The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-08-30

There II such demand for information
OF q specific character now that interest
Is becoming more general in the chief
issue of the campaign. that at the risk
OF repetition to some. IL may be well to
run over a few facts In connection with
the subject.
The free coinage Of silver at the ratio OF
10 TO 1 means that everyone shall have
the right 70 have silver bullion coined at
the minis Of the United States into silver
eoins-sllver dollars-containing by weight
sixteen tines as much pure silver as the
weight OF pure gold fixed for the stand
ard dollar Congress provided that the
gold dollar shall contain G.% grains OF
pure gold. on that basis the silver dollar
a. the ratio of i6 10 / will have TO weigh
sixteen times q - grains. or sTl.2S grains
OF silver. In standard gold the weight
II G.s grains OF gold. si2.3 grains OF silver.
which 10 the actual amount in these dol
lara
The ratio was not arbitrarily assumed
II was selected nearly one hundred years
ago, because at that time IL correspondent
as nearly a. could De ascertatned 10 the
actual value of the metals IN the open
market
II was well known that en- absolute
ratf, could not be maintained. but u was
supposed that = slight variation would DO
overeonls by Iaw-for instance, as one
would say In describing piece OF land
that Il contained sixteen and half acres,
more or less" meaning that even II
Their. ~as little difference. each would
agree 70 accept T.
Tho nuetuation of the relative values of
gold and silver Is not mere theory. but
an actual fact. borne out by the experience
Of every civilized country. From 1893 10
fsso the average ratio was 1918 ts /. From
iSoi 10 i6N Il was 12a5 TO /. and IN 1910 Il
reached IA ts j. Ia England IL stood at
about Il 50 10 ! In he year i6oo and 15l7
70 By 1Tas IL was recorded that IN
France the ratio was altered one hun-
area ana ATTY times in a single century.
psools who hav. sn5oyed the advantage
OF a stable currency for twAnty years
have no conception % me Annoyance due
20 such fluctuations,
Whenever the variation IN any one coun-
Try between SEA and silver has amounted
20 even 80 nttle as per cent. the under
valued metal has disappeared from The
country. II was 70 obviats this mischief
hat me Latin Union vas formed. consist
Ing OF France. Belgium, Italy, switzer-
.Nna ana Greece. They we're compelled.
however, % Eive Up the free coinage OF
silver France - sometimes quoted a.
h-ing an oxcepttos to the rule thst coun-
srfes with = 'arge amount % silver are
nct 80 rroaperous 50 those IN which Il -
mere equal. France has Suspended TIE
coinage % silver. sat ons reason perhaps
Why - nnea more silver = ased IN that
country nAy Ss tsat the national debt i
a. largely sd In srnan quantities by the
French peopl- Tes Interest therefore,
can oe paia IN either savey Or xol3 with-
cut raixinw tss question % cheap uaoneY
sch a. Wenl3 Pc ltkeiy - arise in view
~ tNs extraordinary drop In tAe prscs %
SILVER Z sach ~ agtempt we're Easds In
5saapex wltA = foreign country.
wAen The a., - ls5s wa. Fassee ncocty
nas n. Thought OF IT, silver cellar A.
tentis- haA been directed 10 IRE necessity
% rssuu.ns specie payments .cr several
vss~s Before. art tSe psssSg~ e ths sct
raakfnx 50 uaauy grains % Eo4t ths stand
49, - value was simr'y in aecortance
vttA rublle demand FER stsaaisr money
SAaa tAsn existed. ans n sccog8ares w1tA
ths sctisu q, ne ctSer great eo-szn .--'al
nations II vas as Il congress sAoala
pa.s a an seeiarfnS th&; ths standard
- zsureasas shsui: - Ire yara -
cause tie uss * TIE sarionw lad become
tneonvsuleas because = hsd gore ogt -
general Use.
70 act e 80 AZ ~ sat a vAgue 81
go. ~ snyt1t1g - sares- u stns7iv g.
aasmea fA&f ths Gnfs - vaiae %
tslisr sSeas1 es As grains sf sogs.