The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1896-08-15

NEedSeS IN purchasing power IS JUST as
dishonest as dollar which decreases IN
purchasing power. 1t can not be SUI
cesstully claimed that monometallism or
hlmetalIism or any other system gives
an absolutely just standard OF value.
Under both recommendation and bime.-
allism the government likes the weight
and fineness of the dollar, invests 1t with
legal tender qualities. and then opens
the mints 10 its unrestricted coinage,
leaving the purchasing power OF the
dollar to be determined by the number
OF dollars.
BeIter than Recommendations.
"Bimetalhsm Is better than monomet-
allism. not because 1t gives us perfect
dOllar-Oecause that is a dollar absolutely
unvarying in its general purchasing
power-but because 1t makes a nearer ap-
preach to stability. to honesty. to JUS
t!ce, than a gold standard possibly can,
Prior to 1873. when there were enough
open minis 10 permit AL the gold and
silver available to ind entrance into the
worlds volume of standard money, the
United States might have maintained a
gold standard with less injury TO the peo-
pie OF this country; but now. when each
step toward a universal gold standard IN.
hances the purchasing power Of gold. de
presses prices, and transfers 10 the oock
cts OF the creditor class an unearned in
Crement the influence OF this great ma
ton must not be thrown upon the side
OF gold unless we are prepared to accept
the natural and legitimate consequences
Of such an act.
Any legislation which lessons the
worlds stock Of standard money in
creases the exchangable value OF the dol
lar, Therefore the crusade against silver
must inevitably raise the purchasing
power OF money and lower the money
value Of all other forms OF property.
Decentralization "a Mistake.
our opponents sometimes admit that
IL was mistake 10 demonetlze silver.
but insist that we should submit to the
present conditions rather than return 10
btmetallism. They err In surprising tNat
We have reached the end or the evil re-
suits Of the gold standard; We have rot
reached the end. The injury IS con-
-inulng enc, and no person can say how
the world is 10 suffer from the ATTEMPT
! - make gold the only standard money.
, The same influences which are now opsr-
| Ating 70 destroy silver in he United
States will. II successful, be turned
against other silver using countries, aud
each new convert TO the gold standard
will add to the general distress. So long
as the scramble for gold continues prices
| must fall and general fall in prices Is
| but another definition OF hard times. our
| opponents while claiming entire disinter-
/ IS, sIn-ss for themselves, have appealed
to the selashuess Of nearly every class Of
| society. rsc7gnlzing the disposition of the
| Individual 10 consider the effect Of any
| proposed legislation upon himself.
| We prsseu, 10 the American people
| the financial policy outlined n the Chi
| cas0 platform. believing that Il will re-
| suit in the greatest good to the greatest
| number. The farmers are opposed 10 tie
| gold STANDARD because they have felt its
| -Gec:. Since they sell a, wholesale sai
! buy a, retail. they have lost more -aan
| they have gained BY the failing pr!css,
| and besides this they have found thar
| certain fixed charges have not fallen al
! all. Taxes have no. perceptibly de-
| creased. although Il requires more farm
| produce now than formerly TO secure he
| money wish which 70 pay taxes Debts
| have not fallen. The farmer who owed
| 5000 Is stu compelled 70 pay 5000 al
| hough 1t may be twice as ditficu', a.
| formerly 20 obtain he dollars with VII ch
% pay the debt, Railroad rates rave
not been reduced to keep pace with the
| falling prices. and besides ;hsse ITEMS
there are many more. The farmer ia :
nus ''-"i compliant against 'hs k"''
7.'-''i'' d.
""Ge Farmers injured
Wage earners have ben Injured by a
| gold STANDARD. and have expressed them
selves upon the subject with great en-
| phlsts- In January, 1895, petition ask
ing for the immediate return Of the free
and unlimited coinage Of gol4 ami silver
| at u 70 ! was signed BY representatives. o,
| all or nearly all the leading lab"f organ
.za'loHs and presented IL congress. All
wage earners know that while the gold
standard Increases the purchasing power
ot the dollar. 1t also makes u more ittf-
cult to obtain possession %: "a dollar, ans
hey know that employment .s less per-
manent, loss Of work mo~- probable an!
| employment, less certain. Gold STANDARD
encourages the boarding Of money be-
'al77 money is raising. 10 also lsscour-
ages enterprise aEi para'yzes inlus,ry.
On the other hand. the restoration oc hl-
rnatliasn Il7e0grazas the boarding. be-
cause when the prices ar. rising money
an not afford TO l5- idle IN tn. bank
vaults
Fire and Life Insurance Policies
our opponents have made special Sp-
peal % taoss who hold fire and uts irsg--
anre policies. but thes@ policy holders
KNOW mat since tie total premiums re-
'".Ead exceeds the total losses paid. a
rising standard must be q more benefit to
ompaa."s than . Its policy holders
.d10h soUrlH1" is expressed by our 5r-
poaenes for the fsposjtor7 N savings
banks. They constantly pr-1te before