Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-08-01
mr.. H. C. WILKES,
OF Skull Run, Makes Some Observations
on the Financial Question.

os skull Run. Makes Some Observations
on the Financial Question.
To the Editor of The Register.
Skull Run, W. Va, July 25.-Whhe
50 many leading thinkers Of this nation
are discussing the silver question: II
might be presumptous fer country
c,o5bo,ner to express his ideas. ! am
me of those Democrats Eho nave pee'i
disappointed by the platform oil Ine
Chicago convention. IN my Ipei H ''4.''
blunted Judgment. fail 20 see the pow
or NJ this government, or any other gov
eminent. or all the combined govern
mems Of civilization. 70 arbitrarily TX
the ratio Of value between any Two com
mo,di.ies Should a law De enacted tuaI
1s ounces Of silver coin be worth one
ounce of gold coin, and be legal teIueL
or that ratio. l. will be effective as io.5
as the government and the people VIII
show no preference for either coIH' ~.
the moment | am forced TO take slI'ei
when | wish a gold payment, that Ho NO
ment the silver stick will lose Us value
as a measuring stick. , :.
The mere act of Congress declaring l.
10 be a measuring sick, cannc' 2IIes-
depreciation that would soon be MADE
apparent to us, by the inflated F2lueS
OF ether things. -
Bu,, says Mr.. Francis G. NeWland' oi
Colorado. in his speech before the foP-
ullst convention, I'VE propose the flsA'-
ful method Of restoring the parity be-
tween silver and gold, by increasing
National bank notes and use silver or
rilver certificates instead OF them. This
will largely increase the demand for sill
yer and raise the value.
Whatever truth there may be IN tAls
posftiOn. l fail to see the Dropriety OF the
policy Of this government being so
shaped as to make market for SILVER.
We have all along been opposed 10 q
government policy that would make Q
probable market for homemade blank
cts. tin, or anything else, when ii mus
be done al the expense OF the consuming
masses.
Then how can we sympathize with
Ehis kind OF class legislation? Personal
interests DO often affect private oDin-
ions but while It may be easy 20 meas
urn The animus OF the political opinions
of a gentleman from Colorado, il would
be unfair 70 attribute this as the animus
of The great Silver party o, this coun-
try.
No. as Mr.. Balf0ur truly said some
time ago TO an English audience, it
would be very Illogical 10 obiec; TO bi
me.allism, simply because Il would
make few men in Colorado rich. The
Important question is, will bimetallism
permanently improve our condition?
The popular verdict should not be in
fuenced by the consideration Of benefit
10 the owner of a silver mine. II should
not De influenced by the jealous thought
that II might enrich him.
Not many centuries ago il was the
cherished popular belief that, like King
Saul, the s0vereigns were divinely APP
pointed Oliver Cromwell broke the ice
of the tradition, and the fathers OF our
government illuminated the world with
better doctrine. The ardent supper, ers
OF VIM. J. Bryan honestly believe that
he is destined to illuminate the world
with a better doctrine than the gold
standard. However this may be. | am
not converted. but for the present must
bow to the will OF the majority. I must
vote for the man for the people. I can
not vote for the man for the classes.
II. C. WILKES.