The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-09-07
LABOR AND FREE COINAGE.

y
The se.f-constitGted champion OF what ne
Is pleased . call the common people
Ard '.-he masses" By these terms Il Is
presumed that Mr.. Bryan means TIE men
who are The wage earn@rs OF the country.
with ali xho are dependent upon the
wages OF labor FOR their support the char
ac.er and ne purchasing power % money
which they are 70 receive for their daily
toll is or should be a matter o, deep con-
cern.
The United States has no. a. yet any
distinct political party, composed almost
exclusively Of workingmen. and whose en-
tire political course IS based upon the de-
sire TO benefit the wage earners. There
are such political parties II certain Eu-
ropean countries. notably IN Germany
The political leaders Of the Social Dem
ocratic party OF Germany, who represent
constituencies OF workingmen IL the
relchstag. are as s rule men OF character
and ability. who represent their constlt-
uencles with absolute fidelity. They would
be among the last men In the world 10
espouse the cause OF capital or capitalists
against the interests OF labor. Their views
on the question OF currency, II prejudiced
ri all, would be prejadiced IN favor Of
that standard which would be the most
beneficial 10 the wage earners. Neverthe-
less, these Social Democrats are warning
the German workinsmen against any
abandonment OF the god standard. and
their strong argument is that the adoption
Of the silver standard would work In
Jur.oasly by reducing the purchasing
power OF wages.
Herr Max Schlppel the representative
OF a constituency OF workingmen in the
reichstag. has recently published a pam.
phlet, entitled The Currency Question
and the Social Democratic Party"
translation OF this pamphlet should be IN
the hands OF every wage Garner in the
United States during the present cam
aaign.
With characteristic German thorough
ness the writer has studied the financial
systems OF al civilized nations. Including
that Of the United States. to which latter
and 10 the present free silver agitation In
his pamphlet. He calls the Bland bill OF
1873 and the Sherman purchase bill OF 1890
suicidal performances" and "a policy Of
charity donations to silver mine owners"
TIE whole question OF the fall OF prices
is carefully gone over. calls attention 10
The improvements in methods OF produce
ton and transportation. and he goes on
TO say: "Is It not eminsntly just and
proper that the masses of the workingmen
who are consumers and can afford 10 lie
consumers accordingly as falling prices
open up new spheres OF consumption.
should De economically benefited there
by?'
AZ 10 free coinage OF silver his conclu-
sion ia that 1.-The restoration 0: free coin
age would add a new evil 10 the many old
evils; an absolutely unlimited deprecia-
ton OF money and abasement OF money"
and again. with free coinage no coin can
maintain A value greater than the value
Of the metal
AS 10 the effect which free coinage
would have upon the cost Of living ne
says. on page 81 OF his pamphlet: This
artificial forcing up OF the cost OF living
would he the most Infamous robbery one
could nowadays undertake against the
masses who work for wages" Free coin
age. he says. would result In "a perma-
nent reduction In the style Of living Of
wage esrners who have accumulated no
property"
These are the words OF a representative
workingman ot the best and most intelll-
gent class. addressed 70 work!ngmen. His
interest 8. solely The interest OF the men
whom he represents. His conclusions are
not biased ~ any wave ~ popular senti-
nen,." nor BY any aspirations 70 ride into
crice on the crest ~ such wave. Are
they not mere worthy OF recognition and
adoption by thoughtful workingmen than
any o. me vague predictions and prom
ises u any otice seeker. whose devotion
70 the cause 81 labor has never been mani
Tested IN any more tangible fern than by
platform utteranees or empty plAdtudes7