The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-12-17

sippl valley.
Throughout the entire Union the
trusts, corporations and banking inter
ests were for the most part organized
against silver, and these interests could
act In concert on moments notice while
prompt cooperation was difficult, u
not impossible, among the masses. The
campaign did not sfford sufficient time
to bring clearly before the people an i'm.
I portant truth which ingvestigation must
reveal, namely, that on the money ques'
tion the interests Of the money -owning
classes are not Identical with the interests
Of the ealtb-producing Glasses. A
dollar which increases In purchasing
power 10 an advantage to chose VINO trade
In money and to those who hold fixed
Investments but 1t is an injury to those
who owe money and must purchase II
with the proceeds Of toll 1t must be
evident, therefore, that the people
be trusted to frame financial policy
for the whole people unless they are en-
tirely free from the selAshness which is
generally supposed to be well-nigh
universal trait Of mankind. Money
loaners have never been known TO advo-
cate laws reducing the legal rate Of inter-
est; why should they be expected to ad-
vocate financial system which will stop
the appreciation Of money!
The advocates of free coinage have as
serted that the gold standard Is con-
spirscy organized by the great flnanciers
Of the world to lessen the volume Of the
worlds standard money for the double
purpose, first, Of raising the purchasing
power of given quantity OF money, and
second, of making 1t easier to corner the
supply of standard money. The adyo-
oates of free coinage believed the charge
when they made It, and they believe 1t
still. Inspired by the conviction that
they are laboring in behalf of large
majority Of the people, not only here, but
throughout the world, they will continue
the fight, confident that four more years
of experience will convince many who
have thus far resisted argument.
Some of our opponents, rejoicing in
victory, are attempting to cry down
any further consideration Of the money
question. They complain that agita tion
disturbs business, and they accuse the
advocates Of free coinage Of stirring up
discomfort. The violent epithets used by
some Of the worshipers of gold recall the
story of the London flsh-wife who was
with for abusing an eel
She justified her language by saying that
the eel would not keep still while she was
skinninR It. Those who suffer because
of the gold standard can hardly be ex-
pected to keep quiet and look pleasant
while the injury continues. Hard names
do not relieve their sufferings. They,
too, want confidence restored, but it
must be a confidence that their condition
will be improved-not that their lot will
be made SELL harder.
Agitation is the only means by which
wrong can be redressed under our form
Of government. The man who denounces
agitation simply opposes the discussion
Of public question, and the man who
attempts to put stop to the discussion
Of a public question confesses his hostility
TO our form of government. In nation
where the people govern, they must be
free to consider any subject which con.
,erns their welfare Those who are dis
posed to suppress any further agitation
upon the money question should re
member that the opponents Of bimet-
,llism have always been ready to agitste
whenever they desired to secure legisla-
lion. During his first administration,
Mr.. Cleveland recommended the suspen-
sion Of coinage under the Bland Act
hose who supported him were not afraid
)f disturbing business then. During his
second term he suscceedd in securing
the repeal Of the purchasing clause Of the
Sherman law-the boards Of trade, the
,hamb bers OF commerce, the finanoiers
and the gold standard press did not
hesitate to disturb business then.
All legislation temporarily disturbs bust
ness to a greater or less extent, and yet
The Democrats (the gold Democrats
commenced agitating for the
repeal of the Mckinley tariff act as soon
rs it became law, and the Republicans
the gold Republic leans included) COM
nenced sgitating for the repeal of the
Wilson tariff act as soon as 1t became a
aw. The New York Reform Club was
for the purpose of agitation; 1t
lrst agitated against the protective tariff
md then against bimetallism. The
Home Market Club was organized to
larry on an agitation against tariff re-
orn. / mention thesu instances to show
bat the people who now oppose agitation
against the gold standard have always
,een willing to agitate when they were
,ot satisfied with existing legislation.
Those who regard this election as a
settlement of the question at
ssue should recall the reosnt political
history of the United States. The exact
,ote cannot be given at the time this
'rtlcle is written, but it is so close that
change of less than 10000 votes, proper
v Cistributed over several states. Would |
,veroome the Republican majority in
he electoral college. The vote was SO