Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-10-29
Prosperity Here.

: w =
perity which blesses the nation and
promises to be lasting; the people are
happy and contented, there is employ
ment for labor times are good mills
are crowded with work, the price Of
farm products advancing, the treasury
bursting with money, there IS more
money in the country than ever be
fore, and equal to the best In the
world: exports increasing and imports
decreasing. All this has come to US
as the result Of two years of KepuD-
lican administration, and with for
eign war on hand.
In the face of this splendid record
the Democratic party now asks that
there be a change. A change from
what? From prosperity to business
| depression, from good times to hard
times. TO ask for a change now we
might as well ask the people to give
I'D wealth for poverty, sunshine Tor
darkness. a good home for a poor one,
good times for hard times, good money
for bad money, good meal for poor
one. Instead of asking the people 70
make a change the Democrats should
rather say. Let prosperity unVeXed
and Iinembarrassed 20 on under Re-
publican rule to bless the people ana
the land"
we Want No Change.
In 1892 the people by false Demo
cratic promises We're persuaded 10
make a change. They were told
change was needed; that more pros
perity would follow. The lesson Oh
four years CT want, ruin, poverty, DIS
tress, heartache, business depression
and paniCs, as the result of the change,
is too recent and will suffice. People
will not soon be persuaded again at
the instance of politicians to turn their
backs on prosperity and good times
for untried experiments in finance ana
free-trade theories.
But apart from all these command
Ing considerations there should be no
change for the reason that the prose-
cution and successful conclusion OF the
war with Spain has been in the hands
and in the control of Republican
president and administration. lmpor-
tant questions growing out OF the war
are vet to be settled. Naturally and
logically the party having charge OF
the war should settle these questions,
and there should be no change until
their settlement is final and complete
Therefore a Republican house should
be returned. The election of Dem
ocratic house at this time might pre-
vent the nation from gathering many
of the substantial results and fruits or
/ the war. The people stand willing to
/ trust William Mckinley. Don't en-
| barrass him by electing hostile house
! of representatives.
West Virginia has gone Republican
! In the last two elections. She is fairly
! a Republican state; her material inter
ests are always promoted under Re
publican policies. The products of
| West Virginia demand protection
without it they will languish and
our progress and development will be
retarded. There should be no step
backward by falling to elect four Of
our Republican candidates for con-
gress They are worthy and deserving
men, none truer and better. They can
/ be trusted to stand for sound money
! and protection Governor Atkinson
and the Republican officials associated
with him in his Office has given the
state an able, efficient and pure admin
| istratiOn, beyond repro&ch or the reach
/ of scandal. This stands to the credit
/ of the Republican party and should be
/ a potent force in keeping the state in
/ the Republican column this fall and
/ returning a legislature that will elect
a Republican United States senator.
The silver Question.
While the Democrats of some states
reDudiate free silver, it is only fair to
state that at the four congressional
| conventions held in West Virginia for
! the purpose of nominating Democratic
/ candidates for congress, each cOnven-
! ton declared in favor Of the Chicago
platform. therefore for the free and
unlimited coinage of silver. free trade
as well as the attack ON the supreme
court This declaration obliges some
/ discussion of the silver question, trite
as it is Outside Of its money value
at the ratio Of rs to /, the silver dollar
! commercially is only worth half as
! much as gold; therefore it is not as
I La OH a n M qf % "a nj w
to make money as gold is. In our COun-
try silver derives half its value from
it's money use and the pledge Of the
government that all Of our money shall
be equal to gold. Gold is just as val
liable without the stamp of the gov
eminent rs with il. If gold coin should
| be melted by IRE IL would be worth
much as before. II silver coin should
be melted IT, would have only half the
value it had before as money, because
its money use would be destroyed and
become simply commodity worth
just what it would be selling for in the
market This shows COnclusively that
gold. if it can be had, should be used
as money because it is more valuable
and safer, an no loss can come to the
owner in case Of destruction as money.
The production Of gold is increasing
all over the world, and there can be
no just complaint that there is not a
sufficient amount for money purposes.
The American people, the merchant
the farmer. the mechanic the banker
the lawyer the waSe-earner indeed
an the people are entitled to the best
and safest money in the world The
political party that denies the people
the best money is not their friend, and
should not be entrusted with power tC
force upon the country a debased cur
rency.
Friends Of silver.
The govern ment can not by law Gre
ate values. Beyond it's ability to main
tain silver equal to gold it can not
make so cents worth Of silver equal tC
81 in gold. This is simply impossible
and the experience Of mankind has
proved il in all ages. The reason for
this is too obvious to need argument
In declaring and insisting on the
gold standard as the measure of value
the Republican party does not turn its
back on the use Of silver as money
Far from itl H. fayors the largest
possible use CT silver The only limit
alton the republican party would put
upon its use as money would be that
it should not so beyond The ability OF
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