White Oaks eagle. (White Oaks, N.M.) 189?-190?, 1896-09-10
BOTH NARROW AND SHALLOW

DOI III ~ AN NEOW AND Oh Il LLOJF
"In discussing the question OF free
silver and what its effect would be upon
the wages of American workingmen, the
gold press takes too narrow view of
the matter" says a contemporary. But
the real trouble is that the gold press
takes too many irreconceiyabe views Of
the matter. Thus, it is shocked at the
idea of the "silver barons" taking their
product to the mints and getting 100
cent dollars for so cent material; and at
the same time, often in tue same article,
it bewails the prospective payment of
workingmen in so cent dollars; and it
does this in apparent Inconsistencies
of the antagonistic principles and re-
suits inv olved in the two propositions.
The same press laments the coming
food of silver the world would pour
out upon us on the establishment of
free coinage; but at the same time it ad
mits that all Of the silver produced has
been absorbed in commerce and mint
age, and that the most of it is coined at
ratio more favorable to silver than is
proposed in this country; how, then,
there could be such silver flood is not
explained
Again, that press insists that to pay
public obligations in silver coin, as the
law clearly contemplates, would be re-
pudiation Of half the debt; and yet that
mine owners would be the beneficiaries
OF the government bounty in getting
100 cent dollars for 80 cents in bullion,
! thus forseeing a silver dollar that at one
| and the same time, would be worth fifty
cents and also a dollar.
J The gold press also maintains that
low prices arc the rosnlt of over pro-
duction, and yet admits that sales of
all products Of earth and factory are
less than formerly, showing that it is
lack of ability in the people to buy
and not over-production that depresses
trade.
1t holds that money is always stable
in price, and that products vary on the
market according to supply and de-
mand; and yet it insists that silver
money is an exception to the rule of in
variable money value, thus committing
the double error Of failing to note the
constant accord of silver with prices of
products, and the appreciation of gold
proved by the same rule of applying
average purchasing power to market
quotations.
i insists that the increased produc
tion Of silver has debascd its standing
as money; yet retains that much
greater increased production Of gold
has neithor depressed nor augmented
the value Of that metal thus applying a
contrary rule for one metal to that ap
piled to the other.
This press protest that gold money is
the money OF international commerce,
of civilization; that silver is bulky, cum.
bersomc, unwieldy, and ls the money Of
the semi civilized Of people with limited
and feeble commerce. And yet it con.
tends, and the st. Louis platform de.
claros, that we must abandon this ad
mirable single gold standard, this
money OF civilization, rs soon as we can
get help from Other nations 10 let go;
and restore to standard money use the
deepis,d, cumbrons silver, the standard
OF semi civilized peoples.
1h &c are but samples of the contrar
tiles Of the gold press; !ot they are Sc
constantly in evidence in the columns
of TINT rrcfg, aud SO universally ac
know edged by II as axioms, that it is
worth while to turn the light OF con
sisloncy and logic upon them"
Tho above, from the Las Vcgas Optic
ia pretty strong arraignmeut Of th,
gold parly's methods Of discussion anc
the EAGLE wants to suggest just on,
paragraph along the sume line and he
liey,s 1t will complete the charge Of in
consistency:
They say with free coinage the United
States would become the dumping
ground for the 81 i0OO050. .00O otssilye
now said to bo alloat in the world M,
that this would drive gold out and lray,
~ on silver basis and thus real y re
duro ~ 10 an insufficient cirtull;ifl
mydiin