The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-19

a crime is not contemplated and boldly adj
vocated by Mr.. Bryan. for. while protest.
victim in New York. he winks at Kansas
City and Omaha and shows Denver the
card in his sleeve. That his stated policy
will not result in the confscation of one
half of all the value of money involved in
contracts. now in existence is to say that to
deprive a man of his property without right
or compensation is not confiscation. If a
State compels a man to take so cents worth
of silver in settlement of a contract on
which one dollars worth Of silver or gold
is due. 80 cents worth of the payee's prop
erty has been confiscated. and it matters
not what the State does with the property
or whether 1T receives 1t or authorizes an
other to do so, it does not right the wrong
or AXE the malice from the crime. 1t is
true that Bryan and his followers, if direct
ly accused of an attempt to ~repudiate one
half OF all the money involved in existing
contracts, Will enter protest and deny that
such will be the result; but if we consider
their denial it becomes a most perfect con-
fession. When they would have US believe
their policy does not operate to repudiate
indebtedness. they tell us hat silver will
py law be made to be at par with gold in
the markets of the world. But this would
not change the present condition in the
least. and If they only condemned the pres
ent system of the gold standard and uni
Versal parity of paper and silver dollars
with gold, they would confess all they are
accused of advocating. But Bryan, except
When questioned, makes Il continued plea
Tor cheap money, proclaims the present dol
lar TOO good. asks the pensioners to give
up the difference In their pensions so the
AASNS7CS AAidy IOb De slaves, ASKS the ldDOT-
ing man to allow his wages to be reduced
mat he may find work easier if he loses
ms JOB and promises the man who is in
dept that ne can pay with so cents worth
of silver what he has agreed to pay in one
dollar of gold. If his assertion that he be-
Ileved that TO open the minis to silver COIN
age at the ratio of 16 to 1 has caused anv
man to doubt that the Reputation of half
OF the value of all money due on contracts
was intended. his request to pensioners to
give up the difference in the amount paid
them. his request for laboring men to stand
the reduction in wages and his constant
plea for cheap money is sufficient to re-
move il.
But the people of this Nation do not need
to depend upon the opinion of any man to
knew what the Bryan policy will result in.
centuries OF history tell us that unlimited
coinage of silver under the Bryan policy
at this time will result in the population
OF half of all the value of money due on
contract, In 1860 centuries of history
custom of civilization. In 1885 centuries of
history show that Bryan coinage will re-
suit In reputation of half the value of ali
money due on contracts. 1t is as true to
say that slavery is honest labor as it is to
say that fifty cents worth Of silver is
worth a dollar in gold. Silver and gold are
not more alike than wheat and oats. No
man who borrows a bushel of wheat
would pretend that it would be honest to
pay 1t with oats, nor would he feel that an
act of Congress compelling one to take the
oats in payment for the wheat, bushel for
payment. That the Bryan dollar, made
half of silver and half of false assertion, is
a sound dollar or an honest, is to say that
1t Is greater than the sum of it's parts. The
Bryan dollar, made of silver and false as
~sertion, equal parts of each, dishonest in
it's composition, must be launched into cir
c%ulation, branded with a lie by the govern
ment, and as it moves from hand to hand
IL goes on it's mission, falsely representing
itself, and cheats and defrauds it's every
possessor. Any policy that compels a man
to receive as payment for a debt, or for a
day'S labor, or for a buShel of wheat.
money of a different or lower STANDARD OF
value than the standard under which the
debt or labor vas contracted or wheat sold,
cannot be honest policy. Money is but a
means to an end. To accomplish the in
tended purpose it must at all times bear
with it the value of that for which it is
exchanged in the markets. If Bryan would
raise prices he must change the quality CT
money, he must degrade the value Is it
less evident that reputation is intended in
1896 than that the same party intended to
extend slavery in 1850? No assertion that
money power" Lombard street." ETC.,
are criminals, be it true or false, will
make reputation right. VIII a nation of
wealth strike down reputation in 1896 as
a nation of industry struck down slavery
in 1860? w. w.
Knightstown, Ind. Oct. II.