The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-03-20

to Senator Sherman as to the relative
merit or correctness of the two sides of
the financial question, because that is a
threshed over story, but ne was asked to
account on philosophical and sociological
grounds, for the existence of the over
whelming sentiment in the sections
named in favor of free silver.
Senator Sherman talked freely and
widely on the financial question but in
long conversation he failed to offer once
a reason accounting for the earnest
belief entertained by the masses of the
people that free coinage will give relief.
That this strong sentiment does exist
Senator Sherman admits, for he spoke of
the other sections of the country, as op-
posed to the west and south, as being for
sound money" or gold monometallism.
"The entire section" he said, "east of the
Mississippi and north of the Ohio rivers
is for sound money, which is the gold
standard we have now" And yet he did
not dig down to the root of the matter
after the causes, of which this silver SEN
timent which he admits exists is the ef-
feet He seems to think it is a passing,
ephemeral fancy which today is and to-
morrow is cast aside. The nearest he
came to an explanation was that it was
simply unrest and dissatisfaction
catching at an imagined remedy;
hard times brought on by insult
fcient revenue, and that all
would be solved if we should
be fortunate enough to elect a RepubIi-
can president and a Republican con-
gress.
''The people of Ohio" said Senator
Sherman, ''once had this idea about free
silver. They entertained it awhile and
then when they saw that it meant less in
real wages for the workingman, less in
real purchasing power TO all holders of
money they went back to sound princi-
Piles. They saw it meant 3 departure
from the standard of all the great COM
merclaI nations of the world, the re-
duction of the United States to the plane
of Mexico and the oriental silver using
countries and they abandoned it All of
the country east of the Mississippi and
north of the Ohio is now for sound
which is the present gold stand
ard :"
"Of course Senator Sherman you be-
lieve that the farmers and people of the
coinage would help them, but what
would you assign as the underlying
causes OF their firm belief that they are
right?"
"Well, the silver mines are situated in
that country. But free coinage wonldn't
benefit them if they should get it. All
the silver of the world would come to
our Iuluts dn0 bney WOO1Qu De any p6f-
ter off than they were before.
"Unfortunately the farmers have al
ways suffered and do suffer from hard
times. Free silver couldn't help them a
particle. If prices were raised it would
take just that many more dollars to buy.
Hard times can't be done away with by
free silver, else we should not have them
now. We have more silver money. now
than at any time in our history and there
are 100000 900 of it in the treasury
which comes back rs soon as it is sent
cut If free coinage would benefit the
farmers, therefore, they would be all
right now.
"The universal depression is due to
revenue. We are falling be-
hind $30,o00,O0o year and enroaching
on the redemption fund which enables
as to maintain the gold standard in order
to pay the expenses of the government.
"If we are lucky enough to elect Re-
publican president and congress SO as to
provide revenue for the Government the
hard times will cease"
Speaking of the effect of free coinage
If silver Senator Sherman said: