The Green Forest tribune., 1896-08-13
TIE 8OLTERS' APPEAL,


by the Bolting Silver Republicans.
AT secret conference Of the boiling
silver delegates to the St. Louis conyen-
ton an address to the people OF the
United States was agreed upon and
given to the press. This declaration Of
free coinage doctrine was prepared
after careful consideration by Senators
Teller, Dubois and Cannon and other
silver leaders and may therefore be
held to emhody the strongest argu-
ments which can be found in favor OF
the silver standard.
The grounds on which Senator Teller
and his associates ask for support are
the assertions that the basis of our
money is relatively contracting;" that
'our financial policy is dictated by cred
jtor nations;" that I'VE produce all the
necessaries Of life,while other nations
consume our products;" that 1.-The res
toratdon of binetallism by this coun-
try will double the basis of our money
SYSTEM" that falling prices are the
deadliest curse of national life end
that "bimetallism will help to bring
about the great hope of every social re-
former" of better conditions for the
human race. On this platform the
voters nominated Senator Teller as an
independent free coinage candidate for
president.
These claims of the silver republicans
are all untrue. Instead OF contracting,
the basis Of our currency is steadily in
creasing. The production OF gold is
now about 5000, 100000 per year, and of
this over $130, coo is added to the
worlds stock of money. Our stock of
full legal tender silver has increased
from less than $4,000, 900 in 1873 to
$4,000, ,oooo in 1896.
Our present financial policy was de-
liberately adopted by the representa-
tives Of the American people in congress
assembled, The charge that it was die
tated by foreign nations is an unfound
ed imputation OH the men chosen TO
make our laws
The idea that this is country Of pro-
ducers while other nations are con-
sume1>s only is too silly for argument.
For every dollars worth Of products we
sell abroad we buy back at Some time a
dollars worth of foreign products,
which we consume. We consume in the
long run exactly as much as we pro-
duce.
The claim that "bimetallism," by
which is meant free coinage at sixteen
70 one, VIII double the basis Of our mon
ey system is not believed by the silver
ties themselves. They know better, for
they know that with the bullion value
of silver at thirty to one, the cheaper
metal would drive out the more Valua~
bic. Thus, instead Of doubling the basis
CT our money, free silver naonometallism
would cut it in two by forcing gold out
Of circulation.
Falling prices are due almost entire
~ to improved methods OF production
bv which labor on the farm or in the
workshop can create wealth more
easily than in former years. This
means that the masses can get
more Of the neeesaaries and luxuries
Of life. and it is therefore a great
blessing, and not curse. Other rea-
sons for falling prices are the new
sources Of production opened up in
various parts of the world in recent
years. The gold standard has had
nothing to DO with the lower prices.
The claim that "himetallia1n (silver
monometallisIn) Will bring about the
great hope Of every social refonner"
would be more convincing if it We're ac-
co1apanied by information as to how it
would do it. In the absence OF proof
general promises Of better conditions
under free silver are altogether
too vague for sensible men TO take risks
on A pclicy which depends on haseless
assertions and positive perversion of
facts can never gain the support OF %
majority Of the American people, and
the movement headed BY Senator Tel
.er is thereforn doomed to failure.