Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-08-13

Discusses the Great Question of the Money
Standard.

Standard.
Now let me ask you to consider the par
amount question of this campaign-;ho
money question. 1t is scarcely necessary
to defend the principle of bimetallism
No national party during the entire his
tory Of the United states has ever declared
against it, and no party in this campaign
has had the tcmeritv to oppose it. Three
parties-the Democratic. Populist and Sill
yer parties-have not only declared for hi
inefallism, but have outlined the specific
legislation necessary to restore silver to
Its ancient position by the side of gold.
The Republican platform expressly de-
clares that bimetallism is desirable when
1t pledges the Republican party to aid in
securing 1t as soon rs the assistance Of GER
Those who represented the majority senti-
mcnt in the Chicago convention opposed
the free coinage of silver by the United
States Ivy independent action on tho
ground that, in their judgment, it would
rctard or entirely prevent the establish
ment OF international bimetallism, to
which the efforts Of tha government
should be steadily directed" When they
asserted that the efforts of the govern.
| mcnt should be steadily directed toward
the establishment of international bimet.
nlism they condemned nonometalisn
The gold standard has been weighed in
the balance and found wanting. Take
from II the powerful support of the money
owning and money changing classes and
IL cannot stand for one day in any nation
| IN the world. 1t was fastened upon the
United States without discussion before
the people. and its friends have never vet
been willing to risk a verdict before the
voters upon that issue.
There can be no 81 mpathy or CO. opera
ton between the advocates OF a universal
gold standard and the advocates of bi.
metailisn. Between 6imetallism-
whether independent or international
and the gold standard. there is an impass-
able gulf. Is this quadrennial agitation
In favor of international bimetailism con.
| Quoted in good faith. OF do our opponents
really desire to maintain tho gold stand
art permanently Are they willing to
confess tho superiority of n double stand
ard when joined in by the leading nations
Of the world, or do they still insist that
gold Is the only metal suitable for stand
ard money among civilized nationsf IL
they are in fact DESTROYS of securing hi.
metallisn. We may expect them to point
out the evils of n gold standard and de.
iend bimetallism as u system. II. on the
other hand, they arc bending their cncr-
gics toward the permanent establishment
Of gold standard under cover of q dec
laration In favor OF international bimetal-
lism. am justified in suggesting that
honest money cannot he expected at the
hands OF those who deal dishonesty with
the American people. What is the test Of
honesty IN money! 1t must certainly be
found in the purchasing power of the dol
lar. An absolutely honest dollar would
not vary in its general purchasing power;
| IL would bs absolutely stable when meas
urrd by average prices. A dollar which
Increases in purchasing power is Just as
dishonest as n dollar which decreases in
| purchasing power.
Professor LauChlin. now of the Uni.
vcr>iiy ui Chicago. and one OF the highest
| gold standard authorities in his work on
| bimetallism not only admits that gold
does not remain absolutely stable in
value, but expressly asserts that there
| Is no such thing AS standard stable for
future payments, either in gold or silver,
which remains absolutely invariable." He
even suggests that n multiple staudsr I'd
wherein the unit is based upon the selling
| prices of a number of articles of general
consumption would be a more JUST stand
ard than either gold or silver or both, b.
| cause n longtime contract would there
lNv- IA Ynaad A. -