The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-10-16
TO TIE WoRKINGMEN OF THE UNITED

TO TIE WoRKINGMEN OF THE UNlTED
STATES:
1t will only be a few days nov before
you will be called upon to exercise the
sovereign power granted you by our
constitution-the right Of SUFFRAGE
Before casting your ballots permit
me. as one of our number, to make a
few pertinent suggestions.
The one great fact that stares us allin
the face IS that Of the wretched and
heart-broken condition Of millions Of
our fellow workmen,
How can the awful suffering of our
people be alleviated is, ! know, your
greatest concern.
Reflect, then. for a monVnt and rea-
son with yourselves as to whether the
distressing conditions prevailing are the
result OF natural or artificial causes.
A natural cause would be the failure
Of our soil to yield sufficient food to
sustain our people. Famine would re-
suit and a financial panic would be a
natural consequence
An artificial cause would be the fail
ure upon the part Of the people, in the
event of bounteous harvests, to get the
grain from the ~granaries.
Now, to obtain our food supplies.
what does modern civilization require
from u.s. The medium of exchange
money.
Therefore, you are directly concerned
as to the volume of money in circula-
ton, for upon that depends the oppor-
tunity of exchanging your b for the
necessaries and comforts Of life.
If the quantity Of money be limited
as it is in China to say 81 or 81 per cap
ita. a very low state Of civilization pre-
walls and human beings are practically
transformed into animals for the bene-
fit of a few individuals called manda-
rims or noblemen. If the quantity be
greater, as in Mexico. or Spain. or
Italy. or Portugal. a higher state OF
civilization prevails and the people are
in a much better condition than the
Chinese. If, as in France. a $40 per
capita prevails we reach a high grade
of civilization and find that nearly 40
00C, 600 Of human beings can exist COM
fortahly within that small area of ter
ritOry.
Therefore, in my judgment. whether
in this land of fertility our per capita
Of money be 81 or $40 directly concerns
our welfare and determines whether we
are to be free men or slaves.
The following resolution of the Penn
~sylavania Republican convention Of
1895 is in point here:
We, the Republicans Of Pennsyl-
vania. in convention assembled, repeat
for the regulation and government ofthe
national Currency the following prin-
ciples of finance, which were announced
to US at our last state convention,
and which since then ave received
the overwhelming approval Of our citi-
2ens:
I've favor the Of the cir
culating medium Of the country until
the same shall amount to $4,000 per
capita of our population
The farmers, also, through their Ma
tional Alliance, have repeatedly de
manded a circulating medium of $4,000
per capita, to keep pace with our re-
quirements.
If our soil yields us sufficient for
our needs, and representing that yield
is a small volume of money. a panic Is
the result and distress is general.
This is an artificial panic and the
gamers under such a state of affairs
are the few who" become noblemen or
masters, and the sufferers are the
many who, through long continuation
Of such a system. become slaves.
Now, let ne. call you attention t.
some figures.
The volume Of gold and silver in the
world Is estimated at s.. 900. 600. 900
about equally divided between the two
metals.
If. as the gold men fear. America
shall be deluged by a food Of silver
let US see what that food would amount
TO in the event Of the fulfi!ment o.
their prophecy.
If the entire worlds stock of silver
dollars 6. 500. 900. COO were exchanged
for American labor and prod
ucts, how much would We get: FIT
dollars per capita. or a trife more thar
the volume Of money France employ
today-a country possess!ng about one
tenth Of our area.
Just thing Of Il! To accomplish sucl
q result we must 6eplete the treas
uries of every country upon the fac
Of the globe! France must yield L
US one-half Of its specie wealth an,
contract its volume of money CORE
spondinely. Mexico. China and Indit
must surrender their all. Il there
after do business upon some other basi
thai a specie one.
Yet. this IS the dire prediction Of tn
gold standard advocates in the even
Oh tne IHieeu "NSkeS oooPNlHS DlFlet
allism.
Doyou believe such a result would fol
low our return to a timetable policy
Aud II you co. would you not be quito
tc vote for a financial policy that woul
practically give to US one-half tn
specie wealth Of the world?
Let us examine into our stock
gold. There are 10 available proc
that we possess a gold stock Of $3.50
G00, 600, or 1850 Ger capita. But, Il
argument sake, ] will admit of such
stock on hand.
II, as the bankers of the countl
demand. we destroy our greenbacl
and treasury notes, and II. as Seer
Ary Carlisle says. silver dollars a