St. Paul daily globe., 1896-04-28
DEMOCRATIC COMMON SENSE.

One can readily understand that
Populists should demand the coinage
Of silver at a valuation twice that Of
the markets. It is in harmony with
their demand that the government lend
them money at a third to a fourth Of
why the parent school of Populism
should in times past have ''done some
thing" for silver, and why they ought
now to join hands with the Populists
on this issue, for the proposition to fur
nish market that is 100 per cent above
the normal Is but an application to
silver Of the policy that gave a pro-
lection Of 100 per cent to woolens. But
it passes all comprehension why Dem
ocrats should be found to thus for
sake their household gods and stray
Off after those Of the heather.
That Democrat may honestly be-
lieve that silver Is a suitable money
metal, and that all money metals
should be freely coined, is but to
say that he holds to the traditions
of his party. That he believes that the
demonetization by the nations in and
about 1873 was stupendous mistake,
or worse, is not sacrifice of party
faith. He may now demand the free
coinage Of the white metal without
any violation Of Democratic principles.
1t is only when the question Of the
ia flo of oOinapa ic rsnotad %bo+ +bo
forks Of the road are reached and he
must determine whether he will take
the one leading into Republican pro-
lection and Populistic socialism, or
whether he shall keep to the right and
travel the true Democratic path. He
might believe that there is yet a DEM
ocratic way to use silver in our coin
age, and that they are equally wrong
who would deny it any use except as
tokens, and those who would give it
free run Of the mints at a fictitious
ratio. But, unfortunately, he receives
no choice. He must either give
his assent to the proposition to coin
at 16 to 1 or join those who say we
have silver dollars enough, and there
must be no more coined, at least for
the present.
Confronted with two such alterna-
tives, Democrat, tenacious of his
principles, guiding his feet by their
light, will not hesitate where he shall
be found. He will reason it out about
in this way: Gold and silver are only
commodities with money functions.
Either will always go where it can
realize the best price. They always
have so gone, and always will so go,
just like wheat and meats and labor.
We have eX-Speaker Crisp's assur-
ance for this, even if all history did
not confirm it. A half-ounce difference
sent all our silver abroad after 1884
and brought gold here. A difference
now Of fifteen ounces will surely send
our gold away and keep our silver
here. Our present plan keeps both
gold and silver here. If it is less
money we want, free coinage of silver
at 16 to 1 will fetch it; if it is more
money we want, free coinage will not
give it. Until this delirium passes
away and common sense has a chance
20 again direct the Judgment of men.
we NAG better hold to what we have.
If the choice is narrowed to a gold
standard with silver, or silver stand
ard without gold, we would better stick
TO the former. We know what that
is. and no man can say precisely what
the latter Will be. Thus he reaches
the conclusion that he will continue to
travel by the Democratic path, and let
the. slIyerite aggregation of Repub-
iic4ns and Popullsts take the Ieft-hand
path. with It's warning sign board,
'This Road Is Dangerous"