The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-02-12
THE INTEREST OF THE
DEBTOR.

QUESTION AND ANsWER.--HOw
FREE SILVER WOULD AFFECT IT.
We publish the following letter.
which we have no doubt is written in
perfect good faith.
Editor Representative:
Dear Slr:-Will YOU be kind enough
to give us. through the columns of
THE REPRESENTATIVE, or otherwise,
your ideas as to how and in what way
the debtor class would be benefited by
the return to ''double stanuard' or
to silver basis, after every contract
of indebtedness has been made pay
able in gold. l am asking this ques-
ton in good faith. | seriously doubt
the efficiency Of the policy. 1 am not
gold bug either, as you will find from
the enclosed article which l wrote in
answer to Nicholas Grevstad's, (now>
editor of the 'Skandinavian'O lengthy
article, "The Farmers Ought to
Rule" which appeared in the
"NOrdves ten" previous to the date at
the head of my article. Mr.. Grevstad
had somewhat different ideas then
from what it appears he has as editor
of the "Skandinavian."
Our creditors have, through the in
competency or what is worse, OF our
representatives in Congress, succeeded
expense and if we Go not look out they
will do it again.
We have given them ample time to
firmly establish the gold basis and to
have all contracts, whe Their private or
public. changed SO as to read payable
in gold or it's equivalent" The next
step in this worse than foolish pro-
ceeding, will be for us tC insist upon
policy which will bring gold to
premium, equal to what it was during
| the war and our ruin is complete. l
am open to conviction and would like
nothing better than to have you dis
| pei the doubts which have taken pos
session of my mind. / have been OPP
posed to the finance policy of our gov
eminent ever since the Republican
party in Congress began their "credit-
strengthening legislation. l have
always held that the only way to
strengthen the credit Of any country
or nation was to legiSlate so as to pro
mote the prosperity and happiness Of
it's citizens. How utterly both the
old parties have failed in this is
shown by the deplorable condition Of
our finances. Yours fraterna!ly,
G.. AHLNEss.
| Hanska, Mimi, Jan. q, 1896.
We admit that the passage OF the
act of Congress, permitting contracts
to be made for the payment OF debts
in gold alone. was one OF the sorest
blows ever struck at the prosperity of
the people; but if it is possible for the
producing classes to take possession
of the government even that evil may
be overcome The act of Congress
could be repealed, thus preventing such
contracts. for the future; and the SUI
preme Court could be, by law, in
creased in numb ers. by the appoint
ment Of new judges, who would hold.
and hold very properly, that gold and
silver onstituted tie metallic money
Of the cons titution; and that it was
not in the power Of Congress to
demOnetiZe or diScredit either metal:
and therefore an act of Congress to
authorize contracts in one metal
alone, to the exclusion Of the other.
was unconstitutional and the debts
so created could be paid in the legal
tender money Of the nation. When
the constitution Of the United Sta ties
says, mo state shall make anything
but gold oqd silver legal-tender fol
the payment Of debts" it is as m ucl
as if it said that state could make
gold and silver, (not gold or silver
legal tender for the payment OF al
debts without regard to the terms Of
the contract. This was the position
taken by the great Daniel Webster,
when he declared that it was not if
the power of Congress to degrade OF
disqualify either of the precious
metals.
| 1t is difficult to tie such Sampson