The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-09-05

dian wheat farmer out Of business? The
argument Is thar free silver will raise
prices, but if wheat is higher in Ameri-
ca the European dealer will not come
here for his supply.
The hope of the American farmer is In
divsIsitication of crops and home mar
ket. lie can no longer command the in
ternational market at high rates or grow
rich on single crop. Nor can tn Q far
mers hope to be exempt from the risks
or all commercial undertakings. II
they have chosen farms with poor judg-
ment. or too far In advance of market,
or II the providential ordering of storm
or drought is against them, they cannot
expect the country at large to be taxed
to help them out. The percentage of
failures In other NOR camille ventures Is
very high, among farmers 1t is comparn-
lively low, but In manufacturing or
farming alike the law of self-reliance ia
the only law which makes for perma-
nent prosperity and manliness.
These are hard facts, but they are
facts which must be faced.
Granting, for the sake OF the Argument,
that gold Is approaching in value, in
splts OF the enormous, unconsumed accu-
muint1ons OF the past and the rapid In
crease OF discovery and output from the
mines, the question recurs whether the
substitution Of the cheaper metal would
bring relief. 1t Is complained that gold
is unsta BILE, but the recent instability of
nearest approach to stability which is
within our reach in order to inspire con-
fidence, and. under present conditions,
this can never be supplied by silver.
There Is capital enough for every legit-
innate business enterprise, and by the
processes of credit it can be multiplied
indefinitely. but it cannot be sat at It's
work SO long as men fenr that it will be
suddenly oheRpened In the using. Capt.
tai brings no return to the owner unless
he somehow puts it at the service of the
| community, but the tempting lure the
lenders follow is profit, and when the
risks are aroat the profits must be also
great. Remove the thought of risk and
boarded capital will be set free, mills
will start UP. railroads undertake extern
sions and improvements; hopeful enter
prises commend themselves to investors.
AS it is, pending the decision of the
value of the dollar, no one is spending,
every body is boarding. We live from
hand to mouth with the machinery Of
prosperity idle at our doors.
| "But silver dollar now is just ri
good as gold," men say. Yes, for ths
trade from hand to hand. No one wishes
| liability depends inexornbly upon its lin
itation in volume, and it's service to the
convenience of the public. 1t is worth
| its promise in domestic trade SO long al
a certain limit is not exceeded, but any
| overplus brings popular distrust. We
seem to have reached The limit for pros
porous times, and the strinRenoy has
already brought the beginnings Of dis
trust. Does anyone in ordinary transac
tions see "greenbaok" or a government
note nowadaysP They are reserved ant
boarded. precisely as the market woman
saves her new quarters and pays out tn
scratched and worn ones first In change.
First. stability, then confidence, thel
prosperity these are the rounds Of tn
ladder which we must climb. And DELHI
crate unscttlement of long stablishe,
standards and definitions of value In til
supposed interest of olaAH could hardl
fail to result in national dishonesty an,
| diahonor.