Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-03-30
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE Ed
IToR OF THE OREGoNIAN.


ADDITIONALLY you assume the
position that you have monopoly OF
all truth and honesty on this money
issue, while ia reality you brazenly
practice shameless, unscrupulous de-
ception and exhibit an utter disre-
gard for veracity and truth.
Have called attention to a few Of
your many falsifications, but in your
issue Of January 4, 1898. under head
ing Queries Answered" you almost
surpass your usual efforts; ~. c. B."
asked for information on some ques-
tions among which was the following:
"At what date was the privilege by
the government Of demanding gold in
the payment Of duties repealed, and
how long was it 10 force 2"
To which you answer "Duties were
made payable 10 gold at the begin
ming Of the war OF secession, "
Duties could be paid in nothing but
gold till our silver legislation began
ia 1873"
You know, at least ought to know,
that duties we're not made payable in
gold alone at the beginning OF the
civil war, but that duties could be
paid in either full legal tender silver
coin or gold coin at the option OF the
debtor from the passage of the first
coinage act by our government April
l, 1892, seventeen ninety-twO) until
silver was demonetized in 1873. This
act OF 1892, section eleven, states that
every fifteen pound weight Of pure
silver shall be OF equal value in all
payments with one pound weight Of
pure gold, and so in proportion as
to any greater or less quantities o
the respective metals.
BY acts of 1s34-37 the ratio was
changed to 10 98-100 to /, by decreas-
ing the amount of gold in the gold
coins. But from 1892 to 1873 the
United States mint was open to any
person wishing to have silver coined
into full legal tender silver coin,
which was an unlimited tender for
all debts whatsoever, including
United States duties.
Still, in spite of this fact, you dare
publicly state that 'duties could be
paid in nothing but gold till our silver
legislation began in 1873"
You would make it appear that the
right to pay duties and debts in silver
was some new fangle1 notion pre-
sented of late years to the American
people.
When, as matter Of fact, the right
to pay duties, ETC., IN silver has al
ways existed since our government be-
gan until 1873, when silver was lin
tied in tender to $500 in payment of
all debts, and its coinage, under prior
laws, discontinued.
And the act of 1878 did not begin
the principle of paying duties in silver,
it only practically restored to silver
some of the legal tender rights silver
had enjoyed prior to 1873,
Bear in mind that partial restora-
tion Of legal tender to silver was en-
acted by over two-thirds majority in
house and senate, over Gold President
Hayes veto and against all the ed }
itorial influence you and your kind
possessed.
Since that day you have by per-
sistent falsehoods and insidious de-.
ceptions attempted to befoR and per-
vert the truth, so that your readers
would be mlslead and come to your
support on this money issue.
Why did you not honestly state the
truth to 81. G. B?" That since the
beginning of our government Duties
and United States Bonds could be
paid in unlimited tender silver coins,
except the years from 1878 to 1878 in
Guiding but part Of those years, dnr-
ing which period '73 to '7S nothing
but gold was full legal tender. You
are happy and pleased that in 1873 the
debU paying ability of the people of
the United States was curtailed
about one-half from their former con-
ditions,
In 1873 the total amount of silver
and gold contained in the world was
less than seven billion dollars. If
the people OF the United States could
obtain any of either of those two
metals by exchange Of commerce. ETC.,
they could convert them at the mint
into full legal tender coins which
would cancel any debt public or
private.
BY the act of 1878. which you so
defend, nothing but gold
was permitted to be coined into full
legal tender money. Aud in 1873
there was about 81 billion dollars of
goldin the world. Thus, by that act.
all debts which prior to the passage OF
that act, had seven billion OF dollars
that they could be cancelled in, were
made pas able in this 81 billion dol
lars OF gold alone. Did not that