The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-30

dows and orphans of such persons for the
next five years will equal this last men
toned sum. The total outstanding insur-
ance contracted to be paid Is $9,6sl, i9I, AT.
This sum must be paid at some time or
other, for death Is certain. How shall II
be paid? In what kind of dollars-doilars
I'm gold, worth 100 cents. or dollars In sill
Yer. worth 53 cents or less? The insurance
policy itself Is an agreement to pay In
lawful money. and the main issue involved
in the forthcoming election brings home
to every policy holder this question, In
what commodity shall the payment he
nader" With silver dollars and gold dol
lars at a parity. the question answers it.
self, but with dollars worth only So cents
what may be the effect on the widow and
children for whom the policy holder hoped
to provide In the event Of his death, or on
his business. which he expects to straight
en- out with the proceeds OF his policy?
What may be the effect on the compe-
tency of his old age. which he expected to
derive from honest dollars. and which
may be payable in doubtful dollars If the
free coinage of silver is adopted? The pre-
miums have been paid in gold or its equiv
alent and to compel the policy holder or
his family to accept one-half the value
that he has paid for at the maturity Of
the claim would be as iniquitous and in
defensible as though he had been robbed
on the highway.
If the views of the Chicago candidate
prevail the companies could not. even II
they are willing. provide for the payment
OF their claims in gold dollars. The plat
form on which he stands reads in part as
follows: 1--WE demand that the standard
silver dollar shall be a full legal tender.
equally with gold, for all debts, public or
private. and we favor such legislation as
will prevent for the future the demonetiza-
ton Of any kind of legal tender money by
private contract" The record of the de-
bauched currency period Of lS70-13 when
thirty life insurance companies retired
from business. is too recent an object les
son to be forgotten, and its results too
deplorable to permit the custodians OF life
insurance funds to be indifferent to the
great danger that threatens policy hold
ers and those depending on them. Surely
It IS not a political question that con-
fronts u.s. and even II 1t is. on the vital
point ct issue-sound morey-which In
wolves the honor of the people and the
prosperity of the country. the Chicago can
didate and platform are antaconstic. and
we may we'll subordinate our nonessen-
tial convictions to the essential one. Tor
patriotic reasons II no other. Their chosen
and beneficiary for common and united ac-
tion against those who would greatly im-
pair, If not destroy, the protection that
has been secured by much self-dcnial. No
one responsible for the management or
those sacred trusts should fail to denounce
the financial heresies of the Chicago pat
form or refuse to ton in bringing about
the defeat OF their advocate.
We wonder If Mr.. Bryan and his coll
leagues foresaw all the opposition which
they have aroused.
"The Republican party stands for
honest money and the chance to earn
it by honest ,cil." William Mckin.
ley
James II. Teller of Chicago, a brother
of the Colorado senator, and a noted free
silver writer, admits in signed letter
to the Chicago Record that the adoption
OF free coinage by the United States
alone would drive out gold faster than
silver could be coined to take its place;
Dut lie duuS tildt CSllIliSutSS SVuiu NC
issued against silver bullion at its COIN
age value" Very well; the price Of
silver bullion, as fixed by the world,
would remain at or very near 70 cents
an ounce, while it's coinage value would
be 81. 1929 an ounce. In other words. the
silver certificates which he proposes
would be fiat money to the extent of the
discrepancy between bullion and COIN
age values. What is this but imitation?
The London Financial News pretends
to think that the American free silver
movement is an attempt to scoop
England out of the worlds markets"
The News would like to play on the
anti English sentiment in this country
SO as to scoop us out of England's
way. Americans of sense see through
this trick.
TIE BEST STANDARD.