The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-10-15
CONGRESSMAN PRANK 5, BLACK
CONTINUED from First Pagol


are many promises by those who have
seldom kept the promises they made,
Nothing in their past lives or present
surroundings clothes them with Quali-
ties " reliable advisers, and the danger
suggested by their past career is in
creased by the utter tallacy ot the plans
they now propose,
| have often heard two reasons ad-
vauccd FOR trying this dangerous eN-
pertinent OF free and unlimited coinage
of silver, The first eason is that we
cannot be worse on than we are nov
and the second that It is easily tried,
and II not successful van be abandoned.
No greater mistake could be mao
than to suppose that We cannot injurr
our present condition, We are not half
as poorly of as We might be, 1t is true,
our present ~sitpation is not In all re
spects as we desire, hut our prospects
were never better. our people have
seen the folly ot the COURSE pursued in
previous years. and have fully deter
mined 70 correct II. We have not only
halted on our march In the wrong dircc-
ton. but we have wheeled about and
shall certainly march back and rebuild
the fences we have torn down and re-
open the doors We have unwlsely closed.
Idleness Is a national policy has been
tested to e~veryhody's satisfaction. and
nobody any longer believes in It, We
have chased the phantom Of low prices
so far that we have lost sight of the
place where we earned M wages. But
we shall 80 back. The opportunities
OF the last few years are gone. but let
no one believe that the American people
ars used up. or that We can correct
the mistake made four years 4 by
making another that Is worse now.
Going to work again is not the only
thing to be considered We must have
our pay also. and that must not only
be the most, but the best that any
country in the world affords. This
country Is not the place for things
that are cheap, and cheap money Is the
OF all. That We cannot be worse
is a delusion in which no intelligent
person should be shared. But whatever
our condition may be. II Is our duty TO
make II better instead Of trying expert
ments which mas make It worse. a man
not very sick. but getting worse, has
aus for alarm than a sicker man
better, and | do o consider
him wise who takes experimental medt-
cine at the critical point Of the disease,
especially when h. knows the medicine
has been tried on others before and left
them crippled. perhaps forever.
The second reason. that free coinage
be easily tried and II not successful
abandoned. is as fallaciaUs as the first.
It is much easier ia make a mistake
than to abandon II afterward. Getting I
sick Is easier than getting well. Break
your word Is easier than convincing
people that you will not break It
and there Is the sane difference
between paying SO cents on the dollar
and regaining the confidence OF the
lender when you desire to borrow again.
The purpose Of free coinage is not
only dishonest, but impossible. You
cannot create a value by statute, nor
compel the other nations Of the world
to abide by what you declare to be
Integrity is beyond the control Of
legislatures, and you can no more force
the people Of other countries to accept
cents for a dollar hat you owe them
than you can force them to pay 1l7 cents
for a dollar that they W you.
The result Of such an attempt would
not be to establish an advantage for you
In the transaction. II would be simply
to cut OF dealings between you and
to destroy all confidence. with
out which no relations OF friendship
or respect can be maintained.