Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1897-08-13
what is money? A creation OF law.
uynuId oitbar gold Or ctIvor ha money


Would either gold or silver be money
II there were no law making them
such? No; they would no more be
money than lead, iron, paper, or any
other commodity.
II neither gold nor silver were used
as money in any part Of the world,
asks the Silver Knight-Watchman
would they be worth the same as they
are now? No: neither of them would
be worth five per cent of their present
value. With fifty years Of supply on
hand the demand for them for other
purposes would not make them worth
ten cents a pound avoirdupois.
What does the stamp on gold or
silver or paper which passes as money
signify? 1t signifies the will of the
sovereign power Of the government au-
thorizing the stamp or superscription
which appears on the gold, silver or
paper, and also designates the number
of units or parts of units of account
which the particular piece of gold or
silver represents.
Did any country ever use any gold
or silver in war where the existence OF
the nation was involved? We know
of but one instance where such was
the case. Germany in the Franco
Prussian war continued to use silver
supplemented by paper and did not sus-
pend specie payment during the war.
Was gold ever used as a medium of
exchange during any great war OF any
of the great commercial nations OF
Europe? 1t never was. Every great
nation has been compelled, with the
single exception of Germany, in the
Franco-Prussian war which used Sill
yer, to suspend specie payment and
used paper to designate the will OF the
sovereign power Of the nation.
If the nations in great emergencies,
such as war, are compelled to stamp
the fiat of the government on, paper
to prevent dissolution and destruction,
why may not that be done in time of
peace to rescue the country from uni
versal distress? There would be no
difficulty in the exercise of the SOW
ereign power of the government to
create money in times Of peace as well
as war If money dealers and usurers
did not get control Of all governments
in times of peace.
For whose benefit is the United States
confined to the use of one commodity,
gold, upon which to stamp its para
mount authority designating 1t as
money? For the sole and exclusive
benefit Of those who own that commod-
ity and those who have bought bonds
which are gold futures and require the
delivery Of the commodity gold.
Is it true that the gold combination
has corner on the gold Of the world?
1t is most emphatically true. That COM
bination has induced the monarchies of
Europe to purchaser more than half the
gold of the world and hold 1t in reserve
for military purposes. The other half
Is either held or controlled by the COM
bination.
On what terms and conditions can
those who have no gold obtain It? Upon
such terms and conditions as the own
ers of gold may prescribe.
How much gold have the people of
the civilized world agreed to deliver,
that is to say, what is the amount of
their gold obligations? This question
cannot be accurately answered The
amount is variously estimated from one
hundred to one hundred and fifty thou
sand millions.
How can the people obtain gold to de-
liver to their creditors, in other words,
to pay their debts? They must buy it
from those who have it, and If they can
not get it in any other way they must
be sold into slavery as the Romans
were when that grand civilization was
decaying and falling into barbarism.
Why do the Republican party want a
conference in Europe to decide what
laws shall be passed in this country?
Because they know that legislation in
this country for the benefit of America
is deprecated by the crowned heads of
Europe, and they desire to please the
sovereigns on what they term the most
civilized nations, however much it may
displease or injure the American. peo-
pie.
How long has the United States been
sending delegates to European none
tary conferences to ask permission to
legislate in this country? More than 20
years.
Do the people of the United States
think 1t wise thing to allow European
Jurisdiction over our domestic affairs?
Some of them do. The banks, the gold
bug politicians, and the gold-bug press
have preached loyalty to Europe and
our dependence on the smiles Of mon
afchy so long that they have converted
the weak and vain and caused them to
look to Europe and not to this country
for law and government.
What excuse do the advocates Of for
eign aid in our legislation make for de-
parting from usages of the early days
of the republic? They have several
excuses. One of them is that all the
world must have the same kind Of
money.
Did all the world ever have the same