Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-06-09
R. D. sUTHERLAND's VIEWS.
Congressman for Nebraska Discusses
the Great Questions OF BimetalIism
and Financial Reform.

close attention of millions of Americans
to-day. While we are divided on numer-
Gus minor issues, yet are we united on
the vital question of the day, and in my
Judgment nothing can break the union
of the silver forces until we have won a
victory that will be milestone in the
nations march toward higher and bet
ter things. Our fathers fought the
same fight we are engaged in now.
They have furnished US lesson in pa
triotism that will be we'll for US to learn
anew. They decided, and from that
judgment there was no appeal, that the
nation of their day could legislate on
matters of moment and concern to the
people without asking the aid or con-
sent of any other country of a degree
high or low. We have had the benefit
of their experience and ought to profit
by their example.
Due regard must be had for capital as
well as for labor, but think all agree
that labor should receive careful con-
Germ at ali times, as it is very rarely the
case that capital is unable to sustain
itself in any struggle. For the past so
years especially has the money power
been industrious. 1t has awakened to
possibilities never before dreamed of,
and its growing power should be law
fully checked or it will soon be too late.
Hugh Mccullough, secretary of the
treasury, in his report for 1896 said:
Very different from this is that grad
nal, healthy and general advance of
prices which is the effect of the increase
Of the precious metals. The coin which
is obtained in the gold and silver pro-
ducing districts, although it first af-
fects prices within such districts, fol-
lowing the course Of trade, and in obedi-
ence to its laws, soon finds its way to
other countries and becomes part of
the common stock of the nations, which
increasing in amount by the regular
product of the mines, and in activity by
the growing demands of commerce, adj
vances the price of labor and commodi-
ties throughout the CONNIE rcial world"
He persistently argued, in this and the
report of 1867, that the price of products
and labor were high, and that the con-
tinued contraction of the paper cur
rency as a policy should be maintained.
Said he: How rapidly they may be re-
tired must depend upon the effect which
contraction may have upon business
and industry, and can be better deter
mined as the work progresses" Again
he said: The prices of most kinds of
property in the United States advanced
near threefold during the war, but this
advance was mainly the result of the
increase of the circulating medium and
in reality only indicated its deprecia-
ton. The purchasing power of the
money in circulation was diminished in
the ratio that its volume was increased.
The farmer for example, received three
dollars a bushel for his wheat, but eX-
cept for the payment of debts these
three dollars were of no more value to
him than one dollar was before the sus-
pension of specie payments" He sue
ceeded too well in his policy of contrac-
ton. The wicked work went on. The
capitalist was determined that his dol
lar should buy more and more in the
labor markets of the world. Not salts
fed with the contraction of the volume
of paper money, the same money power
struck at coin and the crime of 1873,
that should never be forgotten until the
wrongs committed under it have been
rectified, was committed. Teach the
young men. and freshen the memory of
the old ones, rs to the evil consequences
of that great act. What patriotic op-
portunity we have in the twilight of the
nineteenth century TO aid in the work of
restoring the money system that was
established by the founders of the gov
eminent.
From the contraction of the paper
money to the adoption of the gold stand
ard by our country has been a short,
swift and painful step. The London
| Economist, the great statisticians
Saeurbeck and Soetbeer say, and the
people verify it, that for 20 years
the prices of products have been falling.
The debts of the people have increased
and they are bearing burdens grievous
to be borne. The gold dollar has risen
IN value and day by day and year by
wear it requires more and more of the
toll of the laborer and the products of
the farm to buy it. The democrats
Who stand on the Chicago platform, the
populists, of whom 1 am one, and the
] ,ncoln republicans say that those
whose patriotism is measured by the
interest they receive on their bonds and
the uIfldSnuS tIlSy SdIHcI 1IOuu SIOChS
shall not dictate the policy of the coun-
try, but the people, who are the source
of all power, shall decree what is right
and just for all men; that the man who
can count his dollars by millions shall
receive the same protection under the
law, but not one iota more, than the
workingmen whose only capital in the
fierce struggle of life is the muscle
given them by the great Master of ALL
We read the history of Washington
and his fellow-patriots, study the life
work of Jefferson and Jackson, draw
Lincoln and declare in the words of the
great Nebraskan that This nation is
able to legislate in its own interests
without asking the aid or consent of
any nation on earth"
There is planted in the soul of every
one, from the savage of the bush to the
greatest scientist of the age, longing
passionate desire for something better.
Il is so with nations; we feel that our
country is great and that the future is
full of glorious promise; that with wise
legislation in the interest of the whole
people our country will march on until
II becomes the great nation of history
and the most powerful factor in the civ
ilization of the world.-R. D. Suther-
land, in Mississippi Valley Democrat.
Money Question still a Factor.
The money question will be just as
&c