Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-08-28

Speaking Of London papers reminds
us of the fact that they sometimes slop
over and tell the truth. A recent is
sue of the London Financial News con-
tanned the following very true state
ment:
There is a plain moral in the re-
mark that If the United States
would venture to cut herself adrift
from Europe and take outright to sill
yer she would have all America and
Asia at her back and the command
Of the markets Of both countries. The
barrier of gold would be more fatal
than any barrier Of custom house.
The bond of silver would be stronger
than any bond Of free trade. There
can be no doubt about it that IL the
United States were to adopt sill
yer basis tomorrow British trade
would be ruined before the year was
out. Every American would be pro-
tected, not only at home, but in every
other market. OF course the United
States would have to suffer to a GER
tain extent through having to pay her
obligations abroad in gold, but the
loss of exchange under this head
would be a mere drop in the bucket
as compared to the profit to be
reaped from the markets of South
America and Asia, to say nothing of
Europe. The marvel is that the
United States have not long ago
seized the opportunity. 1t has been
piece of luck that it has never &C.
Cured to the Americans to scoop us
out of the worlds markets by going
on silver basis, and it might serve
us right if, irritated by the con-
temptible apathy of our government
toward the silver problem, the
Americans retaliated by freezing out
gold. 1t could be easily DONE"
1t is real amusing to hear the walls
go up about the United States becom-
ing the dumping ground for the silver
of other nations in case our minis were
opened to free coinage. We have
heard men express this fear who did
not handle 500 in all kinds OF money
in year, and never any gold. The
Aspen Daily News, commenting on this
phase of the silver question, says:
Will not the United States be the
dumping ground for the silver of the
world If our minis are opened to the !
free coinage of silver? is a question
that is being asked. Some inclined to- !,
ward the restoration of silver express ,
this fear. 1t doesn't require a great |
deal Of reasoning or reflection to dispel !
these fears. II We have free coinage |
how can foreign holders of silver coin
be benefited by having the silver coined .
here? 1t is not claimed that the silver
dollar of the United States will be le-
gal tender money anywhere except in
this country. Hence If foreign holder
Of silver has his bullion coined into
American dollars he must spend his
money here for American products or
invest it in American enterprises. In
either event this country would be
benefited by the influx of silver. II
here should be a flood of silver to this
country there would be dearth of silver
n other countries; and this would spec
lily bring its price up in foreign count
lies to the sixteen to one ratio. But
here Is no great amount of silver bull
ion in the world. Most Of the silver in
'ther nations is in the form OF money
md coined at the ratio Of about 18 to !
With gold, hence there is no danger
hat foreign silver coin would come
lere to be coined into what the gold
Bugs claim would be "50-cent dol
ar" No, there is no danger that the
United States will become the dumping g,
'round of the worlds supply of silver /
lnder free coinage.
w. s. MORGAN. r.,