The herald., 1898-09-14
"silver n Dead"

| ~ - SSes>A
f! To the Editor of the Los Angeles Herald:
Such was the statement of every speaker
at the recent Gage reception. either di-
rectly or by inference. Either directly or
| by inference every speaker indorsed the
administration, the war and the war ap-
Ipropriation, yet no speaker was mantul
enough to say that part Of the war meas
ure they professed to approve took nfty
millions of silver bullion from the treasury
on which for twenty years the government
had paid ~ per cent to foreign bondholo-
ers and made that part Of the war-paying
debt. Were the speakers silent on the sub
ject because they feared to enlighten the
people?
I charge that our Republican congress
demon etized silver, at the d.ctat!on OF 1or-
eign countries to their advancement IN an
Industrial and financial sense, with d.
rectly the opposite result to our own nation
and people. 1t is an axiom In the govern
ment Of nations that a government is
strong, safe and secure when the middie
and lower classes are industriously occu-
pied, happy and contented.
The United States is an agricultural coun-
try. So extensive are Its productions OF
wheat, corn. beef. mutton. pork, cheese
butter, ETC., that, to be remunerative for-
eign market is essential to absorb the sur
plus over home consumption at remunera-
tive prices. Hence 1t follows that our Re
publican statesmen should legislate on all
lines to promote the interest Of all the peo-
pie Of the United States, first. last and all
the time, independent of the interest and
dictat!on Of any foreign power.
When the farmer Is prosperous he not only
gives employment to laborers, but he gives
orders to the manufacturers. These, In
turn. give employment to large number
of other laborers, and hence are all able
to patronize and pay the butcher. the gro
GER, the merchant, the shoemaker, etc.,
while peace and contentment pervade all
classes.
The United States and Mexico are the
principal silver producing countries OF the
world In the years since our congress de-
monetized silver 1t has fallen in value from
a premium over gold to about one-half its
former price.
When the moneyed powers Of Europe had
forced II to the lowest possible price they
commenced buying, and every month mil
lions went across the water to be added to
that taken from as many silver mines as
the same monopolistic money power could
purchase on this continent. Why did they
order US to demonetize silver? Why have
they purchased such immense quantities
and what have they done with It? Fully
500 900 900 of our 50-cent dollars were coined
abroad into 100-cent dollars and used to
complete an irrigation system in South
America that has developed a wheat pro-
ducing area almost equal to that Of the
United States. Some $50 000. 900 of the same
5O-cent dollars were converted in the same
way and used to construct 1900 miles Of
irrigation canals In India and produce a
larger and more productive wheat growing
area than in the former instance.
The American farmer has been brought
into competition with both countries and
labor here is more than one-half cheaper.
All this has been brought about by taking
our farmers money from him and making 6
it gift to foreign peoples.
Silver Is not dead. AS II dies, American
ism dies. As It goes. wealth goes into the
hands Of the few. Monopoly fiourishes,
trusts blossom. syndicates thrive and the
middle and laboring classes become vas
sails.
Let every lover Of human liberty, Of pro-
gress. Of American institutions In their
purity and independence, vote for silver.
SILVER REPUBLICAN.