The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1896-07-17
THE BOLTERS' APPEAL.

Foolish Reasons Given For Their Action
by the Boiling Silver Republicans.
At secret conference of the boiling
silver delegates to the st. Louis conven-
ton an address to the people of the
United States was agreed upon and Civ
en- to the press. This declaration of free
coinage doctrine was prepared after
careful consideration by Senators Teller,
Dubois and Cannon and other silver
leaders and may therefore be held to
embody the strongest arguments which
can be made in favor of the silver stand
ard. y
The grounds on which Senator Teller
and his associates ask for support are
the assertions that "the basis of our
money is relatively contracting;" that
Tour financial policy is dictated by
creditor nations;" that eve produce all
the necessaries Of life, while other ma
lions consume our prCducts;" that the
restoration CT bimetallisrl by this coun-
try will double the basis Of our money
SYSTEM" that "falling prices are the
deadliest curse Of national life,' and
that "timetallism will help to bring
about the great hope Of every social re-
former of better conditions for the hu-
man race. On this platform the boilers
nominated Genator Teller as an indie
pendent free coinage candidate for pres
ident.
These claims of the silver Repub-
licans are all untrue. Instead of con-
tracing, the basis Of our currency is
steadily increasing. The . ,oduction of
gold is now about $500 100000 per
year, and of this over $130, 900, 900 is
added to the worlds stock of money.
Our stock of full legal tender silver has
increased from less than $50, 900 in
1878 to $3.50, 900, 900 in 1896.
Our present financial policy was de-
liberately adopted by the representatives
of the American people in congress as
sembled. The charge that it was die
tated by foreign nations is an unfounded
imputation on the men chosen to make
our laws.
The idea that this is country of pro-
ducers while other nations are consum-
ers only is too silly for argument. For
every dollars worth Of products we sell
abroad we buy back at some time dol
lars worth of foreign products which
we consume. We consume in the long
run exactly as much as we produce.
The claim that bimetallism, by
which is meant free coinage at Is to l,
will double the basis Of our money sys-
tenn is not believed by the silverites
themselves. They know better, for they
know that with the bullion value of sill
yer at 80 to 1 of gold, the cheaper metal
would drive out the more valuable.
Thus instead of doubling the basis OF
our money, free silver monometallism
would cut it in two by forcing gold out
of circulation.
Falling prices are due almost entirely
to improved methods Of production by
which labor on the farm or in the work
shop can create wealth more easily than
in former years. This means that the
masses can get more of the necessaries
and luxuries of life, and it is therefore
great blessing ard net curse. Other
reasons for falling prices are the new
sourees Of Isrodso.i len -opercC-ep rttRsNtszf-
Gus PARTS OF the world II recent years.
The geld standard has had nothing to
do with lower prices.
The claim that "timetallism (silver
monometallism) will help bring about
the great hope CT every social refo,mer"
would be more convincing if it was ac-
companied by information as to how it
would do it. Ii the absence Of proof
general promises CT better conditions
under free silver are altogether too
vague for sensible men to Ia g RISKS on.
A policy which depends Oh Useless as
sertions and positive perversions of
facts can never gain the support of
majority of the American people, and
the movement beaded by Senator Teller
is therefore doomed to failure.