise: The reckless
ness of the charges the gold standard
people propose to make during the
campaign against Hon. w. J. Bryan
has already been demonstrated by the
contemplate assertion that Mr.. Bryan
| is the paid attorney of the silver mine
owners. The next thing we will hear
probably, will be that Mr.. Bryan owns
a silver mine himself. Turn all the gold
standard liars loosei The people expect
them and will receive them in proper
form.
OF PRINCIPLES.
| Merced Star: This is not to be a.
campaign of men, but one of principles
The voters of the country are not puz-
| zling themselves whether they prefer
Mckinley or Bryan for President. but
are thinking hard on the merits of the
issues placed before them by the con-
4 question
they are debating is protection, prosper
| lty and sound money on one hand, and
on the other side low tariff, closed mills
and factories, a depleted treasury. a
broken credit and armies Of idle men.
| The result can be read in advance. for
the American voter is a thinking man.
| not a machine, and his political experi-
ence has taught him that protection
| nd bat ha
policy has placed our Government
among the nations of the earth, stable
and enduring quality
| TARIFF HISTORY.
| Stockton Independent: Under the old
tariff and the Mckinley tariff it was
never necessary to sell bonds to keep
up the treasury reserve of gold to re-
deem greenbacks. There was always
sufficient gold to pay the current ex-
penses, keep up the reserve and leave a
surplus, from which outstanding bonds
were paid and the public debt reduced
nearly every month. The Wilson tariff
does not pay the expenses of the Gov
| ernment, though the Administration
has resisted the payment of money ap-
propriated by Congress; it has caused
the gold reserve to fall below the limits
several times and caused the Admins
tTation to increase the public debt about
$40, 100000 of which nearly S11 ,O0O.-
600 was added during July. The con-
trast between Republican economy and
thrift and Democratic imbecility, ex-
| travagance and waste should be suffi-
cient to cause citizens to vote against a
party that has proved so incompetent,
so wasteful and so destructive of the
| welfare of the DeOpIe
ACCORDING TO CONTRACT.