Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1897-11-11
Silver Sentiment Growing.
An Editorial Writer ON the Constitution
Comments on the Fact.

Silver Sentiment 6r0Wlng.
An Editorial Writer on the Constitution
Comments ON the Fact.
(From the Atlanta Constitution.)
The Democratic editors of Illinois
have been in session in Chicago and
the Times Herald has secured the views
of number of them with respect to
matters and things in general.
Colonel Lucien Dunbar voiced the
views of the association by remarking
to the reporter that he wanted Stree
silver without frills, spang up to the
William Jennings Bryan specifica-
tions," and moreover, that he wanted
to ''bust the trusts and muzzle monop-
oily, and do it with the grit of a grind
stone and go of a gum"
Other members of the association
testified to the growth of the free coin
age sentiment among the people. It is
more vigorous than ever. they say, and
no other issue can replace it. This will
be news to the gold men, but as mat
ter of fact, there is no reason whatever
why the demand for free coinage
should not grow in strength and vol
ume. especially in view OF the fact that
the editors of the gold organs them
selves have given it a most significant
Endorsement. 1t is true the indorse-
ment was unintentional, but it is all
the more significant on that account.
We refer, of course, to the hilarious
admission Of the gold editors that the
increase OF the price of wheat has prov
ed great stimulus to business. They
have all along claimed that higher
prices were a bad thing for the wage
earners, but now they say that higher
prices are blessing. That is an in
dorsement of the free coinage of silver,
which has for it's purpose the restora-
tion of prices to stable and profitable
level.
But the most significant feature of
the Endorsement is that it involves an
admission that money does not become
unsound or dishonest because it loses
it's purchasing power with respect to a
staple commodity. This being SO, 1t
follows that mouey would not be un-
sound or dishonest if it deprecated or
lost part Of its purchasing power with
respect to all commodities. The value
would not be lost, but would be trans
forred to the commodities, and this is
the secret of the stimulating effect of
high prices. They give producers bet
ter profits, stimulate production and
put more money in circulation.
The idea that the silver question is
dying out or is likely to be superseded
by less important issues can only be
held by those who take very super
fetal view of affairs. The stimulus
given to business by the doubling of
the price of wheat is only faint inti-
nation of the results that would fol
low the opening of our mints to the
coinage of full legal tender dollars.
The growth offree coinage sentiment
is not confined to Illinois. It is grow
ing everywhere, even in the East, and
| it will continue to grow. There are
| two reasons for this. One is that in
spite Of the increase of the price Of
wheat, the conditions that prevail in
general business have undergone nc
change that is visible to the eye. An
other reason is that the people have
witnessed the stimulating influence
however slight it may be-of the in
creased price OF certain commodities
However, the people have been doing
some thinking on their own account
since the election
In addition to all this, we shall be
very much surprised if a Democratic
wave does not sweep over the country
next year as the result of the failure ol
the Republicans to bring about inter
national bimetallism. In the West the
Republican orators did not confine
themselves to the text of their plat
form last year. They went farther
They pledged their party unequivocal
ly to an international agreement, and
in this way won thousands Of votes
from among those who had prepared
to desert the Republicans on the flnan
cial issue.
These voters will very naturally con
clude that they have been willfully de
ceived, and in the next campaign will
work for the party that is pledged te
sever the bonds that bind the people
Of this country to the chariot wheels
Of the European money power, for the
issue henceforth is clear cut. Interna
tional bimetellism has been eliminated
There is nothing to confuse the voterl
and no way in which they can be de
ceived on the financial question. Sa
tan exhausted his arts last year.
/ Therefore, we send word of cheel
to the Democratic voters of the coun
try. The day of their deliverance ha'
been postponed, but its coming is sure
With the people once more in contro
Of their government and all the force
Of nrosneritv in full nlav wa shal1 for