The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1896-08-19

rehearlngs they admit that error is pos
sibie; the late decision against the In
come tax was rendered by majority
of one after rehearing. While the
money question oVershadows all other
questions in Importance, 1 desire 1t dis
tinctly understood that shall ofrer no
apology for the Income tax plank OF
the Chicago platform.
Not only shall refuse to apologize toi
the advocacy of an income tax law by
the national convention, but 1 shall
also refuse to apologize for the exer-
else by II of the right to dissent from a
decision OF the Supreme Court. In a
government like ours. every public Of
fetal Is public servant whether he
holds office by election or by appoints
ment. whether he serves for term or
years or during good behavior, and the
people have a right to crItIcise his OIL
clal acts.
THE PARAMOUNT QUESTION.
Now let me ask you to consider the
paramount question of this campaign-
the money question. 1t Is scarcely nee
essary to defend the principle of BIZ
metailism. Three parties. the Demo-
cratic, Popullst ad Silver parties. have
not only declared for bimetal llisln, but
have outlined the specific legislation
NECESSARY 20 restore. silvet to- Its snn-
cient position by the side of gold. The
Republican platform expressly declares
that blmetalliSm Is desirable when Ia
pledges the Republican party to aid in
securing 1t as soon as the assistance
of certain foreign nations can be OBJ
tanned.
Those who represented the minority
sentiment in the Chicago convention Op,
posed the free coinage of silver by the
United States by independent action on
the ground that in their judgment II
would retard or entirely prevent the
establishment of international blmetal>
lism, to which the efforts of the gov
ernment should be steadily directed" ="
When they asserted that the EFFORTS or
the government should be steadily d.
rected toward the establishment of in
ternational bimetallism, they con-
demned monOmetallsm.
The gold standard has been weighed
In the balance and found wanting. Take
from 1t the powerful support of the
money owning and the money-changing
classes and 1t cannot stand for one day
in any nation in the world. 1t was fast
ened upon the United States without
discussion before the people. and Its
friends have never yet been willing to
risk verdict before the voters upon
that issue.
There can be no sympathy or coop
Grafton between the advocates of uni
Versal gold standard and the advocates
of blmetalllsm. Between bimetallism-
whether independent or international
and the gold standard there Is
AN IMPASSABLE GUILE.
Is this quadrenninl agitation in favor OF
international bimetallism conducted In
good faith, or do our opponents really
desire to maintain the gold standard
permanently? Are they willing to con-
fess the superiority of double standard
when Joined In by the leading nations
of the world or do they still insist that
gold is the only metal suitable for
standard money among civilized ma
tions?
II they arc, in fact, deslrous OF secur-
ing bimetallism we may expect them to
point out the evils of gold standard. II,
on the other hand. they are bending
their energies toward the permanent
establishment of gold standard under
cover of declaration in favor of inter-
national blmetallism, l am justified in
suggesting that honest money cannot be
expected at the hands of those who
deal dishonesty with the American
people.
What Is the test OF honesty in money :?
II must certainly be found in the pur-
chasing power of the dollar. An abso-
lutely honest dollar would not vary In
its general purchasing power; 1t would
be absolutely stable when measured by
average prices. a dollar which increase :
in purchasing power Is just as dishonest
as dollar which decreases in purchas-
ing power. Prof. Laughlin. now of the
University Of Chicago. an one of the
highest gold standard authorities. in his
work on bimetalllsm not only admits
that gold docs not remain absolutely
stable in value. but expressly asserts
that there is no such thing as n star IL
ard of value for future payments. either
lutely inVariable."
1t cannot be successfully claimed that
monometallism or bimetallsm or any
other system. gives an absolutely just
STANDARD OF VALUE.
Under both monometallism and bImetal-
llSm the government fixes the weight
and flneness of the dollar, invests 1t
with legal tender qualities and then
opens the mirts to tits unrestricted
coinage, leaving the purchasing power
rNF H. IT.1I =, Il.
number of dollars. Bimetalllsm Is bet
ter than monometallism, not because II
gives us a perfect dollar-that Is dol
lar absolutely Invarylng In It's general
purchasing power. but because 1t makes
nearer approach to stability. to hon
esty, to justice, than a gold standard
possibly can.
Prior to 1873 when there were enough
open mints to permit all the gold and
silver available for coinage to find en-
trance into the worlds volume OF
standard money, the United States
might have maintained u gold standard
with less injury to the people of this
country; but now. when each step to-
ward universal gold standard en-
hances the purchasing power of gold
depressed prices and transfers to the
pockets of the creditor class an
UNEA RNDD INCREMENT,
the influence OF this great nation must
be thrown upon the side of gold unless
and legitimate consequences of such
an act. Any legislation which lessons
the worlds stock of standard money
increases the exchangeable value of
the dollar; therefore, the crusade
against silver must Inevitably raise the
purchasing power of money and lower
the money value of all other forms of
property.
Our opponents. while claiming entire
disnteresteSness for, for th1em9seiXes; have
every class of people. Recognizing the
disposition of the Individual voter to
consider the effect of any proposed leg
islatIon upon himself we present to
the American people the financial poll
Icy outlined In the Chicago platform,
believing that 1t will result in the great
est good to the greatest number.
The farmers are opposed to the gold
standard because they have felt It's eff
fects. Since they sell at wholesale and
buy at retail they have lost more than
they have gained by falling prices and
besides this they have found that GER
tain fixed charges have not fallen at
all. Taxes have not been perceptibly
decreased although 1t requires more OF
farm products now than formerly to