Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1896-08-21
OUR FARMERS AND FREE COINAGE.

OUR FARMERS AND FREE COINAGE.
In a recent editorial the New York
Sun says
"From addressing the farmers of the
West, Mr.. Bryan comes hither to talk
to the workingmen of the East. Out
West he has been descanting upon the
efficacy of the cheap dollar in raising the
prices of wheat, corn, beef, pork ana
other articles of food. Now he has be-
. fore him the task of showing how these
raised prices are going to benefit the
earners of wages and of salaries. 1t is
+ to be hoped that he will not dodge, but
speak out, like man.
In the State of New York alone there
were in 1890, and must still be, S5O,OS4
employees in manufacturing establish
ments, whose combined wages for the
wear amounted to S46G, SAG, ,G42. Let Mr..
Bryan explain how much to the advan-
tage of the earners of this $466,S46,G42
it will be to have to pay double prices
for everything that they eat and drink.
The Madison Square Garden will be
protected tonight by members of police
force numbering 4ll5 men, and receiving
average salaries of $l20O each. Mr..
Bryan will have chance to tell these
men of the blessing it will be to them to
pay double marketing and grocery Dllls
under the reign of free silver"
This argument is carried on for several
paragraphs as to other professions. But
what we wish to call attention to is the
s Substantial admission made by this
journal and now by nearly, If not all,
S gold standard journals, that the prices of
provisions and all that farmers raise
s would be advanced very materially by
bimetallism or the free coinage of silver.
This fact, or the general rise in value
of all property, is the point around which
s all this controversy turns. Advanced
prices we believe to be absolutely nee
cessary to the prosperity of the Ameri-
ean nation. For without remunerative
prices all business must languish and die.
But however plain or however doubtful
he benefit of such rise in prices may
De to other laborers, there can be no
loubt about its benefiting farmers and
hose employed upon farms. The practi-
,al effect OF the gold standard is to i'm
nensely diminish the profits of our farm
rs. Its tendency, if not its in
ent, is to reduce our vast agricult-
Il population, nearly one half of the
whole, to the condition of slaves who re-
eeive for their labor only bare sub
istence. This condition will undoubted-
y be satisfactory enough to the rest of
he world if the farmers themselves take to
kindly. If they do not protect
themselves, nobody will protect them.
The lesson of low prices is before
hem, although but just begun.
bhould the gold standard be continued
" the success of the republican party,
he situation must become indefinitely
worse. To all farmers the fall in the
alue of their farms and the drop in the
rices of everything that they
aise, that has taken place since the de-
nonetization of silver, is most discourag-
ng and unsatisfactory; but to those that
re in debt it threatens loss of all their
property.
The gods help those who help them
elves, and if our farmers at this crisis
o not assert their independence and
manhood in insisting upon a change OF
he money standard, they can blame
one but themselves however dlsastrou;
final result is reached.
A gentleman writes us that he has inter
iewed many farmers lately in Vermont
nd finds them disposed to act, but de