Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1896-08-19
Public Men Change.

The records disclose the fact that public
men sometimes change their views on pub
lie issues, and they are in hot political times
charged with inconsistency. A few days
ago Senator Sherman made a great speech
in Columbus, Ohio and said among other
things
"It is strange that the very men who sup
ported aud urged this coinage law OF 1878
and demanded the exclusive coinage OF gold
are the very men who now demand the free
coinage of silver and denOunce as 'goldites'
and robbers all those who believe in the
coinage of both gold and silver.
"lt has been said that the dropping OF the
silver dollar in the coinage act OF 1873 was
surreptitously done. This charge Is shown
TO be false by the debates in Congress, aud
especially by the declarations OF the men
who now make the charge Sixteen months
after the passage of that act Senator Jones,
of Nevada, in a debate i'm the Senate, June
II, 1874, said 1 am opposed TO any propo-
siti0u. come In whatever form Il may, that
attempts to override what God himself has
made for money. / believe the sooner we
come down to a purely gold standard the
better IL viii be FIR the country
senator Stewart, of Nevada. in the same
debate. on June H. 1874, said Sir, the la
boring men and the producer is entitled to
have his product and his labor measured by
the same standard Of the world that meas
ures your national debt Give him such
standard give him such money As you re-
ouirs from him. You require it from the
producer You require from the laboring
men gold 90 pay the interest on your nation
al debt. which is right, which cannot be
avoided It YOU mean 10 save national honor,
but then give him the same money with
which 10 pay that debt "
And nov, commenting on Mr. Shermans
speech, "a paper advocating free coinage,
says: "Mr. sherman, when Secretary Of the
Treasury, wrote public letter, in which he
said
"This uncertainty Of the relation between
the two metals is one of the chief arguments
I'm favor of the m0uometallic system, but
other arguments, showing the dangerous ef-
feet upon industry by dropping one of the
precious metals from the standard of value,
outweigh In my mind all theoretical Oblec-
klU.IN hN AtAt NA NttAt'AN = SUOMI
Only a few days ago public speaker in
Nebraska declared tina, on July 81, 1898,
the Omaha World Herald, Of which Hon.
VIM. j. Bryan is editor, published an edi-
torial entitled "Whst to Do" Here it is in
full:
FIrst-Repeal The silver purchasing clause
of the sherman act, Tor the reason that It's
effect has been to put into circulation silver
currency of such debased value rs to shake
the confidence of umld investors, and 10
force out of circulation much money ordl'
narily used 10 transact the business of the
country, thus producing sulngency and
alarm.
Second-Proyide for the free and unlim'
tied coinage of silver on such standard
as viii put about 100 cents OF silver Into
each dollar, taking the average value for the
last twelve months
The World Herald believe, that the two
propositions contained 40 the above para
graphs appeal 20 the sound Judgment OF She
intelligent people in Nebraska
With regard to the first there ought 90 be
bv this time 900 question Whether or not
timid investors were Justified In becoming
alarmed no the prospect ot "a deprecated
currency makcs NO difference. they may
have been foolish. but even then their fears
hsye bad au effect ou the whole business
world and produced vas, trouble. Remove
the cause ot their fears and restore conf
derce
The second is practical, honest and safe
bimct1 ism ou The ratio oi o. - ltwould
r.opeu sll the silver mines OBJ the West and
Doe equivalent t0 aHoriing permanent mar
ket tn silver 30 about 50 cents per ounce
Investors would know that silver dollar
contained as much real value aS gold dol
ar and 10 would, therefore. pass as readily
in foreign business as gold. Confidence
would then be restored. The gradual in
crease iu the supply of silver currency worth
var would proceed The silver interests
would be stable and reasonably prosperous.
so people, except the greedy owners of
silver mines anxious 90 make inordnate
profits, are interested in the coinage at the
ratio of TO- TO-
No people. except those avaricious owners
of money. who profit by contracting the cur
reucv. are interested in prohibiting honest
free silver coinage at the ratio of to -.
We have no silver mines In Nebraska, and
the interests of the pr, ple of this state sim
p'v require free and unlimited coinage Of
silver upon the basis of its reasonable value,
which cannot be far from I part Of gold to
% of silver