The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-10-25

and rich alike
We are asked TO change the standard
OF value. The money OF the Constitu-
lion IS gold and silver. The money or
the Constitution has never been changed
for ] do not know of an amendment to
the Constitution TO this effect.
The Constitution is still there and so
are gold and silver. We cannot change
gold into silver. nor can we change SILVER
into gold. Whichever was the highest
value of tho two has been the standard
OF value.
During the war paper money or eN-
denccs OF Indebtedness had 10 De re-
sorted to. Both contending sides issued
II. and with the fortunes of war one was
crushed and the other victorious. That
wa an event Of war chance OF war
which had occurred before, and may oc-
cur again. but | hope. never In nation
Of en'igh.ened people like ours. There Is
a standard to everything. we have
.ttnda~d Of virtue and morals. inns
standard has been attained. ana starus
Today as the result Of ages Of experience
and constantly growing enlightenment d
the world The STANDARD OF value we
now have, is also the result CT ages u
experience and enlghtcnment why
should we scatter to the winds and cast
we can deal with the world upon an
equal footing. with which we can enter
The ports Of commerce the world over
and rot be received with sneers and
suspicion? II is quite true some other
countries have q different standard OF
value. and so have they OF virtue and
morals.
We IRE told that the paramount issue
in this campaien Is ;he money ques-
lion: or. in other words. the substitu-
ion Of ffty-cent riece for dollar
But this nfiy-cent piece Is stiil 10 be
called q dollar, and before the law it
IS 20 have all the power OF collar
The law may force the fity-ccnt piece
under the name OF a dollar. 10 be ac-
ceptod by all creditors as dollar. II
may have 10 he accepted In settle
-nent OF an ovisting obligations. up to the
tine. that iaw goes into effect But from
,ha moment HAT law Is in effect. the so
called dollar viii he nothing more than
a rfty-ccnt piece. as to all future trans
actions. No law or government IN EARN
can force the acceptance OF a fftv-cent
,.oce for dollar. after the value OF
that ffiv-ccrt piece has been found 70
20 ran. frv cents. This Is true In equity
md s,rrrlo Justice for 7 suppose even
.be porrliets would hardly dare TO pass
4 law forcing us to accept ca' 'or
q c,yc. ~ n fox for a deer, though they
may attempt t. pass off n jack for a
horse.
So # r,ov come 10 pass that those who
ovo r,qv reap q temporary benefit but
tho Great multitude Of the people. who
wor;, for their daily bread. and have
not tho credit 20 create and owe debt
will nc q great deal worse off than they
are now. for while have great faith
IN the Justice and honesty o. human
nature. still am afraid that fhere VIII
he a few. who will take advantage OF the
eituafin1. and insist that that fftv-ceni
niece is a dollar; and particularly will
this bc Il case. when Che employer him
self i paid i'm that nftv-cont piece for
tsc wares his wo~kmen produce.
Coffee. tea. and sugar hvae TO he
nm u.ht abroad and uaid for in gold. and
will OF course double In value at once
So much has been said about the bank
ors and money changers. these necessary
odiuncts 10 trade and commerce. How
much more would this great people he IN
their hands and at The mercy Of Wal
streot end Lombard street vnder sill
yer basis than now For every bag OF
coffee for every sack Of surar. we would
first be OBLIGED 10 60 10 Wall street or
10 Lombard street and sell our silver in
order 10 get the gold necessary TO buy
that bag Of coffee or sack NJ sugTr. The
'qlue OF every busheI Of wheat or every
bale of cotton we sell would first ave
10 le committed and changed from sill
vcr into gold and tho banker ard money
changer would get his commission and
nioGts ont Of every bushel and every
hale. have often wondered and won
der new why those peonle. the bank
ers are not for silver. They could make
vastly more money out OF the people.
and I verify believe could. by their so
enormously increased profits. in very
short time make cool any losses thew
micht suffer by having 10 accept fifty
cents In the dollar for what IS owing
from.
So much has been said about an inter-
national agreement Can anyone doubt
what such an agreement would be? And
does anyone believe that the natives Of
civilized Europe would agree TO q ratio
Of l6 10 /. when the value OF the two
metals is nearer % TO /?
The great nations Of Europe and the
United States combined by an interna-
tional agreement could not prevent their
people from melting their gold coins and
.hus destroying that money If their peo-
pie could make profit by so doing and
vice versa.
They tell us that we will have good
times and that everything viii 30 up, IL
the silver party wins in this election !
cannot see where the good times are 10
come from, and | am afraid that every
thing will 90 Up the wrong way. If
q lfty-cent piece Is 70 bring good times
when you had dollar before. then |, for
one. know nothing about human ma
ture
If a hfty-cent piece viii make every
thing 20 up. when you had dollar be-
fore. then I. for one. know nothing
about arithmetic Who is to be benefited
by the change.
First and foremost the politicians. who
will get into office. although he win be re-
quired to work for half wages. until he
can vote himself double pay. Next, the
man who owes money and will pay his
debts in fifty-cent pieces. The man who
owes money these times and cannot ny
Il has my sincerest sympathy. But is II
necessary to disturb ali OF our relations
between ourselves at home and our
friends abroad. In order 10 give relief to
the poor farmer. who cannot pay his
mortgsges?
Is it necessary 10 change the stand
ard of value and the standard Of morals
Of this great nation in order TO give re-
lief 70 those who are in debit
a simple act OF Congress broad and
Wide enough will cure this evil and all
those who are afflicted and willing TO
avail themselves Of It's provisions. Such
an act was passed al the last session by
the House Of Representatives. but the sill