Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-10-22

site of legal cnactments OF parllamcnts
or congresses Our hard times have
rome from the general competition WIN
tho countries of the whole globe into
which we are forced 10y cheapness ana
facility Of experimentation ovar-pro-
action in past years, from eNtraNa-anee
curing good times. and from our own
social and political agitations. One OF
tie chief causes of hard times to-
Cay is this agitation for radical
change i'm the currency of the coun-
try. If the American people out down
10y an overwhelming majority tins hgl.
;4tion-bury il out of sight-one chieI
y .iuse Of lard times will be out OF the
t-ay. Other causes may remain. more
less. That of the general competi-
on with all the nations of the earth
ust remain. Good times. however.
nv he expected 10 come back. even II
lly gradually. The ovUrproductlon that
rttpd our markets has been used up:
.ap'tnlists are anxious TO do something
18th their money--if it can be invested
| fply: our wondrous natural resources
ute inyytynnts to develop themLahG J,
| Yfdencp~< restored. the outlook is
| irht Hut the essential thing is con-
| nee. Today il is confidence that is
died. far more than an increase III the
! ,.ume Of the currency. The volume OF
/ a cure %cy is large enough; to increase
fctitioh ", surely. will not help MS.
.nctv Der ent. of all business Is donr
thout cuirency-by cheques AMI
ats. of which the whole foundation IS
nfdencc Those who suffer from
,rd times-and they are the many
must hearken TO reason silence passion,
,1rn away from delusive remedies-an'l
Tie country will be again put on the roau
to prosperity.
ask. is il honest to try to pay debts
with half the money which we received
when contracting them! National or pr
,atr. debts contracted upon man
,ial system. such that those who
,aned money gave it cert ~ com
mcrcial value. and believed. ~ they
,oull not at the time have helped
dong, that they would receive IL
| hack nj the same commercial value,
should I've paid in values OF that same
| financial system. That the great Amer
| lean republic will as nation declare 10
| the world that il will now make n law
ronpclling its creditors to be satisfied
with half. or little more of the money
they loaned to it-and 90 on record III
the eyes of the world aS n broken-down
| bankrupt. repudiatint nation. It Is moi
possible to believe. . one will say III
| Justification of such n possibility that
| america is compelled by national poverty
to do so. Then. no pne should be able &c
1 SAY tlhI she lHlllkS VI 'pihN w.
| There are hundred aspects Of this
question which ] do not touch upon.
merely throw OFT some thoughts. which
show reasons for my own. present po
rtical faith. and which may be. Of som,
horcft 10 others in forming their own
| ju lgmcnt
| | may. of course. he mistaken. But
bovc come 70 look upon the present agi
tation ms the great test of universal suf
fragc and popular sovereignty. Can the
rpople defend public honor and the in
stitntions of the country ut the polls. a:
hey have done on the field Of LITTLE
ran they he so calm and deliberate Il
their Judgment. 81, careful TO welgh al
avoid MI rash experiments. that they
can be trusted with the settlement Of
rave social and political problems
that is the question that is before u
t the present moment.