Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-08-29

The mere declaration that the demo rats
propose to inaugurate the free and unlimit-
ed coinage OF silver Is u menacet to our tinan-
cial and Industrial institutions.
We must not be msled by phrases nor de-
luded by false theories. Free silver would
not mean that silver dollars were to be free
ly had without cost or labor.
The owner of the silver bullion would get
tho silver dollar the people would ges 1t
only by their labor.
par with gold? There would be no obliga-
ton ON the government to do 1t; the simple
truth Is, we would be driven to silver basis
to silver mOnOmetalliSm.
Bimetallism cannot be secured by inde-
pendent action on our part. nor by opening
our mints to free silver until international
agreement is had it Is the duty of the United
States to maintain the gold standard.
We have now more silver than gold.
Eighty-four percent of our foreign ira le
Is with gold standard countries.
The republican party Is not opposed to the
use Of silver money, and has done all 1t
could for it consistent with safety.
We have more silver In use than any
country in the world except China or India.
II elected president 1t will be my duty to
employ all means to promote an interna-
tional agreement for bimetallism.
Free coinage would defer, II not defeat,
international bimetallism.
Free silver would contract our currency
and drive 5OO,OOO,OOO gold dollars out OF
circulation.
The money of a country should never be
the subject of partisan contention.
In addition to free silver we are asked to
enter on an era of irredeemable paper cur
rency. We are not nation OF classes, and
appeals to prejudice should be rebukel.
Free silver Is a menace, but we are ex-
periencing effects Of partial free trade.
The public exigencies demand prompt
protective legislation. If elected 1t will be
my duty to promote this object
The messages of president Cleveland from
the beginning of his second administration
abound with descriptions Of the deplorable
industrial and financial situation OF the
country.
What has brought the altered conditions
of the past four years of democratic admin
istration ? The volume of currency has been
practically the same, the per capita of mon
ey has been about the same, AMI our money
has been absolutely good all the time,
Good money never made times bad.
We never had greater prosperity than
from 1880 to 1892, with II gold standard all the
time.
1t is not more money we want; what we
want is to put the money we already have al
work.
The tariff act of 1894 simply contributed l
to swell our national debt more than 1862,
900.
We have been sending too much money
out OF the country or getting too little In. or
both we have lost steadily In both direc-
tiOns.
Our home market has suffered because Oul
wage earners are without work. Ii they
cannot earn they cannot buy.
The loss OF earning power In this country
the last three years would in itself produce
our unfortunate business situation.
The need Is not for an increase In the vol
ume Of currency, but in the volume OF ISL
ness.
Protection has lost none OF its virtues.
The first duty of the republican party will
be the enactment OF tariff law which viii
raise all the money necessary to conduct tn,
government, and so adjusted as to give pref
erence to home manufacturers and adequate
protection to home labor and the home mar
ket.
Our duties should always be high enough
| to measure the difference between wages
paid here and abroad.
Reciprocity has given splendid results ant
should be restored by Congress.
| am in favor of restricting foreign immi
grafton we want none who do not seek oul
| shores to become citizens.
The soldiers and sailors should neither bt
neglected nor forgotten they gave thu
country the best they had.
The policy of discriminating duties II
favor of our shipping should be adopted.