Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1896-10-15
PRODUCTION OF
MONEY METALS.
Its Increase a Boon to
Mankind.
Why There Is No Fear of
Initiation.
Inscriptions Attempt TO
Destroy Silver.
Real Enemies of the Public
Welfare.


of given years as evidences of the fact.
They say nothing of the increased pro-
duction of gold, but the fact is that the
gold production during the last ten
years exceeds that of silver. But neither
fact is of any consequence in the discus
sion. The supply of the precious metals
differs from the supply of farm prod
ucts and manufactured goods. Wheat
and corn are consumed, cotton and
wooden goods are made into clothing
and worn out. Every commodity is per-
ishable but the precious metals. These
have been accommodating during all the
ages of the worlds history, and they
are not consumed or destroyed. The in
crease or decrease of the production of
either has therefore no such effect upon
the supply as does a short crop or an
overproduction of the things which we
consume from year to year. The worlds
total supply of the two metals is not in
creasing as rapidly as the demand for
it, based upon the increase of popula-
ton and business of the civilized ma
tions.
The money power is always strug-
Cling to make money dear by decreas-
ing the quantity. In the fifties it want
ed to demonetize gold because of the
increased production in California and
Australia. But England, not given to
change, adhered to the gold standard.
believing that gold production would
not be permanently increased. For near
~ 80 years this same power has strug-
gled to abolish the use of silver as mon
ey and uses the same arguments that
were formerly used for the demonetiza-
ton of gold.
All the great authorities on the sci
erce of money have maintained that the
two metals together give a more stable
measure of value than either one Of
them alone. When one falls short, the
other usually increases. The worlds
experience is that when any single great
nation keeps its minis open to the free
and unlimited coinage of both metals
on equal terms at given ratio neither
the action of other nations nor the vari-
ations between the relative productions
of the two metals will seriously affect
that ratio. France maintained the pari-
ty between silver and gold at ratio Of
1914 to ! for 70 years-from 1903 until
1873. This was not affected by the
adoption Of the silver standard in all
the German states and in Austria in
1857, nor by the adhesion by Great
Britain to the gold standard, adopted
by her in 1876 The silver coinage in
the United States during all that period
was very limited, because of the incon-
siderable production of silver, and
therefore had but little effect upon the
question.
Gold and silver have always been
preferred over all other materials for
money, because the amount of them is
limited to natures yield. Neither Of
these metals can be manufactured. They
are produced in varying quantities, and
the variance is unimportant relatively
to the accumulations Of the ages. There
is no mere danger of imitation from the
overproduction of gold and silver than
there is of the overflow Of Lake Superb
or from heavy falls of rain.
1t requires vast amount of both
metals to supply the demand for the
arts and manufactures. It was the ex-
pressed opinion a few years ago Of Mr.
f1sifen, the statistician of the British
board Of trade-himself an uncompro-
missing gold monometallist-that the
supply of gold was being entirely con-
suned in tie arts and that ncne of it as
being added to the worlds supply of
ccin.
The struggle of the gold monometal-
lists to destroy silver Las produced un-
par&llelcd distress throughout the world,
although their battle is bat partially
wen. 70 what lower deep mankind
would be doomed by their final success
Will never be known if. our nation, tire
strongest, richest and most populous in
tie world, shall turn the tide Of battle
i'll the present presidential campaign.
The increased production Of either Of
the precious metals has always proved
boon to mankind and has been follow
cd Icy all uplifting of civilization. But
money lenders have always seen in it
In injury to themselves in proportion to
the benefit it confers upon mankind. A
man who will witfully menace the pub
lie peace for private purposes deserves
the cpithet CT anarchist. We know OF
10 element in this country so deserv-
ing to be classed US anarchists as those
who seek to put burdens upon the peo-
PIE which they cannot and will not
bear, and thus undertake TO cnslave tie
people, who have too much Of the spirit
OF Independence to allow themselves rG
be cuslavcd. Enquirer.
An income tax may have been IN.
constitutional, but 1t wars right. And
wtrn'Mr. Erynn Is elected president
1t will be made constitutional AS rCl
rs riaht. The constitution IL sarvo.
b., tho welfare Of Tic people ~ q
30.