The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-09-02
Is THE SILVER ISSUE DEADr

Republican gold organs are now yawp-
ing and repeating, parrot like, that "the
silver issue is dead"
The News-Democrat kindly refers
these sheets to Senator Chandler's late
letter to the Washington Post. Mr..
Chandler is a leading Republican light
in the United states senate and Is really
an able man.
The letter is clear, calm and able re-
view Of the question, and he shows that
prices have been falling ever since silver
was demonetized. He asks only whether
the process is now complete or whether
we are 10 look for its continuation
whether the effect ne recognizes is a
temporary or part Of a logical and there
fore permanent evolution. There can
be no mistake as to his meaning:
II the complete result of discarding
silver, which lowers prices, and thereby
hinders trade, have been already reach
ed, and no further injury from demone-
tization is to be apprehended, possibly
the world may be held to the single gold
standard. But il the tendency of the
last "a years to a fall in prices, caused, 4,
as alleged, by stopping the coinage
| of silver, Is much longer to continue to
prevail the nations OF the world cannot
be held to gold monometallism. The re-
newed coinage of silver will be irresist-
IDLY decreed by uncomfortable popular
movements. The temporary conditions
Of today or tomorro will not settle a
| question so broad and universal as the
issue between the new gold monometal-
ism and the old bimetallism.
The foregoing is right to the point and
is well worth considering. Since 1873
there has been steady decline in prices
and values, as all statistics and expert.
ence prove. This has not been effected
by good or bad crops, in this or that
year, Tor the trend has been all down
ward.
Now let US ask, is this to continue, ol
have we got to the end? Is this silveI
problem settled, as Republican papers
now claim?
If we are down to the lowest depths o.
hard pan and bed rock, will there be {
rebound and permanent prosperity
Mr.. Chandler discusses this problem al
follows:
The fall in silver will not lessen tht
present or prospective woes from mono
metallism. 1t only points the moral o
demonetization. The gold price of silve
falls and 80 falls the price of all othe
commodities. Such a fall in the price
in the necessaries of life Is beneficial if i
comes from natural causes, but is injuri
Gus according to all political economist
if it results from the cancellation or de
struction of the money of the world
which is the measure of values. If thi
wrong to society has been progressing
for 20 years it will be wise for the fire.,
citizens of America who can accomplish
results by votes to begin the inquiry
anew (now that the tariff question passe
out of sight for time) whether the'worl
of remedying the wrong ought not sool
to begin. This question is not to b.
answered alone by the money lender
and the persons of fixed incomes. Al
classes in the community will study ii
and will reach and act upon their con
clusions. 1 should be glad If | coul,
think the question had disappeared fo
the reason that silver has gone down i
price everywhere because demonetizeG
and wheat has gone up everywhere be
cause of shortage of crops in variou
countries. But is the question reall
gone? Let us not be too sure, but max
inquiry.
. Until 1873 Great Britain was the onl
nation of consequence that held to tn
! gold standard; but since that time, mos
great nations have struck down silver {
a standard metal and it is questio
whether we have yet realized the full e
fects of the folly and "the crime"
When these Mckinley organs prat
about the silver issue being dead the
ought to remember that President Nj
d Kinley's silver commission is still
; Europe and has not reported as ye
They should think too that no Repaid
can platform ever declared for the singl
/. gold standard.
Another point should not be forgo
ten, namely, that no question is eve
7 settled until it is settled right. Mr.
Ella Wheeler Wilcox's beautiful poel
at the end of Mr.. Bryan's book tells
!. finely. The first verse is:
y However the battle is ended,
Though proudly the victor comes,
J. With Haunting flags and prancing nags,
; And echoing roll of drums;
. Still truth proclaims this motto
!, In letters of living light;
!, No question is ever settled
!. Until it is settled right"