Great Falls weekly tribune., 1896-09-11
AN OBJECT LESSON.

This campaign has turned out fruitful
in "object lessons" The goldbug crowd
appear to regard this as splendid de-
vice for the education of the masses on
financial questions Starting out with
the assumption that the plain people are
intensely ignorant Of the rules OF the
game Of finance, in which the money
broker acts on the old time-honored rule
of heads win, tails you loee, they have
established sort Of kindergarten sys-
tenn of teaching them the great goldbug
principle that resistance to robbery Is re-
pudiation.
So far as any logic can be evolved out
Of the goldbug utterances, it seems to
amount to about this. Gold is the only
stable measure of values. 1t possesses
this virtue by reason of some mysterious
inherent quality. Legislation cannot
alter the value of any metal. Free coin
age would not raise the value OF silver,
as expressed in gold, but would only re-
suit on premium in gold equivalent to
the fictitious value added on to the COM
mercial value Of silver. In other words,
the true value of free coinage silver
dollar would be about 53 cents in gold.
Hence they howl about reputation OF
debt and 50 cent dollars with which
working men will be paid off.
Now, il this position be correct, and
nearly every goldbug orator in the
country has been preaching it indus
triously for months past, then silver bull
lion will be worth no more in gold coin
than it s at present. TO admit that it's
value would raise to 81 20 an ounce (the
lG to ratio) in gold would be to grant
the whole question now at issue before
the American people and leave the gold
bugs with out a leg to stand on.
This being the case, the offer Of II. II.
Kleinschmidt OF Helena, perfectly re-
gponeible man, to enter into contract to
purchase 100000 worth OF silver at
3l,lO per ounce, payable in gold coin OF
the United Statee as soon aa the preei-
dent of the United States has signed a
1G to free coinage bill ia certainly
worth their consideration. Mr.. Klein
schmidt is willing to put up 100000 in
cash to secure his carrying out his con
tract with any goldbug who will put up
a like amount, conditioned on his fur
nishing the silver at that price, 8l.1O in
gold coin, and he says he is confident of
his ability to find customers for s2O,OOO,-
900 more silver on the same terms.
Here is an object lesson for the rich
gold bugs OF the east who are prating
about 50 cent dollars. Lot them em.
brace this opportunity to swell their al
ready great wealth and add to theiI
boards Of gold. Mr.. Kleinschmidt is O
wealthy man, perfectly able to make hif
offer good, as any eastern goldbug car
ascertain through the Helena banks OF
commercial agencies. IL the goldbugl
are honest and believe what they preach
they will gladly take up with his offer
But they won't do 1t.
Mr.. Kleinechmidt wrote letter to th'
New York World making this offer pub
lie, but after making inquiries as to hi
responsibility through the Helena bank
and receiving reply to the effect tha
he was amply able to keep his contrac
tho World refused to publish the offer
II constituted an object Lesson which
they dare not put before the people o
tho east lest tho dishonesty Of the gold
bug teaching should be made too appar