Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-04-03
Potatoes and Silver.


There is something that partakes
decidedly of the guerrilla style of war
fare in the attitude of those few free
silver senator's nominally Republican,
who join with the Democrats in block
ing the tariff legislation promptly
passed by 4 Republican House for the
relief OF the county. Nearly all of
these so-called silver leaders" repre-
senting the mining states, are them
selves large owners of silver mine
stock. Their devotion therefore
springs not, as they aver. from a de
sire to serve the dear people and pro-
mote the national welfare. but from a
desire to fatten their own bank ac-
enue only. They are also modest men
They don't want anything unreason-
able. They simply ask the American
people to buy all the silver bullion their
mines can produce at an advance Of
about 80 per cent over its market value
1t is indeed passing strange that any
one should be found to oppose such
proper request. Silver is metal i,
is used for money. therefore it is a
money metal. Being a money metal
the United States government is under
the deepest obligations to take all it,
sight and coin it free of charge into
dollars representing % per cent more
than the metal they contain in order
that the mine owners may become
billionaires, and silver have its
rights But the duty of the govern
copper are also money metals. there
fore it is only just for the government
ais. Certainly the silver mine owners.
ought not to be used with any greater
degree OF generosity by a paternai
government than the owners of the
nickel and copper mines The original
Declaration of independence distinctly
stated that "All men are created free
and equal Every senator sboulo
feel the force Of these remarks if we
are to believe the logic of the silver
propaganda. He should come to Con-
gress fully committed to the idea that
"a public office is a private snap II
they have anything to sell they should
force the government to buy it at a
good fat profit. Thus Senator Murphy
of New York might emulate the shin
ing example of Walcott. and Stewart
and Teller, and demand that if any
from the evils of q Democratic free
trade policy. the national government
should furnish an unlimited market
for collars and cuffs; Senator Smith
might with equal propriety, demand
that the government furnish him al
unlimited market for enameled leath-
err; Senator Shoup for cattle; Senator
Mcmillan for railroad cars; Sena-
tor Gallinger for pills; Senator Peffer
for whiskers, and SO on through the
long list of products in which the men,
bers of Congress are personally inter-
money to do this; but why shouldn't
the national government make money
as we'll as the members of Congress
There would. too be some few radical
changes in the present old foggy in
dustrial conditions. For instance, We
now take our mOney-wnen Demo
cratic hard times afford us an oppor-
tunity to secure any-to the stores ir
purses, and bring back our goods il
new regime, SO earnestly desired by
''the friends of silver" this would b.
reversed People would then carr,
their money to the stores in bundles
bags and baskets, and bring HON,
their goods in purses! Oh, what joy
full times those will be, and how pros
perlty VIII expand IN the llnd, like
prize pumpkin the month before fai
time.
We think the above is a fair presen
tation of the free silver case, and gu
readers will readily see that it is no
without its allurements No wonde
the friends of silver are transported a
such prospect; but unfortunately W.
nave no Dig silver mines in this section
Oh the country, though, metaphoricall
speaking we are all obliged to dig TO
e II. we would not be disposed to eny
: our SILVER friends their contemplate
e financial soft snap"-if they can GO