The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-09-13
PALMER A PATRIOT
Continued from First Page.

labor or the produce of husba2dry. They
cannot suffer when paid in the best money
known to man. but are the peculiar and
most -defenseless victims Of a debased and
huctuating currency which offers continual
profits to the money changer, at their cost.
Realizing these truths, demonstrated by
long public convenience and loss the Demo-
cratic party, in the interests of the masses
and of equal justice to all, practically estab-
lished by the legislation of 1884 and 1853 the
gold standard Of monetary measurement and
likewise entirely divorced the government
from banking and currency issues. To this
long established Democratic policy we adhere
and insist unon the maintenance Of the gold
standard and of the parity Herewith of every
dollar issued by the government, and are firm
ly opposed to the free and unlimited coinage
Of silver. and to the compulsory purchase Of
silver bullion
This language is but a reiteration of the
terse demand Of the Democratic platform of
1892, that every dollar coined or issued by
the government shall have equal power in the
market and In the payment of debts" The
convention which assembled in Chicago in
July of the present year, in demanding the
unlimited coinage of silver dollars on the
25 $40 grains Of standard gold, with full legal
tender quality for all debts and dues, public
and private, offer to the country a scheme
from which every voter may expect whatever
advantage to the country or himself his
reason even his Imagination can suggest.
The advocates Of the Unlimited coinage of
full legal tender silver do not agree as to
what will be the consequence of the adoption
by the United States of their favorite meas
ure The more intelligent know it is impos-
sible, by law, to give to silver bullion or
silver coin local value in the United States,
and therefore Mr.. Bryan ,owho must be re-
garded as the official interpreter Of the free
silver dogma, asserts his belief that the un-
limited coinage of legal tender silver by the
United States alone ldsfncrease the value
OF silver bullion, which is today 81 cents per
ounce, to $1.29, and he asserts his belief that
under unlimited coinage the silver dollar, con-
tanning 4121s grains Of standard silver coined
by the authority of the United States, would
be of equal acceptability and value with the
dollar containing rs $40 grains Of standard
gold in all the markets. of the world.
AGAINST ALL EXPERIENCE. az
1t is something that this opinion has no
support in the experiences Of mankind. 1t is
enough for present purposes to say it has
no foundation other than the confident asser-
party in the country ever undertook SO much
as do the advocates of the unlimited coinage
Of silver. They not only undertake to main
tain commercial parity in value Of about
434, 500, 0l silver dollars, already coined by
the United States under the authority of the
acts of the 28th of Febr lary, 1875 ana of
July IA, 1890 and Of all the silver dollars
that hereafter may be coined. but they as
sumo the task of advancing the value of
he silver coinage Of ali the nations of the
world to an equal aeceps ability and value
with coins of gold. If the expectations of
such Of the advocates of free coinage Of sill
yer. are realized 1t would be difficult upon
their own premises to perceive what would
be gained by those who expect cheap money.
Accepting their claim that under free coin
age the dollar of silver would become of equal
acceptability and value, and equal power in
the markets, and in the payment of debts
throughout the civilized world, the silver dol
lar would then be as difficult to procure as the
dollar of gold is now. They complain now
that the dollar Of gold has too much pur-
chasing power and Is too difficult to obtain.
But the real expectation of the great body of
supporters Of the free coinage of silver, and
one much more in harmony with the exper-
fence of mankind, is that the unlimited coin
age of silver would give to the country a
deprecated and cheaper dollar, which would
enhance nominal values and be used in the
payment Of debts, but would be attended and
followed by the ruin of all industries, the
destruction of public and private credit and
irreparable mischief.
Our platform commits us to the mainten-
ance of the Democratic faith. Many of our
associates, deluded by deceptive sophistrIes,
are supporting a coalition which dsavows the
traditional faith Of the Democratic party. The
best we can hope for them is that they may
be defeated, and when defeated they may re-
turn to the safe paths that they have hereto
fore trodden,