The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1896-02-06
DEMOCRACY VS..
FREE SILVER.
Why Free Coinage Of Silver Can
not Be Secured Through the
Democratic Party.
RECORDS, FACTS, OPINIONS,

Of Democratic Professions .sa rt.t
f"rms The Si~.. Of TIA. People on N.
Question Of the D., waa, Ih-, Nae.
and what They rhink.
Under this head will be presented
communications competing for the
cash prizes announced elsew heT- for
the best article on Why the Free
and Unlimited Coinage of Silver
Cannot Be Obtained Through the
Democratic Party
BEECH. y. G.. Nov. Il. lsa1.-
Gold and silver have been the Joint
standard for money from time im-
memorial, and have been recognl zed
as the measure of value by all coun-
tries throughout all stages Of civili-
Zation.
Silver is precious metal. ami its
early use as the
CHIEF MEDIUM FOR EXCHANGE
is very apparent. And A. such IL
has come down through pas,
ages 10 the present time, serving tn.
people IN foreign and domestic busi-
ness.
Its parity with gold was well main
tanned until 1873, (when II was de-
based) as reference Ia tho coinage
history OF the world from the earl
lest time down To the latest will
show. In all countries until within
this century, and in
THIS COUNTRY UNTIL 1873.
Z I'D and silver have enjoyed equal
standing as money metals.
The tables of Pixley and Abell
cover period from 100 TO 1873,
(year of demonetization) Their cor
rectness is out of dispute. They
show that the ratio of gold to silver
in 100 was | to ij.ll: that just be-
fore decentralization began in Europe
it was l to l5 A And at no date
between 100 and 1870 did the ratio
of gold to silver rise higher than |
to 1892, or drop lower than 10
Hoo.
Now, see what has happened:
silver is demonitiZed: for just before
1873 the ratio had stood at to lJ.51
and kept thereabouts. as We have
seen for over
ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY YEARS.
Thus We see that the two metals
which, prior to the European league
against silver, had kept a relative
value free from any sudden or violent
twenty-five years following 1873
had their relative value changed 81
violently and greatly that wherea.
one ounce of gold would buy only six
teen ounces of silver in 1873, il viii
buy over
TEIRTY-TWO OUNCES IN 1896.
Listen to this: The British golt
standard has been on trial in thi
country since 1898. Previous to tha
year the Bland-Allison law and tn,
Sherman law counteracted the Brit
ish gold standard and debasing eff
fects of 1873.
We have had. say, the Brltisl
gold standard in complete operation
since 1898.
"But since the day that the clos
ing Of the Indian mints precipitate'
a panic in this country by suddenl
LOWERING ALL PRICES AND VALUES
the people Of the United States hav
been experiencing the result of tn
single gold standard imposed o.
them for the benefit of Great Brit
ain. Constitution.
The question for discussion il
why the free and unlimited coir
age of silver cannot be secure
through the Democratic party"
i From the foregoing statements
is conclusively evident that the
DEMOCRATIC PARTY Is REsPONsIBL
for such a state of affairs, and
further prove that they are, let l
examine the history of that par,
for the past decade or more in r
gard to the money question. N
Cleveland was opposed to silver b
ing a joint money with gold befo
his Inauguration to Office for his fir
term. He endeavored TO have ii
coinage of the silver dollar stopp'
over ten years ago; and his constIt
3 ents
WERE NOT IGNORANT
of that fact, or at least those vi
kept pace with the actions and d
clarations of their leadership, we
we'll aware of it.
The people were informed of b
: gold standard theory, time aft
=, time, and from stump to stump. b
l fore and throughout the last Pre-!
;. Dental campaign. The Republican
9 and Populists both did this. B
the
PEOPLE WERE BLINDLY LED
+ facts disguised, theories covered u
and declarations smuggled-till Z
party was victorious in galnil
!. power of the government, and L
: result was as soon as the Preside
i could convene an extra session
J. Congress he did so-not for the pu
!. pose of repeating the McKinl
!. tariff law-but, for the purpose
debasing silver and establishing
vi THE BRITISH GOLD STANDARD
y in this country.
b Consequently, where is our hop
I; The New Orleans mint has recent
/; been closed, leaving only the Unit
), States mints at Philadelphia q
r San Francisco in operation. II
!, has been done by our great fins
,; cier, Carlisle.
). 1t is no wonder that the Treasu
is bankrupt. and this governme
has
\. $163, 600, 900 OF NEW DEBT.
There are 137 ,644, 900 fine oun'
y of silver bullion now in the Ire
to ury; the coinage value of this b
g. lion in silver dollars is $177, 1854 ,0'
IS Enough to pay the new indebt'
i'll ness of this country, and make }
ut as rich as . Vanderbilt, besides.
e. In 1894 only $758 in silver doll
be we're coined. Lately only two mi
m in operation and that only for