Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-03-14

standing in court. The republican
party and protectionists generally
have always claimed 70 be bimetal.
lists. and II the Is United States SEN
ators and their followers honestly
stand for bimetallism, they are lusti-
fed in making this demand upon the
protection party. Bat the demand
should be for . bimetallism that
guarantees the permanent use of
both metals; not . scheme falsely
named bimetallism, which leads
straight and Immediately to the use
Of one metal only. II the fight il to
be between silver monometallism and
gold monometallism. the gold will
surely win. II il Is to be An honest
fight for bimetallism against mono
metallism Of either metal, its sue.
cess 10 assured. But to use the name
OF bimetallism to obtain the uncondi-
tional coinage Of silver at 16 to / by
the United states alone, il q fraud,
and puts the whole moveme beyond
the pale Of serious consideration BY
honest statesmen or careful publ
cists.
Gunton's Magazine hits the nail
squarely on the head and presents
the only two safe conditions under
which genuine bimetallism may OBJ
tain. In the course of q frank and
fair article on the attitude Of the
silver senators this excellent politi-
cal publication says:
'.Honest bimetallism il q feasible
proposition which both great par
ties may be expected seriously to
entertain. But any political party
which will permit itself to be i'm
posed upon by economic sophistry
or political threats into adopting sill
yer monometallism under the pre-
tense Of protecting bimeta!lism, is
not entitled to the public confidence
OF any class, much less to be en-
trusted with the affairs of . great
nation. Let the silver party define
its issues. II it wants protection to
silver Is an industry, let it say 50,
and then the question can be dis
cussed on the merits Of that PROPOSE
ton. II it wants bimetallism as Q
fiscal policy. let it say SO, and the
issue can then be discussed upon
that proposition. II it wants silver
monometallism. let it squarely say
SO. and the merits of that claim
can be discussed. II the I6
silver senators and their fol-
lowers are dishonest, they are not
worth recognizing by any party. II
they are honest and really want BIZ
metallism, they will be willing to
accept the policy that will give BIZ
metallism. Bimetallism can be &C.
complished In one or two ways. 1.
By the limited use Ct the cheaper
metal ut definite ratio. say 16 to l.;
the restriction being sufficient to
prevent silver from entirely dis
placing gold in the monetary circu-
lation. 2. BY the unlimited use Of
silver ut its bullion value-that is to
the unlimited coinage Of silver at a
flexible ratio, 90 that the silver dol
lar shall always contain a dollars
worth Of silver regardless OF the
number OF grains. Either of these
two plans would afford bimet-
allism without depreciation in
the monetary value Of either metal.
The fixed ratio involves limited COIN
age. and unlimited coinage involves
flexible ratio. II the silver people
insist upon 16 to 1, they must expect
limited coinage. II they insist upon
free coinage, they must expect flexi-
bic ratio. II they reject both and
insist upon unlimited coinage with
the ratio fixed 16 to /, the country
will be warranted in concluding that
their aim is not to establish bimetal.
lism. but to afford . market for silver
at fabulous profit. regardless of its
damaging effects upon prices. wages