Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-09-10

commodities or for debt. From 1741
to 1910 the quantity of silver produc-
ed was thirty-five times that of gold.
From 1S49 to 1850 the worlds output
of gold was equal to the total output
of the 356 years preceding. From
1868 to 1872 the gold output exceeded
the silver output by nearly fifteen
hundred millions of dollars; yet dur
ing all these years the ratio between
the two was about 155 to 1, because
each enjoyed the same privilege at
the mint. From 1873 to 1892 the sill
yer output exceeded the gold output
by only one hundred and ninety mil
lions of dollars; or to state it different
ly, from 1871 to 1894, the output of
silver weighed but seventeen times
that of gold; yet the one constantly
increasing, and the other, measured
by gold, constantly decreased in
value. The divergence began in 1878.
Why? Because Of the financial legis-
lation of that year, devised and exc
cuted by men who thereby saw a
method of enhancing the value of
their possessions through the inf1ic-
tion of untold misery and suffering
upon the producers of the world.
Twenty years ago the premiums
we paid you were not very burden
some. Through the operation of
your "sound money" system, it has
since taken constantly increasing
quantity of all the products Of toll to
meet your annual demands. These
have slowly decreased in amount as
time has passed; nevertheless it has
taken more corn, wheat, cattle and
silver and other commodities to ex-
change for the money necessary to
keep our policies alive. These premi-
ums you in turn have loaned on con-
tracts requiring their repayment in
gold. By so doing you have increas-
ed the burden of the payer and the
value of your money; you have also
Disseminated against the money of
the people, and thus burdened it with
the reproach whose existence now
seems to justify you in denouncing it
as base and spurious. If your present
policy of gold monometallism contin-
ues, the most of your policy holders
must die soon If they would realize
anything, for the constant fall in
values of all things except gold will
not enable them longer to meet their
annual dues.
Whether bimetallism succeeds or
not, you we'll know that your gold
contracts are unassailable. Every
dollar nominated in your bonds must
be paid either voluntarily or under
the sheriff's hammer. You advertise
the enormous sum of your assets as
an inducement for business with you.
These are gold assets and must re-
main SO; yet you tell me in the very
face of these conditions that If the
opportunity be given you, you will
pay me fifty cents for every dollar
you owe me. Do you think man is
honest who would warn you not to
travel upon a certain road, and that
if you did, he would waylay and rob
you? Were your conscience hair as
tender as your pretences are trans
parent, you would paraphrase the
golden rule by doing unto Others as
you compel others to do unto you,
you would send me policy payable
at my death In gold, and thus give
me substantial proof of your SINGER
ity. l trust may live until you do
this.
No, my dear sir, your bowels yearn
with no compassion for me. You fear
that your dollars will be less valuable
in the event of the Democratic sue