Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1896-09-04

peril to the credit and business of
he country; peril so grave that
conservative men everywhere are
breaking away from their old party
associations and uniting with other
patriotic citizens In emphatic pro
test against the platform of the
Democratic National Convention
as an assault upon the faith and
honor of the Government and the
welfare or the people. We have
had few questions in the lifetime
OF the Republic more serious than
the one whic Is thus presented.
The character of the money
which shall measure our values
and exchanges aud settle our bal
lances with one another aud with
the nations OF the world is OF sOch
primary Importance and 80 far
reaching in its consequences as to
Call tor the most painstaking IN
vestigation, and, IN the end, sober
and unprejudIce ed judgment at the
polls. We must not be misled by
phrases nor deluded by false
theories. Free silver would not
mean that silver dollar were to be
freely had without cost or labor.
1t would mean the free use of the
mints OF the United States for the
few who are owners Of silver coin
no freer to the mauy who are en-.
gagged in other enterprises. It would
not make labor easier, the hours
of labor shorter or the pay better.
1t would not make farming less
labOrlOus or more profitable. 1t
would not start a factory or make
a demand for an additional days
labor. 1t would create no new Oc-
cupations.
1t would add nothing to the com
fort of the masses, the capital OF
the people or the wealth OF the ma
ton. 1t seeks to introduce new
measure of value, but would adj |
no value to the thing measured, 1t |
would not conserve values. o. the |
contrary, it would derange all exist
lng values. 1t would not restore |
business confidence, but its direct
effect would be to destroy the little
which yet remains.
Themeaning of tie coinage plank |
adopted at Chlcagois that anyone
may take a quantity of silver |
bullion now worth So cents to the
mints OF the United States, have It
coined at the expense of the Coy
ernment and receive for it silver
dollar, which shall be legal tender
for the payment of all debts, pnb
lie and private. The owner Of the
silver bullion would get the silver
dollar. 1t would belong to him
and nobody else. Other people
would get it only by their labor.
the products of their land or some
thing of value. The bullion-Owner
on the basis of present values
would receive the silver dollar for
53 cents worth Of silver, aud other
people would be required to receive
| it as full dollar IN the pay ment
of debts. The Government would
get nothing for the transaction. 1t
would bear the expense of coming
the silver and the com munity
would suffer loss by its use.
We have coined since 1873 more
than four hundred millions of
silver dollars, which are maintained
by the government at parity with
gold and are a full legal tender for
the payment of all debts, public
aud private. How are the silver
dollars now in use different from
those which would be in use un'
der free coinoge? They are to be OF
the same weight and nnenesE
they are to bear the same stamp
of the Government. Why would
they not be of the same valueg l
answer The silver dollars now IN
use we're coined on account of the
Government and not for private
account or G ain, and the Govern
ment has sOlemnly agree to keep
them as COED as the best dollars
we have. The Government bought
the silver bullion at It's market
values and coined 1t into silver
dollars. Having exclusive control
of the mintage, itonly COINS what it
can hold at parity with gold.
The profit, representing the dit
ference between the commercial
value of the silver bullion a I'd th e
face value OF the silver dollar,
+ goes to the Government tor the
benefit of the people. The Govern
. ment bought the silver bullion
r contained in the silver dollars at
F. very much less than its Coinage
g value. 1t paid It out to It's credl'