Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-10-01
HILL

one, not even himself, can tell where
he is at. His real and only serious
objection to the Chicago platform, in
our opinion, is that it approves the
! principle of an income tax, for how
can nc object to the free silver plank
in face Of such utterances as the fol-
! lowing which we take from his
speech in the Senate pending the
discussion on the repeal of the Sher-
| men law:
81 do not believe in single gold
/ standard nor Il single silver standard
but ! do believe in the use of both
| gold and silver as the standard money
Of the country, and in their free coin
age at our minis at proper ratio
and without discrimination Of one
metal as against the other.
The Sherman law is objectionable,
because it directs the purchase Of sill
yer instead of providing for the free
coinage of silver. Purchase means
price price means commodity, and
modify means its derOgatiOn from its
intrinsic rank as money metal
Gold has free coinage, and hence it
il has no price in the United States.
1t has the right of free coinage into
full regal tender for the people who
bring ii to any amount to the mints.
Silver coinage nations have not pur-
chased silver. They coin it for the
people just as gold coming nations
coin gold. 1t is the absence of the
free coinage of silver, the existence
of limited and restricted coinage
that Compels government purchases
Of silver, and such purchases abso-
lutely prevent parity. Free metal
lie coinage is essential to the parity
of the two metals, and nothing else
will successfully and satisfactorily
maintain such parity.
The British new-fangled theory of
gold monometalism is an ignorant,
insular, weak minded theory, like |
their theory of taxation without rep
resentation before 1875.
Beturn to the bimetallism of 1878.
1t is permanent remedy for our f.
difficulties. Free silver COIN
age has not failed. The country has |
not tried free coinage since it was
abandoned i'm 1873, but
ii has tried limited and restricted |
coinage, silver purchases, the accu-
mutation Of silver bullion, and lie. |
preciated currency, all of which |
have been forced upon the country
by monOmetallists through miserable !
obtained from silver
money. Why not try that old |
remedy that has not yet been ap.
piled? The Insufficiency Of our
present volume of currency seems
to be everywhere conceded, and vet
there l. an unaCcuuntable reluctance
to establish ptrmauent financial
system, uuder which that deficiency
can he easily supplied.
II l. said that the Presidents mes.
sage contemplates the establishment
Of a gold standard as the policy of
this country. If he really favors the
single gold standard, absolutely de-
cline 20 follow him in his new de-
par,ure. I shall refuse to follow any
administration which seeks to place
the Democratic party in false posi-
tiun, which seeks to lead ii away
from it, traditions, away from the
currency Of our fathers, away from
tn pain Of -afety, away from Demo.
cratic principles and platforms, and
.htn the camp Of our enemy. The
Free!dent nu-; rely upon Republican
Vg;@@ 70 carry out any such suicidal
policy"
There j. NO difference in princi pie
between these utterances of Senator
HUI and the declarations of the Chi
cago platform on the same subject.
How can he object TO the free silver
declaration Of that platform in face
Of the opinions here so fully and
clearly expressed.
FOREIGN SENTIMENT.-The fol-
lowing cable message signed by the
delegates to the International Agri-
cultural Congress, called at Buda-
Pesth by the Hungarian Minister OF
Agriculture, was sent few days ago
to Mr.. Bryan. 1t shows what is
thought Of the decentralization Of
silver in the old " orld
We, the undersigned members
of the International Agricultural
Congress, convened at Buda- Pesth,
wish you success in your struggle
against the domination of the cred
itor class, which, during the last
twenty-three years, has secured both
in America and Europe, monetary
legislation obstructive Of the pros
perity of our farmers and Others. -
Should you be victorious in Novem.
Der we pledge ourselves to spare no
effort to bring immediate pressure
upon our respective governments to
cooperate with the government of
your great nation in restoring silver
to the worlds currency. We believe
that, failing such restoration. gold
will be at premium throughout all
Asia and South America and will
continue to rob the farmer equally