Hutchinson gazette., 1896-05-28
1NDEPENDENr FREE SILVER. {

ing said and done at present on the
subject Of the free and unlimited coin
age Of silver by its champions, who
are battling for the right against the
determined efforts OF those who oppose
it, that l deem it the duty Of all who
favor it, to speak in its advocacy, and
to unite in getting it before the people.
believe its principles are right and
will stand the closest scrutiny, and
that the more it is talked about and in
Vestigated the better the people will
understand it and the more adberents
it will have; and l trust that you, as
one Of its advocates, will allow me a
small space in your paper in which to
express to your readers few thoughts
upon the subject,
What is the meaning of the free and
unlimited coinage of silver? And
what would be its effects upon the
people Of the United States, should a
law be enacted by Congress authoriz-
ing the same? The first Of these ques.
tions is easy of answer, and upon its
solution there is probably no dispute.
1t simply means the enactment of a
law by the Congress of the United
States compelling the government
officials In charge Of the minis of the
government to coin into the silver coins
of the United States, upon the request
of the owner, as much silver bullion as
such owner may furnish, and to re-
turn to the owner in lieu of such silver
bullion, FREE OF CHARGE, the coins so
made from his silver bullion; and it
also means, the further enactment of
law making such coins receivable in
payment for all debts of every kind or
character the same as gold coins now
are.
But the second of these questions,
tO-wit: What would be the effect of
such law upon the people of this
government, were the same to be en-
acted independent Of the cooperation
of other nations, is the one now alb
sorbing the thought and attention Of
statesmen. 1t is being discussed pro
and con, by politicians, and is closely
watched and considered by the capital
lists, and it should be studied and un-
derstood by the farmer, the mechanic
and labOrer, and all other classes. 1t
is the question upon which the Amerl-
can people today, are divided in opin-
ion, and is regarded by some of such
great moment that it threatens to dis.
rupt old political parties. 1t is sub
ject in which every American citizen,
be he rich or poor, has an actual and a
real interest, because it affects our hap
piness or misery, our wealth or poverty,
our debtors and creditors. 1t affects
our homes and fresides. And it affects
our all for which we labor and strive
and contend in life. Yea it is FEARED,
it is DREADED by some high in their
political parties, to that extent that
they are now saying, If it be possible,
let this cup pass." And they are will
ling to give it a place in their party
declaration of principles only, because
they dare not ignore 1t; while others,
equally as high in the same political
parties and at least one political
party, are pressing it forward, claim
ing for it that it will assist in relieving
the masses of the people from their
present financial strain, now so heav-
lily weighing upon them. In short, that
such law would be the greatest good
to the greatest number of our people.
If this claim is true, then in justice to
the great majority of our people, such
law ought TO be enacted; for it can
not and will not be disputed by any
fair minded individual that financial
relief IS needed as speedily as possible
by the great majority of the American
people. Will the free and unlimited
coinage of silver at ratio OF 16 to /,
afford this relief? Let us enumerate
a few of the results that would follow
the enactment of such law. 1t can
not be disputed that it would certainly
cause the opening up and the operat-
ing Of the many silver mines that lie
dormant, and would also cause the de-
velopment and operating Of new ones,
in the vast mining regions of the coun-
try now scarcely touched.
This would furnish employment to
the unemployed, which they now so
badly need. Large quantities of min
ing machinery would be in demand
and it would be manufactured, bought
and sold. Skilled labor of the me-
chanic and machinist would be de-
manded in manufacturing such ma
chinerY. Transportation companies