The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-02-23
BRYAN ON TIE RATIO.
REASONS FOR PRIVACY ON TIE
MONEY QUESTION.
Thinks the Free oOtOase of silver the Par

arnonns Issue In the Next Campaign Be
tween the Two Gr,ae PARTIES.
The Journal prints the following
article by William ]. B-yau:
In ansner to your inquiry, l submit
some of tae reasons which lead me to
believe that the money question pre-
sants an issue which is still paramount
in importance.
In the platform adopted at Chicago,
the Democratic party said:
Recognizing that the money Ques-
ton IS paramount to all others at this
time, we iaVite attention to the fact
that the federal constitution named
silver and gold together as the money
metals Of the United States, and that
the first coinage law passed by con-
gress under the constitution made the
silver dollar the monetary unit and
admitted gold to free coinsge at g re-.
ito based upon the silver dollar unit
After thus elevating the question to
the place Of supreme importance, the
platform proceeded to poiEt out the
effect OF an appreclatlng dollar, and
declared the unalterahle opposition Of
the party to the gold standard, char,
acterizing It as both uo American and
| anti American. The platform specih-
c2Ily demanded:
| First-The free and unlimited coin
age of both silver sud gold at the
present legal ratio Of l6 to |.
Second-That the standard silver
dollsr be made full legal tender,
equally with gold, for all debts, pub,
lie and private.
Third-1he enactment OF such legis-
lation SIS will prevent for the future
the decentralization Of any kind OF le
gal tender money by private contract.
Fourth-Thatt the United States shall
not surrender its right to redeem its
obligations in either gold or silver.
Fifth-That the government shall
not issue interest.bearing bonds IN
time Of peace.
Sixth-That the government shall
not surrender to national banks the
right to issue paper money.
While the declaration against ma.
tional bank notes is not part OF the
silver plank, the division line between
those who favor independent bime:al-
lism and those who oppose it is almost
| identical with the line which separates
the advocates OF government paper
from the supporters OF national banks
of issue, and the two questions will be
settled together.
Nothing has happened sincet the cleo.
ton to lessen the real or relative in
portance OF the money question. II
| the gold standard was bad in 1896 it is
F., still bad; if our present financial sys.
TEN was un American and anti AUer-
lean in 1896 it has not become natu-
ralized since that time.
THE ONLY REMEDY"
In 1S96independent blmetall1sn was
pointed out IS the only remedy for the
gold standard, and the failure of our
monetary commission to secure inter
national bimetallism strengthens our
contention. The senate has recently
put itself on record in favor of that
plank Of our platform which declares
that the silver dollar shall have debt
paying power equal to the gold dollar
and that the government shall not
surrender its right to redeem coin obi.
legations in either gold Or silver, and
the house has declared against the
proposition.
The effort OF the secretary of the
treasury to secure authority to issue
more bonds and his demand fer the
retirement of the green backs are in
direct opposition to the positions above
stated. Thus it will be seen that events,
not free silver agitators, are keeping
the money question before the coun-
Try.
The evil effects OF the gold standard
are so apparent that the Republican
party refuses to become sponsor for
the system; it is SO indeiensible tina.
even Secretary Gage IN his recent
speech st Philadelphia took occasion
to say that the president is in favor OF
international bimetallism and has the
support of all his cabinet in his effort
to secure the cooperation Of other
nations in getting rid OF the gold
standard.
But while the Republican party,
| through the chief executive, still holds
out the hope of International bimetal-
ism, none of the party leaders say a
word in defense OF the double stand
ard, Independent or international.
Why not9
Because international bimetallism
can only be defended on the theory
that the existing gold standard is un-
satisfactory, and the Republican party
leaders know that the Republican par
ty has no real intention of abandon.
ing the present gold standard, and
they cannot, therefore. afford to say
anything which would make the peo.
ple-dissasis6ed with it.
Neither do they. as rule, say any
thing in favor Of the gold standard,
because to do so would st once raise
the question: Why, then, is interns-
tional bimetallisn desirable?
GAGE ON BOTH SIDES.
Occasionally speaker will be found
who will take both sides of the Ques-
ton as did Mr.. Gage at Philadelphia.
! After trying TO show that the gold
standard had been a great blessing to
the laboring man, he declared it to be
the intention of the Republicans to
substitute another system. The ques-
ton at once arises, if the gold stand
ard has been blessing to the labor
ing man, why does not the Republi-
can party advocate its retention, rather
troy, i+s o oboD1onnoonT
International bimetallism will have
exactly the same efec. as Independent
| oimetallism in raising prices. If fall
in prices is an advantage, then 3 rise
in prices cannot be desirable; and if,
on the other hand, rise in prices,
whether obtained through independ
ent oinetallism or through an inter
national agreement, is good, then the
fall in prices caused by the gold stan:
dard must be admitted to have worked
an injury.
l VI