Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-06-23
,xrFfNArIoNAL BIMErALLIsM.

points our tndJ up W Ao'i'
was demonetized in Germany, all bllls
were redeemable in gold and silver
alike. After the payment by France OF
the enormous war claim Germany put
herself on a gold basis, but there Is a
very strong party in the Reichstag IN
favor of the double standard, and II Is
believed that a large majority OF the
people are also in favor Of it, and that
every year great progress is made TO-
wards opening the minis in Germany
IN the free coinage of silver and gold
alike. II is thought that if our none
-arv commission can secure an agree
nent with France that Germany will
fall into line. which will probably bring
Austria also, and perhaps all Europe
except England, into monetary con-
ference. which may adopt measures
looking towards larger use OF silver
as money of final redemption. The
ideal expected from gold standard
country has not come. France Is ID
dav and has been all the time nearer
TO the double standard than any coun-
trv in Europe, and is more likely 10
ioin the United States in opening her
minis to the free coinage of silver. She
has always used the metals alike in the
pavment of debts, and keeps more
silver in use through her banks than
anv other country in the world, and
consequently enjoys a greater degree
of prosperity. Germany is watching
this. and her people have felt as the
United States have felt, the severe loss
in business from coming to a gold
standard and throwing out Of existence
one-half Of her money of final redemp-
ton.
The Republican platform declared
emphatically in favor of bi-metallism'
that is to say, it pledged the party to
do all in its power to secure interna-
tional bi-metallism. 1t was virtual
acknowledgment that bi-metallism is a
good thing and that the people of the
United States ought to have it. That
is what the Democratic platform said.
the difference between the two was in
dependent bi-metallism and interna-
tional bi-metallism. Both parties were
pledged to bi-metallism, there is no
doubt about this proposition. Thirteen
million five hundred thousand people
voted therefore for bi-metallism, eX-
pressing nowhere in that vote doubt
that bi-metallism should be the Amer
lean policy Now to make it an Amer
lean doctrine it is necessary to open
the minis alike to both gold and silver,
so that whoever brings a bar of gold
or a bar of silver to the mint may re-
ceive back its equivalent in dollars.
Then honest bi-metallism means some
thing more than this. it means that
both metals shall be used alike with
out discrimination, fear or favor Of
either metal. 1t means very much, 1t
means the grandest kind of confidence
that the people can possibly express
in the coins of the country, it means
that this opinion shall say that every
dollar is an honest dollar ard being an
honest dollar it shall be used honestly;
il means confidence in the stamp Of
the government on a piece of gold or
a piece of silver, and it means such
confidence as Americans have in the
American flag. The American flag is
the emblem OF the country. every right
arm should stand bare, sword in hand,
to defend the American money, the
American dollar. The flag is no more
sacred than the stamp of the govern
ment on the money Of the realm. How
righteous would be the indignation
against anyone who should propose to
strip the stars out of the flag; why not
be as indignant at those who under
took to strike down silver out of the
monetary system of the country?
Every man in business knows to-day
that if the silver dollars had been used
Just as the gold dollars were used by
Harrison's and Cleveland's administra-
tions there would have been no cry
against the silver dollar 1t was the
dishonest blows of the agents of the
government itself against its own coins.
The coins of the land should be
sacred to the government.
There is more real honest confidence
expressed to-day in France and Ger
many. England and Austria, in the
silver money that bears the stamp of
the government than there has been by
the two last administrations of our
own country.
The first duty of the present admins
tration, if it desires honestly to secure
bi-metallism, is to begin at home by
using the silver dollar just as it uses
the gold dollar. by insisting that the
government itself shall choose which
metal it will pay debts in. Nothing