Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1897-05-07
THE GOLD STANDARD.
READY AND WAITING FOR THE
NEXT BATTLE.
Disaster and Distress Follow the Success
of tho Standard of Gold-How to
Avert the Danger-Loyal AmeSicsn
Sentiments.

The first great battle of the stand
ards Is past. The standard OF gold
still futters from the mast of the ship
of state. With the dying echoes of the
last clash Of battle new campaign is
inaugurated, a campaign which will
end in the freeing of millions who have
been CALLED to the quick by the yoke
of gold The curse has dimmed the
happiness of many home. This gold
en- octopus has robbed the laboring
millions Of just division Of the fruits
of their toll. It's shining teItacles have
slowly encircled American industries,
while patriotism and thrift are waning
in the hearts of the masses. But, thank
God, patriotic blood still beats in a
hurrying food in the hearts of Ameri-
can men. Six millions of them have
been brave enough to stand by the
principles enunciated by their fore
fathers.
Bimetallism was the child Of our con-
stitution. When silver and gold
walked side by side, prosperity reward
ed the efforts Of the American people.
United they stand, divided they
fall"
The gold standard Is. not an Ameri-
can policy, but the policy of our enc
mics. History fails to record an in
stance of victory won by following
the leadership Of the enemy. Disaster
follows this course, as experience has
abundantly proved. President Mckin-
ley tells us that he hopes to bring about
international bimetallism. 1t Is vain
hope. If, as he has said, the gold STAN
dard is a good thing, why should he
change it for international bimetal-
lism? II it wasn't good thing why
should we wait for the consent OF Eng
land before we give relief to our starv-
ing countrymen? To listen to England
was not once the spirit Of Americans
Have we lost that independent spirit
manifested by our forefathers in the
Immortal document that Is dear to the
heart of us all? Are we no longer able
to legislate for the relief of our suffer-
ing humanity? Must we stand idly by
and see the masses of our common
people converted into cowardly pol
troons?
The gold men charge us with being
traitors to good government. Where
can tyranny be any blacker than in the
heart of the man who is willing to
sell his fellows into golden bondage?
The traitors and slave owners of our
last war claimed to be sponsors of ma
tional honor and good government and
at the same time were plotting for
their destruction.
The colored man of the south gets
along very we'll without his master, so
can the millions of plain people of the
whole nation subsist without British
gold and Wall street monopoly.
The success of the cause of bimetal-
lism convokes the aid of all loyal Am
orleans. We must warn the people of
their danger ere our institutions of
freedom are crumbled to ruins. Arouse
them as did Paul Revere the common
Iers of Massachusetts. Arouse them as
you would Of coming pestilence or
flood. Do not lay down the gauge of
battle until every dollar shall be as
good as every other dollar under our
flag.
Remove the stain of statute law from
our silver dollar and prosperity and
happiness will brighten every home in
our fair land.
Augusta. Wis. A. HERRICK.