The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-08-26
oflepislation. anpropriste to their own use

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The commandment, "Thou shall NOT
steal" thuudered from Sinai and reiterated
in the legislation of all Nations,is no respec-
ter Of persons. 1t must be applied 70 tne
great as we'll as the small, to the strong
as well as the weak, to the corporate
person created by law as well as 10
the person of flesh anl blood created
by the Almighty. No Government IS
worthy OF the name when Is nor aole 70 pro-
tect from every arm upll'teu lor MS inJury
the bnmblest citizen who lives beneath the
nar II follows as a necessary conclusion
that vicious legislation must be remedied by
the neopIe who suffer from the effects OF
such legislation, and not by those who enjoy
Its benefits.
After defending the plank in the platform
which refers to the United States Supreme
Court. he continues:
Now, let me ask you to consider the
paramount question of this campaign-the
money question. 1t is scarcely necessary to
defend the principle OF bimetallism. No
National party during the entire history OF
the United States has ever declared agalnst
it. and no party in this campaign
has had the temerity to oppose 1t. Ihree
parties-the Democratic, Populist and Silver
parties-have not only declared for bemetal-
iism, but have outlined the specific leglsla-
tion necessary to restore silver to its ancient
platform expressly declares that bimetallism
Is desirable when 1t pledges the Republican
party to aid In securing it as soon as the as
sistance OF certain foreign Nations can be
obtained.
Those who represent the minority senti-
ment in the Chicago Convention opposed the
free coinage Of silver by the United States
by independent acti IN on the ground that,
in their judgment, it "would retard or
entirely prevent the establishment of inter-
national bimstallish, to which the efforts
rected." When they assert that the
efforts of the Government should be stead
lily directed toward the establishment OF
International bimetallism. they condemn
monometallism. The gold standard has
been weighed in the balance ana found want.
ing. Take from 1t tho powerful support OF
the money owning and the money changing
classe and 1t cannot stand for one day In
any Nation in the world. 1t was fastened
upon the United States without discussion
before the people. and its friends have never
yet been willing to risk verdict before the
voters upon that issue.
There can be no sympathy orco-operatlon
between the advocates OF universal golo
standard and the advocates Of bimetalllsm.
Between Observation-Disclosures Independent
or international-and the gold standard
there is an impossible gull. Is this quad
rennial agitation in favor of international BIZ
metallism conducted In good faith, or 90 our
opponents really desire to maintain the gold
standard permanently Are they willing to
confess the superiority OF double standard
when joined in by the leading Nations OF the
world, or do they still insist that gold 1s the
only metal suitable for standard money
among civilized Nations2
II they are in fact desirous OF securing bt"
metallism, we may expect them to point out
the evils OF a gold standard and de:end bi-
metallism as a system. If, on the other
hand, they are bending their energies to.
ward the permanent establishment OF a gold
standard under cover OF declaration IN
favor OF International bimetalism, am JUS
titled in suggesting that honest money can
not be expected at the hands OF those who
deal dishonesty with the American people.
Our opponents sometimes admit that 1t
was mistake to demonetize silver, but In
sist that we should submit! to present condi-
tions rather than return to the Dlmetatllc
system. They err In supposingthat we nave
reached the end Of the evil results OF gold
standard; we have not reached the end.
The injury Is continuing one, ana no
person can say how long the world Is to
suffer from the attempt to make gold the
only standard money. The same influences
the United States will, ii successful here, be
turned against other silver-using countries.
and each new convert to the gold standard
will add to the general distress. SO long as
the scramble for gold continues prices must
fall, and a general fall In prices is but an
other definition Of hard times.
Our opponents, while claiming entire
disinterestedness for themselves, have ap-
pealed to the selhshness Of nearly every
class of society. Recognizing the d1sposl-
ton OF the Individual voter to consider
the effect of any proposed legislation upon
himself, we present to the American people
the financial policy outlined in the Chicago
platform, believing that 1t will result In the
greatest good to tho greatest number.
@The farmers are opposed to the gold stand
ard because they have felt its effects. Since
they sell at wholesale and buy at retail they
have lost more than they have gained by
falling prices, AMI besides this, they have
found that certain fixed charges have not
fallen at all. Taxes have not been perceptlse
bly, decreased, although 1t requires more or
farm products now than formerly to secure
the money with which to pay taxes.
Debts have not fallen. The farmer
who owed $1,000 is still compelled to pay
$1,000, although it may be twice az difficult
as formerly to obtain the dollars with which
to pay the debt. Railroad rates have not
been reduced to keep pace with falling
prices, and besides these Items there are
many more. The farmer has thus found 1t
more and more difficult to live. Has he not
a just complaint against the gold standerdf
The wage-earners have been injured by
gold standard and have expressed them
selves upon the subject with great empha-
sis In February, 1895, petition asking FOR
the immediate restoration Of the free and
unlimited coinage OF gold and silver at 16
to / was signed by the representatives or
all, or nearly all, the leading labor organ
izations and presented to Congress. Wage
earners know that while gold standard
raises the purchasing power CT the dollar, 1t
also makes 1t more difficult to obtain pos
session Of the dollar; they know that en-
ployment is less permanent, loss OF work
more probable aud unemployment less GER
tain. A gold standard encourages the hoard
ing of money because money Is rising; 1t
also discourages enterprise and paralyzes
industry.
Our opponents have made special appeal
to those who hold fire and life Insurance pol
icies, but these policy holders know that,
since the total premiums received exceed the
total losses paid, rising standard must be
of more benefit to the companies than to tho
policy holders.
Much solicitude has been expressed by
our opponents for the depositors in savings
banks. They constantly parade before these
depositors the advantage Of 60 standard,
but these appeals will be in vain, because
savings bank 4epositors know that under
gold standard there is increasing danger
that they will lose their deposits because OF
the inability Of the banks to collect their
assets; and they still further know that, If
the gold standard is 10 continue Indefinite
ly, they may be compelled to withdraw
their deposits in order to pay living ex-
penses.
1t is only necessary 20 note the increasing
number of failures in order to know that
gold standard Is rulnouS to merchants and
manufacturers These business men do moi