Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1896-07-10
THE SILVER CRAZE.


are working day and night to stem the
Free Silver tide, and maintain the gold
standard. Let the farmers and labOrers
look at this matttr calmly. For years
we have been led by speakers and writ
ers who practically knew nothing what
ever OF the wants OF the toilers-men
who never did days work on the farm
or in the shop, and who, as a rule, care
nothing for the labOrer after they secure
his vote. Just now Shylock and his
agents, are very uneasy about the suf-
ferings Of the laboring c.ass. should sill
yer be rcmonetized say they. THE
creditor classes can stand it, but the
poorer classes would suffer-" When
silver was dementtized in '73 We had
fairly good tmes-since then the tend
ency OF farm products have been down.
ward, and the poorer classes are suf-
fcring. But we have never heard Of
any OF these tenderhearted fellows lay
ing awake nights bemoaning the cOndi-
ton Of the "poorer classes" because of
the low price of whe 1t or potatoes, the
shrunken value of land, idle mills, bank
rupt merchants or debtors driven to the
wall. Honest money is the cry, as
though the silver dollar established by
our fathers was dishonest dollar.
When silver was demOnetized the silver
dollar was not only at par with gold,
but it commanded premium. That
phrase, "honest money!" is used to
deceive the people. The money kings
OF Wall Street, aud Europe know that
the masses are honest. and wish to do
right-that il they cln hoOdwink the
people into the belief that silver money
is not honest money they can maintain
the gold standard. But the people are
studying the matter. The more golden
pills they take the worse tEey get. Since
the demonstration OF silver the shrink
axe In farm products has been over
| $500, 200, 900 year, making a total OF
nearly s., 000.O 5000, which should be
In the pockets OF the producers to pay
debts, improve the farm, educate the
children or make old age comfortable
Where is that money? who has it? how
did they get: how did we lose it? From
the government reports the average eX-
port price OF wheat from 1880 to 1850
: % per bushel. January 1895 the ex-
port price is sos per bushel. SO it
appears that the export price of wheat
in % is less than half the average eX-
port price from 1880 to 1850. The
average fall in all agricultural products.
since silver was demOnetize1. has been
at least fifty per cent, while principal
and interest on debts, cash rent. taxes,
insurance, official salaries, cost Of travel.
doctor bills, lawyer fees, etc, cost as
many dollars now "a then This
Is a part Of what is hurting the farmer.
and he is bordering the matter, regard
less of the cry of Wall Street or the
professional politician. No one claims
that free coinage is "Panacea for all
our Ills" but if we are ever to have re-
form we must start somewhere-the
silver question is starter
Let farmer, labOrer and business men
lay aside partyism and look at this nat-
ter thoughtfully and honestly. We are
all interested in the prosL Gritty Of our
country. We have faith in the plain peO-
pie much more than we have in those
fellows who are hired to write money
articles for the daily papers, make fine
80 speeches on the tariff or currency
question or the frantic leaders n Journals
devoted to boosting political parties. We
have been fighting each other for years
Oyerthe tariff question, and with each
campaign we grow poorer and the rich
grow richer, while millions are multi
plying as never before in the history Of
! the world. There is something out OF
joint We would gladly stand upon the
principles OF Democracy. We would
gladly stand upon the principles OF Re-
publicanism, for they are nearly the
same, so nearly that Thomas Jefferson
belonged to beth parties, but we are not
willing to stand with any party that
does not carry out its principles, and
| given us relief. Within the last twenty
years both parties have had opportunity
to relieve us, vet we are enslaved more
and more each year. When you voted
the Democratic ticket you did what you
thought best. II you voted the Re
publican ticket you did the same. a
prohibition or POpulist did the same.
| The silver question has been brought
| forward by the plain people, not by
either political parties. Upon this qucs-
ton the common people of all parties are
uniting. The old party leaders, fought
hard to keep this question out OF the
campaign. Every one of them yells for
an hSnest dollar and a sound currency;
politicians drink their toddy and scream
fora little more or less tariff, and try to
close the peoples eyes with their tariff
racket, so that they csnnct see that the
revenue on all imports is but drop in
the bucket compared with other issues
OF the day. We must take time to note
events and do SEINE sound thinking.
We are citizens Of a common country.
we love our families, our homes. our
country aud its flag. II we are good
citizens we place each OF these things
above party, and God above al.
G. w. c.