Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-10-23

special purpose for which the book was
written, as stated by the author, is to
present to the reader a plain, specific
and patriotic plan, for the immediate
reconciliation Of silver by this country
Independent Of any other nation, with
out the aid Of banks or bankers, IN a
way that all Of our people can easily
comprehend. The book, which is
claimed to be non-partisan. is largely
made up of a series of articles written
by the author from July 1898 to the
present time, embracing certain public
speeches delivered by him during the
National campaign of 1896. in all of
which is advocated the complete re-
monetization Of silver by this country,
independent of all other nations. The
"plain, specific and patriotic plan" which
the author suggests, is the adoption of
the French system. making the payment
OF gold and silver out Of the national
treasury compulsory. according to the
relative amount of each on hand our
silver to be legal tender, the same as
gold. Providing for the sale of bonds
only when it becomes necessary to pre-
serve the parity. The creation of an
unlimited FREQ coinage system for the
entire American product of silver at
the present ratio Of l6 to permitting
exporters from this country to receive
|
which have adopted free silver policy
silver bullion, on coin, to be taken in
payment for any product ofthis country
actually sold and exported from this
to such free silver countries upon pay.
ment Of small duty, merely enough
to pay for custom inspection, such inn
ported silver to be created at our mints
the same as the American product, all
other importations of silver bullion, or
coin, to pay duty of not less than the
difference between our coin value and
the London market value. All this
to be under our present custom house
laws and regulations, with the same
penalties as upon other dutiable goods.
The anthor contends in support Of his
/ plan, that it embraces all of the bene-
tcial elements Of unlimited free coinage
OF silver with such restrictions as 10
enable US to easily maintain the parity.
That it would protect our monetary
system from all Of those countries and
financial manipulators hostile to the
free coinage of silver, and practically
bring US the entire trade Of all silver
countries, or force European countries
to raise the price Of silver to our ratio
That it would largely increase our ex-
port trade with all silver countries re-
gardless Of what European counties
did, and in no way disturb our present
trade relations with gold standard coun-
tries. That under this system it would
not be necessary TO sell any bonds TO
maintain the parity that its adoption
would bring general prosperity to our
whole country; make America supreme,
make every patriot in America feel
proud of his country.
Now, if Mr.. Sonzette could furnish
satisfactory assurances that his plan,
which he is pleased to call plain and
patriotic, would do all he claims for it,
it would have no opposition among
well wishers or the republic, as there
could be little else to desire in behalf Of
the nation, if all Of the benefits he
enumerates were granted US To the
casual reader his plan would seem quite
plausible, and many of the readers of
the book will, no doubt, be so impressed
with the authors plausible manner of
putting things as to place at once upon
it the seal of their approval. Even
among those who have devoted much
time to the study Of the important
| question, there are doubtless a large
number who will be inclined to endorse
and untried theory. we are not going to
declare in positive terms that it is
wholly without merit. notwithstanding
the very apparent fact that the trend of
sentiment throughout the civilized
world at this time 10 in the direction of
the GOLD standard, and the further fact
that We already have more silver in our
national treasury than is needed to meet
existing requirements. A plan that
would stimulate the general circulation
OF the silver already coined in this
country would be very desirable one
to adopt right now, If anybody is wise
enough to devise it.