The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-08-09
JAMES g. BLAINE AND SILVER.

JAMES G. BLAINE AND SILVER
The FIRE. silver papers. especially those
which wsre formerly Republican. have
been quoting FOR some time portions OF
speech delivered By the Late James ..
Blaine ard the purpose - 10 make II sp-
pear that he was n favor Of the tree con-
age OF silver at the ratio OF IS 70 ana
would today. - alive. De found In tne
ranks OF those who are dsnouneing the
crime CO is73 and demanding what they
are pleased 10 term the money OF the
constitution. The extract from AFR.
Blaines' speech which the free silver
papers quote most frequently and. in some
instances leave standing AZ the head Of
the column. IL usually printed as follows:
II believe gold and silver coin 20 De tho
money Of the constitution; indeed. the
Money Of the American people anterior
10 tho constitution. which the great or
ganlc law recognized as quite independent
or Is own existence. No power vas con-
fsrred on congress 10 declare either metal
should not be money. Congress has, there
fore. IN my judgment, no power 70 demon
efIze either. IL, therefore. silver has been
damonetlzed. am in favor Of reEnone1tz-
ing Il. II It's coinage has been prohibited,
] AN in favor OF ordering X TO be resumed
/ am in favor OF having Il enlarged"
JAMES G. BLAINE.
This extract Is published by free silver
papers with the deliberate intentson Of
gnlsrepreSenting Mr.. Blainss position and
desBalug ne people into believing that he
favored ananciai legislation which, az
matter OF fact be was strenogsly oppos-
ing. II order that che public may under
stand just whAt MT. Bialne's views on the
silver question were in ISIS. when he ex-
pressed the sentiments shove quoted We
print to-day IN another column the speech
Ia fun Il vas delivered in the United
States senate In February 1878 when the
Bland-AIlson biz vas under consideration
when Mr. B.Asnes remarks are read
In their entirety IL IL not remarkable that
Indignation Is expressed at the shameless
attempt 70 attack the dead ssaissman's
memory by leading people 10 believe that
ne. II alive. would lndorse this ridiculous
silver folly He would have opposed IL
now fast as he always opposed every at
tempt OF quack financial doctors 70 in
veisle the American people into adopting
a cebased and uncertain monetary system,
and his argument OF February 1878 against
free coinage OF gold and silver al the ra-
to Of is to 1 Is Just So strong today as 1t
was eighteen years ago.
The ingenious gsrhlers have Mr.. Blaine
SAP that ne believes gole and silver are the
money OF the constitution and that cong
ress had no power to remonetixe either.
but they omit The unotatlon from Webs
TER who said that gold and silver. al
rates axed by congress. constitute the le-
ga standard OF value In this country"
They suppress this because ii contains
the words at rates nxed by congress"
Webster believed that the commercial ra-
ito or the two metals should he considered
and that congress could fix the rates sc-
eogdingly. but this would never do for
free sslverite who insists upon fictitious
ratio % ls to /.
If ne free silver people. who point TO
their Blaine quotations with the remark
that. he wac good enough Republican 10
follow. believe that his silver views were
sound they should reproduce another por-
ton Of his speech wherein ne said:
At current rates o. silver the free co,n-
age ~ a dollar containing E2is grains.
worth IN gold ab0at e cents. gives an L.
legitimate profit 70 The owner OF The bai-
Ion. enabling him 20 take % cents' worth
81 ia 10 The m3nt and get Il stamped as
eoln and force his uelshbor TO take Il for
a fuu dollar This Is an unfair advantage
which the government has no right 10
give 10 the owneg ~ silver bullion and
which defrauds the man Who IS forced 20
take the dollar. II aseur6diy follows thai
y we give free coinage % this dollar q ID
ferioF value ana put 10 d. circulation We 90
/ go AZ the exrense Of our better coinage n
gold. and unless We expect the invariabls
experience OF other nations 20 be IN some
MYSTERIOUS way suspended for cur peculiar
hcnsat Nc inevitably lose car gold coin
/ II VII fow out from rs with the certainty
/ and The force az the tlaes What
1 gain. therefore. should We make fer tie
/ circulating medium II on opening the gate
/ for silver 70 now N We open SIN wider
/ gate FOR god 20 Tow outF II were 20
i venture upon slctuau on che silver cues
I tan should declare thar until Europe re-
! maaeHres silver va aunat AFFORD 20 coin
Z a dollar as low as ts'a grains"
Asa matter q fact. Afr Ralne's speech
/ a,l through VAS an argument agaIns; TIRE
/ free coinage o. SILVER a. IRE ratio Of ls 20
l. he didn't believe IN e. lie warned ne
/ people thar 81 woa3 lead to silver uoHo-
| uetslnsn. sn3 In or3er 70 prsvsat such
! disaster Re proposed. y fres coinage could
| not hs prevented, 80 add surncleut num-
| Der Of grains q SILVER 70 make It equal
| % the value a gaia Ia : ao.lsr II Ne fear
20 grave results from trss coinage al Is 10
| m fs-S when yAe s.vsv 81 a dollar was
| worth only g ceats. What woald have been
| nj. attitude on thls Guestioa when tAe ST.
ve~ IN a aanar Is worth oaiy g essts'
/ Mr.. alslne's views on currency matters
/ aarh, % be wei known. especially -
/ Nose Republicans who are row so- pgr-
rases ~ eeceis seeking - place him ia =
eass-s light. App.eson's o1egrapAy q BsAns
thus summarizes his position.
.on re currency question ~ away.
assumed a pronounced position wave
/ stN A member az the hease. - February.
iS-e. ns ufaae an elsbeca;e speech o. to
/ nAstansf aranccs ard against any pr
! pe,aatlen e an srreaee=,sh,e paper cur"
/ reacy, anA sooa after entering ire sensts
ghea ne subject vas eroaghi forSarc. -
feek ss-saz ercuns against re eeisrioFa-
{ t.an e the xgvew collage. lie strenuous
=. OPPOSED the BsanG hlli tree coinage a.
- ne inevitable souFat % amend '' -
a..