The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-10-16
ANSWER TO MILLS
Mr.. Keene Gives the Readers Of the
'Cltizenn an Excellent Presen-
tarions Of Facts and Figures
to Disrupt the Argument Of
the Texan.
To TIE Editors ofthe Citizen:

To TIE Edit0rs If the Cuizen:
A number Of the subscribers and
readers Of the CITIZES. referring IN
terms Of fattering communication 10
the independent spirit Of his political
work, Justice and Jurisprudence"
have highly hoDored the writer by re-
oueetfng that he furnish them, through
the columns Of the CITIZEN with a re-
view Of the recent letter Of United
states Senator Mills, Of Texas, upon
the effect Of the free coinage Of silver
upon the wage Garner.
Throughout this now famous letter
it is plainly to be seen that Senator
Mills comedies with Mr.. Mckinley
and the Republican platform, ia think
ing that however desirable it may be
TO correct II, the gold standard il an
evil which Americans themselves are
incs pabel Of curing. That desirable as
would be the advantages to our cur
rency Of a bimetsllic system, the con-
sent If foreign IatiODs Il precedent
condition to its establishment.
Senator Mills, like Nr. Mckinley,
Senator EdmOnds, Mr. COchrane aud
Carl SchurZ processes 10 believe. that
silver Ike C8Gar's assassin, will briug
this republic 10 such pass that Dir.
Bryan would have Teason u repent Of
meddlIng with il. If the prophecies
of these prominent politicians were the
result Of researches undertaken from q
di-intefested love Of the science of po-
liticai economy, or patriotic purl ose
u promote the best Interests Of the
country irrespective u party, | am free
to coufezs that too much reverence
could not b. accorded their opinions.
But it must be apparent 10 every re-
feeling mind, that q SUFFICE inS estiga-
ton under the excitement incident 10,
and during an ilhamed canvass COLI
Quoted ~ welIkuown pr pagaBdists
IN hot pursuit Of partisan purposes az
fOrds but little aid and comfort 10 earn
ct seekers after the truth Of the whole
matter.
The wanton and clsndesiine destruc-
ton of the natiOnsl standard Of value
III 1873, Low inaccessible to the public
eye, presents nouentOus problems in
1896; problems not easy of sOluti' u, set
IL u not the less his duty aud ObIiga-
ton, than the high privilege Of every
voter after an earnest investigation Of
the subject % ASSERT aud maintain a.
best he may the grounds Of the faith
that i. nIOzt within him; because thO-e
reasons may also enlighten Others
honest III casting their Ballots. 1t IL in
this spirit, and this alone, that L ven
ture % cOntrOyert the grounds upon
which Senator Mills and the gold
CHAMPIONS rely TO maintain their COLI
tenfIDn.
The postulates following honestly.
fairly and fully present their views in
their 81 strongest light:
lst The retort Of the Senate FL
nance Committee demonstrates that
y ages measured by the best dollars
from l84O o 1892 had been Increasing
all the time and are still Increasing.
2hd. That prices measured by the
same standard were falling during tue
whole fifty-twO years.
3rd. That this was very happy
condition for the wage Garner.
4th. That III 1865 the Unlimited is
sue Of paper money banished gold, but
raised wages 81 per cent.
5th. But that the Increased cost Of
commodities had so increased the rate
of living under paper currency, that
labor was robbed Of half its earnings.
9Th. That wages in 1891 we're 80 per
cent higher than in 1860, and in gold
were 81 per ceut. higher that in 1866.
7th. That the price Of wages taking
100 for 1860, a. 100 cents. was $l.25 PER
day in paper and in 1891, SLIGO per day.
9Th. That the wage worker always
gets the most for his services when the
dollar in which he is paid is the dollar
Of the commercial world-whether
Democratic or Republican. / am Of
opinion that The repore OF a committee
appointed by the dominant party, upon
paTtiran question, IL entitled ~ Te-
ceive about the same scientific consid
eTalion ss if not limiting their inquiry
to prices, labor and wages the commit
tee had extended their report 20 as To
embrace Astronomical observations.
For the sake Of the argument, how
ever, L accept as absolute verify every
fact re- forth in the eignt pOstulates OF
5sna OF Mills. But maintain that
these Iacts, whether they be true or
false, In part or III whole, are niislead-
ing, iailacious, aud almost all Of them
were abstraciloDs; aud yet Mckinley,
Mills, COchi an, Edmunds, Reed, Ray
nor, Schurz aud the Metropolitan
gOld press daily assert that the work
ingniai's ballot should be Cast iii favor
Of the gold standard, provided he finds
these economic facts well proven. /
contend that the nOmentOus question
for the wage Garner Is not whether he
has been or shall continue To tie under
gold or silver paper currency; not
whether he he subject TO declining
or advancing prices in commodities;
lot whether his wages were Increased
81 per cent. aud commodities prices
doubled; nor whether in 1891 wages
were 20 per cent higher than in 1866;
Lor whether he I've best laid in the
boasted Lest dollar in the world. The
nIOmentous inquiry for the working
man should be, whether measured un-
der any dollar, whether increasing or
decreasing III purchasing power,
whether under rising or falling prices,
higher or lower wages, under what era
was he most prosperous? And was he
not most prosperous when and in con-
sequence OF the generous, genuine,
general ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Of the Dation,
which with leaps aud bounds was de-
velOpiDg the material riches of its nat
uIal resources, under the reign OF u
plentiful supply Of paper money? Ii
commodities advanced aud wages fell
off and he had constant demand for
his labor how was he Injured? If gold
had advanced his wages 80 per cent.
f.. l.. - L.