The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-12-09

Absurd and Impossible Assumptions
of Gold standard Adj
vocntes.

There Is not single objection 10 bi'
metallism that rests upon any broader
or better basis than the technical quib-
bles. false anaiogies. and naked assump-
lions which characterize their ailirma-
tive claims in favor OF gold. Take the
claim that bimetallism is impractiea-
be, or, as some put it. impossible.
What objections are offered toit? Why.
we are told that I'VE cannot have two
standards OF value any more than we
can have two standards of length" a
DISTINGUISHED citizen Of Nebraska, and
a prominent member Of the Sound
Money league" has been reported as
saving that 10 him 1.-TWO standards Of
value are utterly unthinkable." II he
used that expression ii merely proves
the "unthinkable" character OF the APP
paraius which he carries around on his
shoulders and which he probably thinks
is a thinker. The truth is that there are
difTeren. standards of various kinds.
The French meter is standard OF
length and the American yard is an
other. The avoirdupois pound is a
standard OF weight and so is pound
troy. There are no less than three diff
ferent standards by which heats meas
ured. aud so with other things. But
these standards ere easily adjusted. one
TO another. and il requires no great in
tellect to make the adjustment. II is
equally so with standards of value.
Strictly speaking. there is no such thing
as STANDARD" of value. because the
word standard" implies fixity. while
values are all the time changing. A
money STANDARD" is merely a system
by which values are computed. DIFF
ferent countries have different systems
and different units. England has the
pound sterling Of gold. India has the
silver rupee. artificially raised above the
level Of silver bullion. China has four
different kinds Of silver taels: we have
the dollar. etc. etc But the difference
between these various units or stand
ards are easily calculated. 1t does not
require n mind Of any great thinking
power TO enable one TO understand the
difference. Commerce is going right on
between countries with different money
systems. The most ordinary clerk can
convert pounds into rupees. or dollars
into.taels, and without any very labored
effort al thinking. either. The idea
which called out this unique expression
10 this: II we attempt TO establish BIZ
metallism by admitting both metals TO
free coinage it is claimed that gold will
at once go TO a premium. the parity will
be broken and we will have two stand
ards ofvalue. which the gentleman says
IS "unthinkable." Now. suppose Just
that should take place and gold should
go 10 premium Of. say. so per cent.
What would that mean? Simply that
two gold dollars would be equal to three
silver dollars. Surely no man can be
so utterly destitute ofintelligence as TO
be unable TO comprehend as plain a
proposition as that. In the face of the
whole monetary history of the world
the gold men assume that the very mo-
ment gold and silver parted company
III they did part) our finances would
fall into confusion worse COMPOUNDED.
and ruin follow. Just hcw the ruin
would come they never attempt 10 cx-
plain. save by series Of propositions
that are both absurd and impossible.
o. j. WARNER