Lancaster enterprise. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1891-1905, 1897-12-08
Silver Coinage.

sense OF the word a partisan
paper, y,t 1T is perfectly le
gitimate to discuss IN y non-par-
tisan way any economic question
that may be an issue between the
two parties that affect the inter
esss of agriculturists. Tne silver
question Is such an issue, and the
farmers ali over the country be-
lieve that IL Is Il question that Vi
tally concerns them. And ii is
evident that all tho political par
ties so regard il, as they have
made declarations In their plat
forms concerning It. The Hayub-
lie platform has committed the
party unreservedly to secure in
ternatlonal bimetalhsm, or to a
maintenance of the existing gold
standard. There is no hope for
international bimetallsm now
and then il there was aver any
doubt OF it before, 1t is all dispell-
cd by the result Of the efforts of
the Wolcott commission, which
shows that international bimet-
allism Is a delusion and a snare.
a large majority of the people,
perhaps, have always believed
that the scheme of international
blmetallism was farce and
humbug, and doubtless they would
have SAID so at the polls but for
the party shackles that bound
them. But Senator Wolcott and
his commission have rendered 8
greater service to the country
than they themselves may be
aware Of, not simply In showing
up the delusive nature Of the
scheme, but also in showing to
the country at large that if We
are ever to have bimetallism 1T
must come to us through our own
unAided efforts, and the result of
this commission and the practical
snubbing they received at the
hands Of Great Britain will arouse
the feelings of independence that
all true Americans feel, making
them anxious to assert that indie
pendsnee aad free themselyes
from their European financial
shackles. Aud another beneficial
result growing out of this Is the
proof it has furnished of the truth
of the contention of bimetahsts
on this eide the water, and that
proof has been furnished by the
British advocates OF the gold
standard themselves. In reply
Of the Indian government to the
proposal that the United States,
France and India shoLld unite
in the adoption OF bimetalism, it
is said:
The first result Of the suggested
measure would be an immense
disturbance Of Indian trade and
industry, by the sudden rise in
the rate of exchange, which, if
the ratio adopted were - = TO |,
would be a rise from about lG
p"uc" TO about % pence the rupee.
such rise is enough TO kill orr
export trade for the time at least.
That is Just What bimetallist-
have claimed would happen. They
have claimed that the result would
be Il rise in the rate Of silver eX-
change and stimulate American
exports and make this country an
active competitor with Great
Britain for trade Of the world, or
certainly at least for the trade OF
500, 100000 people who use silver.
This Is the worry objection that
the Indian government raises,
that It would klll their export
trade, and that is just what BIZ
metallists here have claimed
would be the result. II their ex-
port trade would be killed it Will
be largely as result Of American
competition, and the increased
demand for American products,
whether we can raise enough to
supply the world. India now COM
petes with us in her trade in
wheat, cotton and cotton fabrics.
II their export trade is killed, or
evan ininYad We ara hound IN he