The Green Forest tribune., 1896-10-22

is as sound as a gold dollar. The fol
lowing are some of his best points:
What Free Coinage Means.
The character of the money which
shall measure our values and exchanges
and settle our balances with one another
and with the nations Of the world is OF
such primary Importance and SO far
reaching i'll its consequences as to call
for the most painstaking investigation.
and in the end sober and unprecedented
Judgment at the polls. We must not be
misled by phrases nor deluded by false
theories. Free silver would not mean
that silver dollars were to be freely had
without cost or labor. 1t would mean
the free use Of the mints OF the United
States for the few who are owners OF
silver bullion, but would make silver
coin no freer to the many who are en-
gagged in other enterprises.
1t would not make labor easier, the
hours of labor shorter or the pay better.
1t would not make farming less labori-
Gus or more profitable. 1t would not
start factory or make demand for an
additional days labor. 1t would create
no new occupations. It would add
nothing to the comfort of the masses,
the capital Of the people or the wealth
of the nation. 1t seeks 70 introduce a
new measure of value, but would add
no value to the thing measured. It
would not conserve values. On the con-
trary. it would derange all existing val
ues. 1t would not restore business con-
lid 4 o{To ho 10
destroy the little which yet remains.
The meaning of the coinage plan
adopted at Chicago is that anyone may
take a quantity of silver bullion, now
worth So cents, to the mints of the
United States, have it coined at the ex-
pense OF the government and receive for
It silver dollar which shall be legal
tender for the payment Of all debts,
public and private. The owner of the
silver bullion would get the silver dollar.
1t would belong to him and nobody else.
Other people would get it only by their
labor. the products of their land or
something Of value. The bullion own
er. on the basis of present values, would
receive the silver dollar for SO cents
worth of silver, and other people would
be required to receive it as full dollar
in the payment of debts. The govern
ment would get nothing from the trans
action. 1t would bear the expense of
coming the silver, and the community
would suffer loss by it's use.
Silver Dollars Now on q Gold Isas.s.
We have coined since 1878 moro
than 400,00o,OoO of silver dollars,
which are maintained by the govern
ment at parity with gold and are full
legal tender for the payment of all
debts. public and private. How are the
silver dollars. now in use different from
those which would be in use under free
coinage? They are to be of the same
weight and fneness. They are 70 bear
the same stamp of the government.
Why should they not be Of the same
value? | answer: The silver dollars
now in use were coined on account OF
the government, and not for private ac-
count or gys!n, and the government has
solemnly agreed to keep them as good
as the best dollars we have. The gov
ernnent bought the silver bullion ct it's
market vaire and coined it into silver
dollars. Having exclusive control OF
the nailtagc, ii only COINS what It can
hold at a parity with sold. The profit,
representing the difference between tho
commercial value OF the silver bullion
and the face value of the silver dollar,
goes TO the government for the benefit
OF the people.
Farmers AID Laiorers W oali Suffer cEost.
II there is any one thing which should
be free f1em speculation ana 1iuctuation,
it g tie money OF q country. It ought
never 20 be she subject OF mere partisan
ccntention. When we part with our la
bor. our products or our property, we
shoald receive in return money which
IS as sfahle aGd unchancirg in value as
the ipgena.ty Oi Eolsst 1nen can make
it. IiebascEsent Of the currency Tncans
destruction IT values. no Que suffersso
much from Cheap .aoney us tie farmers
an& lsboers. They are the FIRST TO feel
its bgd efTeets ard the last TO recover
from ti.eza. This has been the UNIFORM
experience cf all countries, ard here as
eise~llere. The poor, and not the rich,
arc 4iWays the greatest sufferers from
eFerr s.tcurt TO del ase cur neney. II
wcu6i fal! wita alarming severity upon
investments already made, upon infur-
abee companies and their Toiicy i.cl6Iers,
u.4on atfvitigs s2anls and their deposit
cts, agon NNiiaing a 4 lean association
Eaansors. apou the sat.ngs Of thrift,
ui9n e a*soacfs and i.leir families, and
uaen wages aFae1# ala tie purchasing
1.n1s.s;, a : = x.t.l