Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-07-30
SILVER AND GOLD.
A STRONG ARGUMENT AGAINST GOING TO
A SILVER BASIS.
TO the Editors of the Leader:

| IO Iut EulIOTS Oh the Leader.
Since the republican party declared
in its national platform of principles
for sound money and the democratic
party for free silver at the ratio of 16
to l, the people have been doing IA heap
of thinking.
AS citizens and voters you and
have in November, an important duty
to perform. To us is entitled the cast
ing of.ballots that decide the policy of
our government on questions of vital
Importance to the people and national
prosperity and rs loyal and patriotic
citizens our. vote should be cast only
after mature and careful consideration
Of the great problems committed to us
for solution. Every intelligent voter
is under obligation to his government
to cast his ballot in the best interests
of the government just as every loyal
soldier is bound to give his life-blood
for the good of his country.
These are my sentiments on the sub.
lime duty of citizenship and now that
a principle of such Importance as the
financial policy of these United States
is to be decided by the votes of the
people every voter should study this
question diligently, not from the dem
ocrats' point of view, nor from the
republicans, populists' or free silver
ties, but from the independent stand
point of an ordinary citizen and voter
looking it squarely in the face in all
its bearings, for one, intend to satisfy
myself who is right before casting nv
vote for president in November, 1896.
Ii am sincere in my intentions my
first move will be to collect all the
available information and data bear
ing out the question and after weigh
ing carefully the arguments Of all sides
of the controversy, being particular to
satisfy myself of the reliability OF the
data and authorities quoted by all
sides, there is no reason why | should
not be able to render a just verdict, as
a person of ordinary intelligence and
not prejudiced in favor of any of the
parties.
l cannot trust myself to the har-
rangue of curb stone orators to teach
me the great truths l am seeking, for
no one can OH the spur of the moment
and in a few words, make plain a
problem so complicated as our present
financial question. No lawyer pre-
tends to be able to answer any and all
legal points without first consulting
his authorities.
l cannot trust myself altogether to
political stump speakers, for, as the
creatures of their party they are the
expounders of but single side of the
controversy, nor can l trust myself
wholly to the utterances of any class
or section, for certain legislation may
be to their special interest but disas-
trous to the balance of the country.
All the evidence of these conflicting
interests are of value but unless |, my
self, know something of the case from
my own investigation, | cannot be de-
pended upon to make correct decision
no more than a layman presiding as
judge in lawsuit could be depended
upon to render verdict in strict con-
formity with the law and establish pre-
cedent.
The platforms of st. Louis and Chi
cage place the issues squarely before
the people and we have our choice
between the present gold standard and
free coinage at the ratio of Is TO l.
Now l am studying this question sin
cerely and honestly (and say again
that it is every other citizens duty to
do the same, and the very first ques-
ton that suggests itself to my mind is:
"What will happen Immediately
after the passage of the free coinage
law?' A radical change is proposed
in our financial system and what will
be the effect?
Nothing seems more self evident
than that the free coinage of silver at
the ratio of 16 to l is complete revolu-
ton of the existing order of things.
We are now on a gold monometallic
basis-the gold dollar is the unit of
value and the silver dollar, whose value
is, at present, about one-half the value
because Of the implied promise of the
government to redeem it at its face
value in gold. 1t is the credit of the
government that maintains the value
of the silver dollar at par. Suppose I
have a credit with my banker. I can
issue check on the bank, the intrinsic
value of which, 1.-THE worth of the paper,
printing and ink is absolutely nothing,
and yet it is worth it's face value be-
cause have deposit; thing of
value in the hands of my banker to
back it up.
Our unit of value at present it the
gold dollar, but it is proposed to make
| &c ro1ra hnfh tha crold o~l