West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1896-05-07
liberation of a fow general prOpo-

First, as to the position of the
Democratic party as to what, for
brevity. | will call the "double
standard" have been acting and
voting with the Democratic party
for over forty years, aud | always
understood that the Democratic
party was so tanght-not only
favored the double standard, but
was proud of being regarded as the
author OF the system in the United
States. When l first began to take
an interest in politics. there was
but little said about the "standard. q"
for it was fifteen years or more
after cold Hickory" and old "bul-
lion Benton" had squelched the
iniquitous institution known as the
United States bank. aud exposed
It's rottenness and corruption, and
the people seemed to have repu
dated, for all time, such theory
OF finance as national banking
system. They all appeared to be
perfectly satisfied with the double
standard as it then existed, and so
continued until 1873. There was
certalAly no party opposing it,
whatever might have been the opin.
ions of individuals here and there.
Aud | feel certain that tho Demo
cratic party, as a party, never
changed its position upon that
question till long after 1873, il 1T
ever has. am sure that all the
older men will remember, that the
act of Congress demonetizug silver
was made the burden OF every Dem
ocratic speech, almost, for years
after It's passage. Democrats in
this county. l am sure remembe
when Frank Hereford, who was
canvassng the State for reelection
to the United Senate, spoke IN this
county. They remember that his
speeches, m ,de in the court house,
and at Torra Alta, were devoted
very largely to an arraignment Of
the Republican party For p,ssing
that law. Mr.. Hereford gave an
eloquent and fJrcible history OF
that legislation. lie told how it
was surrcptitiously and sneakingly
"railroaded" through the Senate.
'Withoat Jsitg read," and without
any opportunity fJr inycstig ,tion
or discussion" and how the ptss ge
Of that act had "struck down one.
half OF our money" and thereby
doubled the uurdens' OF the tax
payer aud debtor. and doubled the
profits of the money lender aud
bondholder"-and you remem Der
how we threw mp onr cups" and
applaudod. Our worthy Secretary
Of the Treasury. as late as 1873 or
1879, characterized the act OF 1873.
as the bl1ckest crime Of the ages.
Now may be told that Mr.. Car
Isle and IN my Others have changed
their opinions, as they have "a per-
feet right to do. Wise men, it is
said, do change their opinions.
while fools DO not, aud admit the
truth Of the aphorism, and have no
quarrel with the gentlomen who
have done 50, but / must be per.
mitted to say, thai l have listened
in vain for the reasons that led to
their conversion. / have read moth
ing from these men half so logical
and forceful as their former utter
ances on the other side. If the
demonelization OF silver was wrong
in 1878, what has sanctifed and
made it rightin 1896? II the Demo.
cratic position was right in 1878,
and up. to 1888, yea, 1892, which
wing of the party has been steadfa
and consistent? ! am told that
Democrats are justified in their op-
position to free coinage n0w, now,
because the price Of silver bgIli0n is
50 low ia Boudon--that the silver
dollar cannot be worth any more
than che commercial value Of the
bullion in it, and consequently that
the silver dollar, in order to be
worth 100 cents, must be just a
little less than a wagon wheel. II
that must bc 50; if on accoun. Of
the market price Of bullion, the
silver in the silver dollar must con-
tain 7l2 grains Of pure silver, or
S25 grains standard silver; and if
the dollar must be increased and