The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-08-16
and only criterion to be oosesveu IN I'M

and only criterion to Be observed N thae
as I'm any other transac1on1
But under free and unlimited coinage
this would not be the case. lnen nc man
would take less than l2s cents lot an
ounce of silver. as no could take ie 70
the mint and have that much money
coined out OF IT," This IL all very true,
Neither would the farmer sell his wheat
or his corn at 60 or % cents per bushei,
II the government would agree to pay him
81 and 90 cents. respectively And why
should NOT the government buy the pro-
ducts OF tho farmer, at fictitious price
the result OF tho labor OF her citizens-aS
well as tho product OF tho silyer miner!
Why not buy all tho copper and IRON at
prices above those other people pay, and
create these products into money! III the
government were 10 take all the silver,
coin Il, and stamp II a dollar. when IL 10
not dollar by the worlds standard ana
the standard OF custom and commerclal
value, would she not do Injustice 70 the
tailoring people. who would be required
20 receive it in lieu OF a dollar that
the world and custom recognizes as such
Would not the WOrknRman have 10 take
this false dollar. with diminished pur-
chasing power, for his daily labor. and
pay more for tho accessories OF life than
he now pays7 II this be not true, then
no benefit will accrue 10 the PoDulists
who favor this scheme 20 raise prices.
VIII not the consumer have 20 pay for
his sugar and coffee I'm gold or Its equiva-
lent2 All countries with n gold standard
accept q piece OF silver stamped a dollar,
when I'm their country It Is worth only
50 cents7 Does not tho dollar now IN use
possess greater purchasing power than the
"frce and unlimitcd-cOinago dollar viii
possess. If ever utterod2 Then why should
tho day laborer and the salaried man
wish TO have n change. 10 have bad
dollar for 4 good one2
or. b. F." asks: "Has not the silver
miner az much right 10 have his silver
coined free "a the gold miner has 10 have
his gold coined frec?" We have shown
that government has no right 10 coin any
metal as money except such that custom
designates as a proper medium. and she
has no right TO stamp IT'S value beyond its
recognized value IN commercial usage.
She cannot create any value beyond that
given by this sanction. Tho silver1niner
given By this sanction. The silver miner
TO havo the government stamp the value
on his product that custom has fixed, and
that IS what Il "a worth for other pur-
poses.
"The gold men say that silver should
only be used as subsidiary money Has
not this been tho policy. the practice, Of
tho government since its foundation up
10 1873? Up TO this date. IN round num-
bers. only s200O0O.O00 CT silver was coined,
OF this amount about S.OOOOOO silver dol
lars were legal tender. and the whole Of
this for a generation before the civil
war w. ont OF existerce-the balance,
S1S 0OoOO0 was only legal tender 20
tho amount OF s. and $40. Why change
this policy now2
"R. B. j." says; I'm 1890. when It was
probable that a free-coinage bill would
become law, the price OF silver bullion
rose frcm "a cents 10 30" Natural, was
it note And If tho government tomorrow
would offer TO have free coinage OF copper
at u TO 1 or 90 10 J. and mako IL a
legal tender. would it not enhance the
value OF copper II some responsible
house were 10 advertise that 70 would buy
all the wheat IN this country at 81 per
bushel. would not wheat at once have a
boom? The decline OF silver owing 70 no
closing of the Indian mints was strictly in
accordance with natural laws OF supply
and demand.
Tho condition OF our people Is net be-
cause OF my theory that cheap goods and
dear money are blessings. but is owing 70
lack OF employment cccasioned by the
loss Of confidence. suspension OF business.
created 10y the great influx OF silver IN
our monetary system since 1873 and the
fear that 70 win be made more unstable
by free coinage.
II this vexed question. this fall. be
settled in favor OF sound money We VIII
have an era. in nv judgment. p unsur-
passed. prosperity. Foreign capital In MIL
lions. home capital IN large sums. is lying
idle. waiting tho verdict OF the people on
this momentous question.
] S MOORE.
Richmond. Va, August G. 1896.