Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-09-14


lawed cotton. Under these condi-
tons which are decidedly unequal, un-
natural conditions, you can not estab-
ish natural, commercial ratio of
gold and silver. The ratio is a purely
artificial ratio, the inevitable result of
artificial conditions. To get at an ac-
tual, true commercial ratio you must
either restore to silver all its functions
and powers which by law you destroy
ed, restore silver to it's constitutional
status as full redemption money en-
titled to coinage upon an equality
with gold or else you must drag gold
down to the degraded level of silver
by destroying its monetary character.
In either case the much talked of, and
the little understood ratio of 80 to /
will disappear.
PARITY OF THE DOLLAR.
But | am asked, will we be able
as single nation to insure the sue
cess of free coinage by maintaining
the parity of the dollar2" That de-
ponds not upon the irrevelant fact that
we are a single nation, but upon the
material fact or question whether we
have sufficient power, the necessary
capacity to absorb in our business, our
trade and commerce, our share of the
worlds annual output of silver, or that
part of it available for coinage. Two
things in this connection we must not
forget. First, large part of the sill
yer that is mined is used for other
purposes and never comes to the mint.
Second, we will not be the only people
on earth to coin silver. This task, if
task it can be called, will be divided
one, for several hundred millions of
other people will relieve US of great
share of this alleged superabundance
of silver.
Let us then analyze the several ele-
ments of our strength, ascertain if
possible the part we play in this
worlds affairs and the part we ought
to play, and then determine if our
strength be sufficient to succeed.
ELEMENTS OF NATIONAL
STRENGTH.
Mr.. Mulhall, of London, who is the
best statistical authority now living,
Las figured out according to the uner-
ring process of arithmetic, that by
reason of our exceptionally advanta-
geous position as nation; by reason
OF the illimitable resources at our
command; by reason of the immense
territorial area we occupy, for these
reasons one American, in the capacity
to create and consume wealth, is equal
to almost three Europeans. A ma
tion's power to absorb money is repre-
sented by it's capacity to create and
consume wealth. Measured by this
unfailing, scientific test we are really
not single nation of seventy odd mil
lions, but actually, to all intents and
purposes, we are equal to over 200 mil
lions of people; equal to the COM
bined populations of Europe's four
leading nations, Russia, France, Ger
many and England. Our railway
mileage is greater than that of all Eu-
rope. Our facilities for inland water
navigation is equalled nowhere on
earth. Several years before he died,
Blaine told us that our inland trade
and commerce was greater in amount
than all the import and export trade
of adj the nations of the earth. The
immense areas of our rich soils in
sures to us forever the place of honor
the head of the list of agricultural ma
tons. Our ore deposits and coal sup
ply ere beyond the power of man to
70 80
purpose to become sentimental, for ]
well know that in a controversy OF
this kind none but cold facts possess
value as evidence; but it is not senti.
mentalism to ask you people whether
you have ever stopped to contemplate
the unrivaled heritage you possess
the magnificent stretch of country
God permits you to occupy. On the
east you are bounded by the turbulent
angry waves of the worlds one great
ocean; on the west by the shining,
glittering, golden sands Of the worlds
other great ocean; on the north you
are bounded by your matchless lakes
your illimitable wheat belt, and depos.
its of mineral wealth beyond the pow.
er of contemplation: on the south
by the beauty of your rice and cotton
fields, and the everlasting glory OF
your orange groves. Within this i'm
mense territorial area, over three mil.
lioEs of square miles, almost continen-
tai in extent, we have variety of eli
mate and variety of soil permitting
us to produce in overwhelming album
dance. oil the grasses and fibers, all
the fruits and the grains, all the
foundation materials that will make a
nation rich and enduringly great.
Then these tremendous natural bless
ings and advantages are supplemented
with the mechanical skill and the in
ventive genius of people, who in
large part are recruited from the most
enterprising, the most Industrious,
and the most economical populations
from all parts of the habitable globe.
This is but very brief and imperfect
review of our unrivaled power, our
transcendent prestige among the ma
tions. Though one may be as listless
as clay eater, he must know that in
the. parcelling out of the destinies of
the nations, fate assigned to the pee-
pie of this republic the place and
function of actual leadership. Our
business in this worlds affairs
is not to perform the work
of a mental without ambition;
nor to blacken the boots
of some royal master; our place
boots OF some royal master; our place
is not in the rear, but in the very front
of the procession of the nations! Our