The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-11-07
We Are Coming Again:


The bimetallists the believers in the free
coinage of gold and silver, were badly
beaten in Tuesdays contest, but not dis
mayed.
The money question was a new one en-
tirely to all the people east OF the ONO
river. and to many in the Middle West
The campaign of education was conducted
scarcely three months, and the violence,
the Misrepresentation and falsehoods OF
the almost united press east OF the Ohio
river and in that populous Western centre,
Chicago, so misled many thousands OF
people that they absolutely declined to look
into the question at all. They followed
the press, and shouted 53-cent dollar into
the ears of the people, and talked of free
riot and reputation.
The banks (not all the rural ones) the
insurance companies, trust and railroad
companies, the manufacturers and corpora
tons were welded into one solid mass.
Depositors in savings banks were told that
their deposits would depreciate one-half III
the event of organs election, and holders
of life insurance policies were assured that
their policies would be paid in fifty cent
dollars. Railroad employees, mechanics
and all salaried people were humbugged
with the idea that free coinage OF gold and
silver would increase the cost OF living
while their wages and salaries wonld re-
main stationary. Where persuasion failed
to swell the grand army of Shylocks from
the Democratic party, coercion was used.
Railroad companies. banks. manufacturers,
wholesale and retail merchants all joined
in coereing their employees. MortgaSors
were told that if Bryan were elected mort
cages would be foreclosed, and the holders
of mortgages by those who were not reeu-
lar money changers, were told that Bryan 5
election meant the repayment of mortgages
in deprecated money.
But the fight is not ended. The money
power. by the means just described and a
most wholesale use of money, have won
the first battle. There will be more of
them. The question will come up IN the
congressional elections two years hence and
again in 1900, and it will continue to be
foremost in American politics until bimet-
alism prevails.
When the tariff question was laid before
the people in December, 1887, it was a
new one to this generation. 1t had been
considered to some extent, but the people
generally knew as little about the federal
system of taxation as they did in 1896 Of
the federal system of finance.
In the Presidential election of 1888,
after nearly years discussion, however,
tariff reform was badly beaten. Harrison
had 233 electoral votes and Cleveland Is.
From 1888 to 1892 the tariff discussion
was carried on and in the latter year the
figures of 1888 were more than reversed,
Cleveland received 27I electoral votes and
Harrison but 145, Weaver carrying %
electoral votes.
As it was with the tariff question so will
it be with the money question. The ears
that were deaf to reason in 1896 will be
open in 1900. Bimetallism is right.
Every principle of right and justice sup
port it and so does every sound theory in
finance The people will master the
question in time and bimetallism will
prevail. Men who were frantic for mono
metallism in 1896 will be enthusiastic for
bimetallism in 1900.