The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-07-21

Chicago Tfmes-Herald.
The Observation-Disclosures platform say


The Democratic-Popu.ist platform says:
Recognizing that the money question Is
paramount 10 all others at this time. We
invite attention 10 the fact that the FEEDER
al constitution names silver and gold to-
gether as the money metals Of tho Unitei
s ates. and that the first coinage law pass
ed by congress under the constitution
made the silver dollar the monetary unit
and admitted gold TO free coinage a. q
ratio based upon the silver unit"
This false statement, which has been 80
constantly reiterated by the free silver adj
vocates that many believe 1t to be true.
is the while foundation of their argu-
ment
II is not a ''sact that sthe Federal con-
sti,ution names silver and gold mote now
these people put silver first) as the money
metals OF the Unit "a States"
Section s of article l or the coEstttu-
ton gives congress the power ito coin
money. regulate the value thereof, and OF
foreign coin. and f1x the standard Of
weights ard measures" So far as con-
gress Is concerned aud the general gov
eminent there Is no other provision than
this. nor any designation whatever as 10
the kind or description of metal that con-
gress many coin into money. Under this
provision congress can. II Il chooses. coin
into money platinum. lead. copper, iron or
any other metal. as well as gold and sill
yer.
The only place in the constitution where
the words gold and silver are used is in
the ninth section OF the same article,
which is as follows: mo state shall coin
money or make anything but gold and
silver coin tender in payment or debts"
This Is a prohibition on the states. not on
congress
yides that there shall be from time TO
time struck and coined ct the said mint
coins Of gold. silver and copper" r. gold
and silver were 10 be the only money
why is copper authorized also? In truth.
the hrst coins that were struck on at the
mint were copper coins. Besides, II the
coinage act OF 17s2 is 20 be authority now
why not follow II as TO the ratiog II
provides "that the proportional value of
gold 20 silver IN all coins which shall by
law be current as money within the
United States shall be as - 70 1, accord
ing TO quantity In weight. OF pure gold or
pure silver" IL is Snst about as honest
the mere differences OF fraetion-to de-
msnd IS 10 l as II is is TO l. II the gov
eminent can perform miracles by merely
stamping it's supsrscription on silver
coins, why shculd the silver producers
give up 10 pounds Of silver for pound
OF gold when they might get IL for IS
pounds,
but. reply the sllverite-, that was
changed IN 1854 by another act OF congress,
which established the ratio At rs 10 !.
This admission gives away their whols
case. for way did congress change the
ratio ia fSsss Because Is TO was not tia
true proportional value OF TIA metals and
IS 10 sssraei 20 be nearer 70 II. Il was
foand that arteen pounds % silver was
az that time worth less than or. pound
OF gold. and gold disappeared from the
circulation. Congress undertook. there
fore. 20 ezralize The metals and sstah-
itShed Is 10 ] as ths proportional value
This also turned cut 20 be an erroneous
valaa tsOn and SILVER szppeare5 from the
c3-ensAtioa.
II. then, congress coui3 ax TIE ratio n
i572 and change Il in 1874. why came, the
same power revise the ratio again II that
es deemed wise. or abolish * aitoxether
as was done in iszST There IL nothing pee
ulSariy sacred nor even patriotic about rs
70 : On Tie contrary q 10 openly dis
honest, for the commercial value Of oliver
and god II te1sy as z 20 I. ard & was
upon commercial value tha. congress- Are.
in T5ss ant next In 1874 established the "a
tics es tAoss years.
What then. ought the reorfe 20 think
CO party tAst bases It's chief issue urou
q false deaysrtior sron the constitution.
and upon shas makes q demand for a
fraudulent eotnages Is IL not acunsy sas-
honest