Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1898-03-02
THE RATIO
QUESTION.
Vim. ], Bryan Still Insists on
16 to 1.
YOrk journal which Has the Right
Ring.

But there ave some who admit the
necessity fer timetallism and who
confess that it can only be secured by
independent action, but suggest a
change of ratio. They ask, Why 10
to l? l answer that there are several
reasons. Sixteen to is the ratio at
which we had free coinage from 1884
to 1873. 1t is the ratio now existing
between the gold and silver COINS in
circulation, and it is more favorable to
gold than the ratio now existing in
most European countries.
To change the ratio by independent
action, besides changing existing con-
tracts, lessening our currency and IN
curing great expense, would put us
out of harmony with other nations;
especially would it put us out of har-
mony with France, the European ma
ton most friendly to silver, where the
ratio is l5h to l. If, by international
agreement, we should change the ratio
to 81 to l, for instance, it would necess-
itate the recoinage of more than four
billions of silver into coins twice as
large provided the change was made
by increasing the size of the silver
coins.) To double the size of the sill
yer coin of the world would diminish
by one-half the silver money of the
world; it would diminish by one-quar-
ter the entire volume of metallic mon
ey of the world. Such shrinkaRe in
the volume of money would, in effect,
add billions of dollars to the debts of
the world. Should so great an injury
be done without the necessity for it
being proven beyond a reasonable
doubt?
Bimetallists contend that gold and
silver have been driven apart by hos
tile legislation, and that they can be
brought together by friendly legisla-
tion. They contend that legislation
favorable to gold has increased the
purchasing power of an ounce of gold
throughout the world and lowered the
general level of prices, while the same
X
demand for silver and lowered the
gold price of that metal. They con-
tend that the restoration of the free
and unlimited coinage by great ma
ton like the United States will in
crease the demand for silver to
point where the mints will require all
the surplus silver of the world, and
thus, by raising the gold price OF sill
yer and lowering the purchasing power
of an ounce of gold, will restore the
parity at 10 to l, and thereafter main
tain the parity at that ratio. It is
true that some bimetallists do not be-
lieve that this nation alone can main
tain the parity at that ratio, but shall
the great majority who do believe sur
render their conviction to the compar-
atively few who doubt? Upon what
principle can the minority demand of
the majority the right to dictate
platform? Those who are opposed to
the gold standard must act together,
ard the plan of action must be deter
mined by the majority. The moment
the ratio of 10 to l is surrendered, our
silver plank loses it's force. Those
who oppose the ratio of 10 to l are not
agreed among themselves. No con-
siderable body of men ask for any
other specific ratio. One man says
20 to /, another "a, another 80, but all
the objectors together are small in
number when compared with those
who firmly believe in the ability of
this nation to maintain the parity at
10 to 1. If it is proposed to leave the
ratio to Congress, it must be remem-
bered that those who desire bimetal-
ism demand affirmative action, and
every one opposed to the ratio fixed in
any proposed, bill will be counted
against any kind of bimetallism. If
the ratio is left to be determined by
Congressman who run upon different
platforms, it gives a chance for a
variety of ratios, which will effectua1-
ly prevent any legislation favorable
to bimetallism, and will also give a
chance for friends of the gold standard
to slip into Coner IS under the pre-
tense of fdvoring some underlined
ratio, but who, as a matter of fact,
would use their positions to maintain
the gold standard.
The ratio of 10 to has been adopt
ed by the democratic party in con
vention, which, more than any recent
convention. received it's authority di-
rect from the people. The rank and
file of the party, instead of leaving
the ratio to the leaders, expressed
their own opinion upon the subject,
and that opinion has not changed
since the convention. This ratio has
also been Endorsed by the Populist
party, the National Silver party, and
the Silver Republicans. To abandon
the ratio would be wrong in itself and
as impolitic as it wonld be wrong. If
the Democratic party were to allow its
policy on this question to be determin-
ed by few doubling Thomases, or by
the deserters who support the enemy
ia the great struggle between democ-