Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-09-03

something for them. Ii would deliver
them to those who deposited the silver,
and its connection with the trapsac-
tion there end. Such are the silver
dollars which would be issued under
free coinage Of silver at ratio of 10 TO
j. Who would then maintain the
pariiyg What would keep them at Far
with gold?
There would be no obligation resting
uron the government to do ii, and il
there were il would be powerlcss to do
il. The simple truth is we would be
driven to silver basis---to silver mono
mets!lism. These dollars, therefore,
would stand upon their real value. IL
the free and unlimited coinage of silver
at ratio of 16 ounces of silver to
one ounce Of gold would, as some OF its
advocates assert, make So cents in sill.
yer worth 100 cents. and the silver dol
lar equal to the gold dollar, then we
would have no cheaper money than
now. and it would be no easier to get
But that such would be the result is
against reason and is contradicted by
experience in all times and in all lands
1t means the debasement of our cur
rency 10 the amount of the difference
between the commercial and coin value
of the silver dollar, which is ever
changing, and the effect would be to
reduce property values, entail untold
financial loss, destroy confidence, i'm
pair the obligations of existing con-
tracts, further impoverish the laborers
and producers of the country, create
panic of unparalleled severity and
iDtiict upon trade and commerce a
deadly blow. Against any such policy
am unalterably opposed.
Upon another feature OF the Chicago
platform, Mr.. Mckinley thus com.
ments:
The silver question is not the only
issue affecting our money in the pend
ing contest. Not content with urging
the free coinage of silver, its strongest
champions demand that our paper
money shall be issued directly by the
government of the United States. This
is the Chicago Democratic declarations.
The ST. Louis peoples declaration is
that Our national money shall be
issued by the general government
only, without the inters ention of
hanks of issue, be full legal tender for
the payment of all debts. public and
private, y and be distributed "direct TO
the people and through lawful dis
bursements of the government
Thus in addition to the free coinage
OF the worlds silver we are asked to
| enter upon an era of unlimited ire
| deemable paper currency. The ques-
tion which was fought out from 1865 to
1873 is thus to be reopened. with all
| its uncertainties and cheap money ex-
| periments of every conceivable form
foisted upon us. This indicates a
most startling reactionary policy,
4 strangely at variance with every re-
! quirement of sound finance; but the
declaration shows the spirit and pur-
pose of those who by combined action
are contending for the control of the
| government.
Not satisfied with the depasement OF
our coinage which would inevitably
follow the coinage Of silver at 16 to |,
they would still further degrade oui
currency and threaten the public honor
by the unlimited issue OF an irredeem
able paper currency. A graver menace
in our financial standing and credit
could hardly be conceived, and every
| patriotic citizen should be aroused Il
promptly meet and effectually defeat it,
Such are the views of William Me
Kinley upon the grave financial issur
now confronting the people of thi
country. They speak for themselves
and require no comment. He hold tn,
country long in suspense, but at las
made himself clear. II elected Presi
dent, be will be bound TO veto bill
providing for the free coinage of silver
even if it should come before him ii
the shape of a rider TO a measure EN-
bodying his Pet theories upon the tariff
To do otherwise would make him
traitor and deliberate violator of hi
solemn pledge.