The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-02-04
HOLD TO THE RATIO.



ratio of sixteen to one. No other ratio
is practically possible on which the
battle can be fought. The attempt. In
the northeast corner OF the democratic
camp. to raise again the question OF
ratio, is by men who are secretly hostile
10 the use OF silver as true money.
Could they have their way. they would
cast aside entirely the issue Of bimetal-
lism. At present their n;agonism goes
no further than an attack on the ratio.
for the reason that they believe they
can attack the ratio without having
their calm 10 being democrats ques-
toned.
All considerations require that the
ratio should not he wider than sixteen
to one. II II were TO be changed al all.
il should be narrowed. 10 correspond
to the ratio of the Latin union. fifteen
and one-half 10 one. which would make
il easier for France. Belgium. Italy,
Switzerland. Greece, Spain and Russia
10 follow the lead of the United States
in opening the minis 10 the free COIN
oge Of silver. After the battle is won
In this country, the nations named viii
still be retarded by an uncertainty as.
to the effect on their currency OF the
onc-half point difference between their
ratio and ours. America. 10 secure their
cooperation. may ultimately find it to
Ter advantage TO remint her silver a.
the ratio named. Bat as we are not as
sured of the support of those countries,
there is no reason why we should, at
this time. go out of our way TO obligc
them. especially as they leave us to
fight the battle alone.
In all arguments by our adversaries,
silver is priced in god. Very well; as
words go we can as we'll use that man
ner of speech Is any other. Remember,
then. silver is rriced in terms OF gold.
With this for basis on which TO work.
let us compare the recent centuries and
see about what the ratio should be. in
the light Of silver ard gold productions
Of this century.
From the discovery Of America to the
year 1000 the world produced 80 ounces
OF silver to one of gold. and yet the
ratio was bout fourteen to one Dur
ing the next cen fury the worlds OUT
i Out WAS AZ OuuccS OA slAstt " tAt "a
gold, yet the ratio was scarcely more
than fifteen to one. In the next CEN
fury, 1901 to 1900. the production was
again so ounces c: silver TO one of gold,
with no appreciab.e change OF the ra-
ito; yet there had been variation in
the ratio of prod uction of over - per
cent. As both metals had free coinage,
this difference in ratio of production
was not able to make itself felt in the
commercial ratio.
During the first ten years of this
century. so ounces Of silver were pro-
duced to every ounce of gold. yet the
ratio was Tot thrown out of joint. In
the second ten years the worlds pro-
duction was 40 ounces of silver 10 one
Of gold. According 10 the theories OF
gold monometai.is,s. the ratios OF oil
the nations in the world should have
gone all TO pieces at this sudden widen
ing of the ratio Of production. But the
currencies Of the world were not unset
tied. and the wisdom of bimetallism
was demon s,rated beyond reasonable
argument. As the century wore on,
new gold mines were found. and the
production of gold increased enormous
". Thus. from 1850 10 1870 there were
81, ounces of silver produced to one OF
geld. II the theory of some that the
ratio OF production regulates the ratio
of commerce were true. then the ratio
OF value between silver and gold would
have been not sixteen to one. but less
than six TO one. Eut no such change In
values took place. and The truth Of the
b:metalic theory was agnin demon
strated. From 1871 TO 1895 the word
Welded Il ounces of silver to one OF
gold. During the entire period from
$500 TO 1895 the relative production was
only - "a ounces Of silver to one OF
gold.
Thus, the sixteenth century gave %
ounces Of silver TO one of gold; the sew
enteenth century 40 ounces of silver +
one of gold; the eighteenth century y
Of silver to one of god; the first o5 years
OF the nineteenth century gives - q
ounces Of silver 10 one Of gold. We have
the lowest productive ratio of four cen
turtles, and the highest coinage ratio
and vet, in the face Of all this, the spec
u,ators in the yellow metal have tn
splendid effronterv to stand up ant
with long faces tell the nation that W.
need yet wider ratio.
The ratio OF sixteen to one IL exceed
ingly liberal. The wide commercial "a
, ito is due entirely to legislation hostile
to silver and favorable TO gold. The tire
mendous power OF such legislation y
seen in the effect that it has had on tn
price Of silver in century OF Low
silver production as compared I
, ro,d. We must stand by the ratio
. There can be no compromise. NOTHING
can now stop the onward sweep OF tn
, army Of liberation. II traitors get u
, he way they will be crushed.
, II. r. THURSrON.
nnasub . mona Hanna.