The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1896-09-16

the Bland-Alli-on act was passed, au-
thorizing the coming Of legal tender
dollars at not less than 81 900, 900 or
more than 81. 600, 900 per month. This
was continued for twelve years, until
1890. when the amount was further in
creased by the purchase of $500, 900
ounces OF silver per Month and the
issue OF treasury notes In payment for the
same, which were also a legal tender.
Ii is difficult To see how the demoneti-
zation of silver, from 1873 TO 1873, is
responsible for present low prices. We
must look for something besides
the silver question for the cause of
these depressed times. Ii difference
of fraction of one per cent sent gold
coin into the markets of the world as
bullion from 1892 10 1884. does anyone
think the free and unlimited coinage of
silver at the ratio of Is to would not
do the same, when the actual bullion
value is 81 to /? Can the United States
afford to throw the business of the
country on silver basis aud thus drive
out the S625, 1000, 900 of gold we now
have, when all of the most civilized and
all the great commercial nations of the
world, with whom we have such extern
sive dealings, have financial policy in
harmony with our own? All of these
nations use silver as extensively as we
do In proportion to their respective
populations. For example, France has
1925, 900, 900 of gold and $500, 600 900 of
silver. III free coinage will enhance
silver and put it on parity with gold,
why did it not do so from 1892 TO 1878,
when both metals had free access to
the minis? If the farmer or anyone
.l-a mic IN In .,.;o.
prices, let him go back to 1860 and
PRIOR to that date when we had free
coinage and free trade. A comparison
of present with war prices is unfair, as
war prices were based ON the extraor.
binary waste and consumption of
great war, as we'll as on an inflated and
greatly deprecated currency. The
American people four years ago, un-
needing the experience of the past,
plunged the country into free trade
policy. AT every election since, they
have shown that they realized their
mistake. Let them take heed lest they
add still greater to the one they made
four years ago, for if Coins Financial
School," Bryan, Altgeld and Ben Till
man and their following win, they will
still have free trade with the almost
absol ute certainty that free silver will
double the woes and misfortunes they
already bear.
On the other hand, if the republicans
win, with Mckinley, protection, reci-
procity and continuation of sound
financial policy, we are sure Of re-
newal of that prosperity which has
always followed republican success
We hear a good deal from free silver
advo ,ates about having whipped Eng
land two or three times and being able
to whip her again, reasoning, from that
fact, that we can establish a financial
policy of our own.
1t is not easy TO see what relation
exists between physical force and the
law of commerce. Bryan is constantly
using that kind of argument for the
purpose of arousing prejudice. But if
we whipped England regularly once a
year it would not add farthing to the
bullion value of silver or tend, in the
least, TO estore the parity between the
two metals. That is controlled entirely
by law above and beyond all human
enactments.