The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1896-01-30
TREAT THEM ALIKE.


TREAT THEM ALIKE.
Bimetalism is word which trips SO
lightly from the tongue OF the average
person eng. xed in the discussion OF
money and its uses that it has practi-
caly lost its significance, and is used by
the mono-silver advocates and the mono
gold adherents to express any one Of a
halfdozen crude ard ill-defned IDEAS of
those so using it. If the HERALD under
stands what the word was coined to
express it is the concurrent uses of gold
and silver as money, without prejudice
or discrimination for or against either.
and no one has the right to designate
himself bimetalist who does not advo-
cate such use, and the means by which
they can and will so be used. And the
application OF the principle as well as
the actual use mnst be universal, and
not local. Under existing conditions,
with such wide disparity in the COM
mercial value of the two metals, to adj
NIT both to free coinage at the ratio OF
sixteen to one, and clothe both with full
legal tender powers, will inevitably
driye the more valuable out of circula-
ton, for no one who has the privilege of
paying an obligation in a cheaper or
less valuable commodity or medium of
exchange, will elect to pay it in the more
expensive or dearer. 1t is therefore
inevitable that the free coinage of silver
on that basis means an exclusive silver
metallic currency-silver mono-met al
ism. On the other hand, he who would
drive silver from the doors Of the mints,
although he may advocate the present
policy of ''maintaining parity" using
silver only because it is redeemable in
gold, is gold mouo-metalst. And yet
these are the only grounds very gener-
ally taken by the masses of the people
or even by the fnanciers either in con-
gress or out oft; and vet both financial
schools claim to be bimetalists. They
are both mono-metalist, each in fact
advocating indirectly the exclusive use
of the one metal which is its favorite.
How then shall practical bimetalism
be achieved? Easily enough. Put them
both upon exactly the same footing,
according to both exactly the same
privileges, and give every individual the
choice of using which he shall prefer,
Admit both freely to the minis at ratio
OF sixteen to one if you please--although
any other convenient ratio would serve
the purpose as we'll, and repeal the legal
tender clause respecting both. Admit
them both into circulation in any guam
tity demanded bv the conditions and
requirements CT trade. Relative values
will adjust themselves as quickly and
accurately as the mercury adjusts itself
to meteorological conditions. BUSINESS
wnuld soon adapt itself to such system
of bimetalism, the volume OF redemption
currency would be sufficient to meet all
redemptive demands, and trade and
commerce would be upon stable, force
ful and healthy basis. There would be
no more practical difficulty IN liquidat-
ing domestic monetary transactions
than there is at present IN international
lin which no legal tender enactment
governs or controls.
Japan Is a nation which our silver
friends delight to quote as being pros
porous, aud even threatening to the
manufacturing supremacy OF the United
States-and yet japan is practically up
on this basis. Silver is freely coined. asis
gold, and while both circulate, yet the
gold yen is the standard, while the
country is practically upon silver
basis. The ratio oil coinage there is
1917 to one. Gold and silver are both
uaed, but at different valuations. And
one word to those who are pleased to
think japan so prosperous, and profess
to see that she will soon rob us OF our
manufacturing business because of her
silver circulation-the advantage she has
on exchange, as they express it: Wages
range from eight cents per day for un-
skilled labor to twenty-five dollars
monthfor responsible skilled work, such
as is performed by bank cashiers and
confidential managers Of great enter
prises. No wonder japan can compete
with us in the world's markets. Reduce
labor in this country to that deplorabIe
condition and while we could control
the markets OF the world, we should sink
to the level of japanese civilization. The
silver argument drawn from japan is
really the weakest and worst OF the
whole weak and bad lot.
HON. c. K. DAVIS, Minnesota's gifted
and brilliant senior senator, is promi-
nently mentioned in connection with the
presidential succession in the election of
1896. There IS no man SO far mentioned
better equipped Tor the exalted honor
than he. A thorough patriot. a, trained
z legislator and eminent iurist. man Of
broad grasp and rinvincible courage in
maintaining conclusions, OF deep research
and polished dicticn-he would bring
os,l