Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1896-10-06
Ex-senator Henry q. DAVIS
Tells Why He Supports Bryan and
Silver.


ing Register:
In Difference to She wishes and re-
| quest of yourself and other friends,
who have sought a public expression
of my views upon the approaching
election, / submit a few thoughts on
the general questions involved. l
have never been considered extreme
in my party views, but am classed as
a conservative Democrat. / believe
most firmly in the principle always
advocated and defended by theDemo-
cratic party, of home-rule and local
self-government. The retention
among the people of the exercise of
personal liberty and free government
depends largely upon their guarding
we'll the right to control all matters
pertaining to legislation, revenue
and taxation.
The interests of the whole people,
in my judgment, are best served by
a moderate revenue tariff, with Incl
dental protection, levied in a spirit
of fairness to all sections and in
dustries.
The issuesof the present campaign
have narrowed down practically to
the question of the position of silver
in our financial policy. Our Consti-
tuition recognizes gold and silver as
the money metals, prohibits the
States from making anything else
legal tender, and the country from
the beginning has had them in use as
a double standard. There is no
more right, equity or justice in Grip
pling one of these metals in its
functions as mony than II other.
AS long as both metals were allowed
their field of usefulness in the mon
etary system of the country they
served their purpose we'll but if
one is withdrawn or forced out the
other becomes more valuable, just as
wheat or corn would advance in
price if the use and production of
either should be prohibited. AS
long as the laws regulating the ratio
of gold and silver were In force there
was no agitation of the silver cues
ton, and for nearly a hundred years
the two metals, with one slight change,
maintained the same relative value
in the monetary and commercial
world. Soon after the demonotiza-
ton of silver in 1873, this country
began to feel the bad effects of it,
and its discussion by men and parties
began. For the following five years
the country suffered from financial
and commercial troubles. In 1878
silver was partially restored to ITS
former position, and better times
followed. In 1898 its further en-
larged use as money was denied, and
the present gold standard was the
result. The times have been hard
ever since. These are not mere
condolences, but + causes and
effects.
1 am no recent convert to the side
of silver. In 1873 L spoke in the
Senate on the subject of coinage, and
then took a position entirely consis-
tent with my present attitude on the
silver question. MI. Blaine, in his
Twenty Years in Congress-" in
giving the standing of various Sena-
tors on the subject, says.
"Mr. Davis, of West Virginia,
favored the utilization of silver"
and quoting from my utterances
adds, "because it is one of our chief
products, will make the money
known to the Constitution more
abundant, will relieve distress, and
lead back to prosperity"
Is it not significant that in almost
every Congress since 1878, regardless
of the party in power, whenever the
question has been presented, a ma
jority of the members have favored
silver, and have several times re-
fused to make United States bonds,
which are payable in coin, payable
in gold?
/ do not fear the bad results which
the Republicans claim would follow
Mr.. Bryan's election. He has de-
clared in his letter of acceptance
that under no circumstances will he
be a candidate for reelection. This
shows that he is not ambitious for a
continuance in office. For fifteen or
twenty years, from 1861, we were on
a PAPER basis. Both gold and silver
were at n premium, hut the trade
and commerce of the country did not
come to q standstill. Business went
on, and the country was prosperous.
The Republicans do not advocate
putting more silver in a dollar, but
say it is worth only 90 cents. refer
ing to its bullion value. fixed in
London, and disregarding entirely
the value which the stamp of the
government gives it, and also the
increased demand if used for coinage.
They might just as well say that be-
cause it costs one-half of q cent to
print a paper dollar it is worth only
five mills.
Gold and silver, when stamped by
the government, are legal tender,
and of equal value. The Democratic.
party does not propose to take away
this quality from either coin, but to
keep both in nse as legal tender. If
silver is no longer used as money,
about one-half Of the coin of this
country and of the world is taken
out of circulation, which make
money more scarce
The Republicans, in their platform
declare that the''eNisting gold stand
ard must be preserved" until an in
ternational agreement canbe secured,
which means the consent of England.
In all gold countries wages are lower
than in the United States, in some
instances less than half, and the
rro-I.jnn ooonIa have fewer comforts.