Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1896-04-09
HIRAM PRICE ON SILVER.

York Christian Advocate OF March 20
It is Of special interest to the people
of this state because IL relates to
bimetalism, with which the prosperity
Of agriculture is interviewer, and be-
cause IL Is from the pen of Hon.
Hiram Price, formerly and for several
terms member of congress from an
Iowa district, but now a resident
OF Washington. 1t is needless to say
10 the older generation Of Hawkeyes
that during and after the period OF
the war Price was a Republican, an
ardent friend and champion of the
union cause, and one of the most
vigorous and effective public speakers
I'm the west. He was against human
slavery, his broad sympathies have
led him TO identify himself with
numerous church and moral move
ments for the upliftment Of his Kind
and now, prompted by his sense Of
Justice, he advocates the free and un-
restricted coinage Of both metals not
withstanding that In a pecuniary
sense such coinage would be to his
personal disadvantage. After stating
the amounts OF silver money In Eng
land, Germany and France, and de-
clarlng that II the United States has
as much silver per capita as France
we could safely carry twice the
amount we now have, Mr. Price says:
When any measure of governmental
policy, financial or otherwise, Is based
on mere opinion, where the test Of
time and trial have not been had, men
may and do honestly differ. But
when these tests have been made and
the results. published to the world, IT
Is not wise to ignore them. 1t Is an
undisputed fact that while we were
coming the product OF our silver
mines business In this country In all
legitimate branches was very prosper
GUS. But In an evil hour we listened
20 and adopted unwlse cOunsels, placed
silver on the retired list, and thus de-
prlved thousands OF honest laborers
Of employment, and filed the land
with an army of tramps and beggars.
In view, then, OF all the facts which
confront us as IA nation, Is IL wise to
continue this hight against silver ?
The gold gamblers in Europe and
America are loud In their applause
and approval Of our present silver
policy, because they are fattening on
the results, while the honest toilers In
e the shops and fields of this country
i are reaplng the sad and bitter fruits
of this unwlse policy.
In expressing these sentiments l
must not be understood as viewing
this question from an agrarian or
communistic standpoint. What little
of this worlds goods or property |
have is mostly in cash investments,
aud therefore my individual pecuniary
Interest would be best subserved by
making money scarce, and conse-
Quently dear. | view with alarm.
> however, the strong tendency among
= corporations and some individuals TO
centralile the money power, notably
In our large cities, regardless OF the
consequences TO the common people,
" who compose the tOlling millions of
y the nation. IL ought not TO be for.
gotten, however, that while very
large majority OF those who perform
the common toll are honest and well
oI disposed, yet there are those among
4 them who would rejoice To have some
r plausible excuse for melting riot. nil.
a lage, and bloodshed. Many pages Of
the worlds history bear evidence of
/, this fact, and IL is therefore the part
OF wisdom TO heed and profit by the
history of the past.
The production OF silver is one of
our industries. IL gives employment
!. TO thousands of our people, and is TO
them vletuals aud clothes aud house
J ana home and the silver they produce
!; Is ey our constitution and laws part OF
\ the coin money of the country
y while We were coining it we were
\ prosperous Since We ceased 10 coin
y tive have had trouble all along the
Hal.