The morning times., 1896-08-15
Silver and the Wage Earner.

ferly distinguish between the artu argument Of design
ting demagogues and the true significance Of import
publc questions alike dangerous popular welfare
Supporters of good and uphoder of general
prosperity always seek the truth of all propositions to
change laws and invariably endeavor enforce sound
principles and beneficial But those who envy
wedong of others and that element of society
refuses to be informed the only real foes that society
needs to fear There will always be advocates of theo
retica reform whose interest public affairs is mani
Tested by nnumerabe propositions to elevate the world
to heavenly altitude But generally speaking they
benefit rather than detrment 1t has been the
less upward struggle stimulated by these reformers
/ which has thus far advanced civilization.
It is this method of reasoning that should influence
the defeat of the attempt to make this country take
backward step by the adoption of the silver monetary
standard Free silver has been rejected by all progress
sive nations and it would be fully injurious for to
egalize deprecated currency would be to set up
the heather gods of China resort to the worship
of the Mexican Aztecs. Both these countries the
isver standard.
For the sake of the argument let us concede that
every declaration made by the sverte leaders true
sentiment word and letter; that dark despair sits
ing calamity every household that the money power
grinding gaores of gold from the labor of the tong
Masses that uuprncpled trusts and unscrupulous rail-
road corporations robbg the public that the gold
standard is the of all this misery What remedy
offered for this alleged terrible of public suffering
floods of silver dollars to sweep away the sackes Of
wealth and deluge the country with prosperity and
plenty The simple election of Bryan and Sewal is to
change long established financial conditions and transfer
the influence and Eower of wealth the beck control
of the tong It to be revolution of the bal
lot through which the of the money king is to be
placed the head Of labor and the for this
derfu transformation is free silver return
cient form of money But how is the change to be
effected?
The rapid increase of the number of business fail
ures; the constant decline of wages the closing of mills
and factories the gathering gloom In the financial world
and the nnmberess predictions of failure disaster heard
every hand should awaken apprehension to the eff
cacy of the free silver remedy There be better
indicator of the value of proposed reform than its effect
public confidence If business interests and those on
whom depend for financial strength believed free sill
beneficial the situation would be changed and instead
of widespread alarm in business circles the outlook
would be encouraging. While it is true that wealth is
the result of labor it is also fact that
fully exist except when controlled by capable managers
requires both toll and ability render prosperity
ALL and any financial policy that nures either
element is to harm the other. Free silver is Great
ing CONSERVATION among those who manage wealth and
market the products of labor because past experiences
have its inability maintain the unuctu
ating system of prices which absolutely necessary to
insure prosperity.
Viewing the situation from this standpoint and
every claim made for free silver by its advo
Gates, what would be gained by its adoption? The
withdrawal of god and the refusal of capital
allow money circulate until conditions are settled
will cause incalculable suffering among the masses
Even should silver control the coming election free
coinage bill would not be permitted to pass Congress
considerable time, and what would working people do
in the interim? While panic would not be acceptable
to business generally. because of its terrible
uuences their Inconvenience would be insignificant COM
pared the suffering and distress which wage
and their families would be compelled to undergo.
Think of the effect of supporting free silver those of you
who depend upon daily wages and then if this
policy is preferable to the in force? Consider 1
f you can afford to advocate the enforcement of an ex
pertinent that time and experience has rejected tail
ire Compare your social and material condition
with that the people of free silver countries
;ide if you want to drop to their level
The question be answered at the polls is not the