The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-06-24
BE HONEST A MOMENT.

/ We are told by single standard writ
ers that it has been the agitation of the
silver question which has caused the
present financial depression and al
| our business troubles. Such talk is
fat balderdash. Nothing could be
more absurd. It's the prevalent uni
versal depression which has given
strength and force TO the demand for
silver. The silver demand did not
make the depression, but the depres-
sion made the demand for silver. II
the country were prosperous there
would be no silver agitation or money
agitation of any character. A railway
magnate said TO US the other day that
| with a protective plank and a gold
| plank, money would Immediately flow
| out from Wall and Lombard streets TO
seek investment, and times would be
easy, even before election day, on the
mere promise of a sound standard and
protection. Such talk is foolish, espe-
ciaIly from such a source. The rail
ways Of this country will never be able
to discharge their indebtedness with
the unpaying business that can only
come 10 them under such a circum-
Scribed monetary rule as the single
gold standard. We have the gold
standard now, and where are the rail
roads, and where their business? Pro-
lection and silver go together. They
ere as indiVisible as the English policy
of worldwide free trade and single
universal gold standard. Matters are
not improving, cannot improve from
an American standpoint, in no salts
factory degree, until protection and sill
yer are linked, or permitted 20 go to-
gether, as they naturally Should. The
Democrats will be no better off with
silver alone than the Republicans will
be with protection alone. The western
producer wants the silver and the east
ern manufacturer wants the protection.
The two combined means good prices
for both east and west and prosperity
for all. If the gold standard is so
meritOriouS what is the matter with the
present times? The true Republican
doctrine is gold, silver and protection
Gold and silver and paper all on
parity, has been a Republican demand
unvaryingly since the days Of resump-
ton OF specie payments. We didn't
resume in gold, but with specie. They
further tell US that the demand that
the most universal money metal in the
world shall be money, lawful, legal
money, threatens 10 overthrow the gold
standard. That being true the gold
standard itself must be weak one as
it certainly is a varying one in value.
The world cannot get along without
silver as money. Gold would be prin-
cipally missed by the powerful and
rich. Gold is the rich mans money,
and we are willing that he should have
it, but that is no reason why the poor
man should be denied q money. The
poor man cannot command the gold
so long as it Is the only money and re-
mains in the grasp Of his more power
full brother But with both gold and
silver as money and paper good as
either as promises to pay" in one or
either or both, the poor man will have
a chance for some of each. Not stabil-
ity, nor honor, not justice, nor right,
are at the bottom of the demand for the
limited and narrow single standard of
gold, but downright selfshnesS and
greed.
Kansas is not in favor of President
Clevel3nd's policy, which has been, dis
tinctively, the maintenance of the gold
standard. As Kansas cannot be made
to worship Wall streets golden calf,
and as the Republican party of Kansas
has on the question of Prohibition and
other issues adhered to Republican
platforms Of its own construction, its
leaders might do well to put such fin
ancial plank in the state platform as
would coincide with the views and
wishes of the majority of the people of
the state.