The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-11-19
SIXTEEN TO ONE A MENACE.
A Repetition of the silver Agitation
In 1000 VIII Hurt the Whole
Country.

tHe Tree anu unlimited coinage VI lies
designed to bring upon the military
organization of the country the con-
tempt of Europe are the issues which
the democratic leaders of Indiana are
making most prominent. The leaders
differ as to which of these issues is
the most potential, but many of them
believe with Altgeld, Teller and Sen
utor Allen, of Nebraska, that sixteen
to one is the better hope of the party.
There Is no possible excuse in the
situation to thrust the silver mine
owners job before the people after
its repuiiation in 1896. when that re-
pudia ton was followed by revival
of confidence and a marked improve
ment of industry and business through
out the country. In 1896 there might
have been possible excuse for an hon
est man being deceived by the claims
and predictions of the organs and the
Coin" Harveys. They asserted that
labor would have less and less employ
ment, aud that the prices of farm
products would decline to lower fig
ure than ever known if the gold stand
ard should be continued. The gold
standard has been continued; tens
and tens of thousands of people have
found employment who were idle when
Mr.. Bryan was haranguing the coun-
try in 1896, and millions Of dollars
more are paid as wages. For years
the farmers have not received so good
prices for all their products as during
the years 1897 and 1898.
The Bryan orators told us that con-
tinuing the gold standard would mar
row the volume of money, make it
scarce and advance the rates of inter
est The volume of available money
was never so large as it has been since
1896, and the rates of interest were
never so low. During the last year
western banks have been carrying
larger deposits than ever before in
their history. This is particularly true
of the banks in such states as Kansas.
Banks in western cities have had So
lnGCA DiOHCJ thdt bOliiC VI tACLl ia
been discounting eastern paper.
This marked improvement in regard
10 the volume and ease of the money
market began with the defeat of the
silver agitation in November, 1896.
The improvement Of business began
as soon as the free and unlimited coin
age of silver was no longer menace.
And yet with the good results of the
defeat of the free silver proposition in
1896, reckless politicians who now
dominate the democratic party in this
and other western states insist on
making the free coinage of silver the
paramount issue in the campaign. In
the east every democratic convention
in states which the democrats have
carried whenever they have elected
a president has had the good sense to
| ignore the sixteen to one issue. There
is every reason to believe that demo-
Gratis in Indiana who are business men
would have the silver question ignored,
but such men have no influence in the
party councils.
Those who will take time to con-
slider the matter must see that repe-
tition of the silver agitation of 1896 in
1900 will destroy confidence in bust
ness circles and paralyze industry. If
that agitation should be as aggressive
and as formidable as it was in 1896
business will be paralyzed as it was
! then, and thousands of men now fully
| employed will be idle. Whether the
country shall have repetition of the
Bryan campaign of 1896 depends large
| ~ upon the results of the elections
in the western states this fall. With
sixteen to one ignored in the, east by
the democrats of New York, Connecti-
cut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and
| the defeat of the silver democrats in
Indiana and other western states, the
silver question cannot be made a
menace to the industry and business
of the country during 1900 as it was in
| 1896.
Such being the situation, why should
not all those whose welfare depends
upon business confidence act in regard
to this matter as they do respecting
other matters affecting their interest?
Men employed in factories insure
themselves against loss by accident
connected with their employments;
those having employment look ahead
| to make sure of it in the future; that
they may have a good wheat crop
next season, farmers have already
prepared their land and sowed the
seed. In fact, the prudent man is al
ways looking ahead to protect or fur
Their his interests. Knowing, az all
men of fair intelligence who are can
did with themselves must know, that
the agitation of the heresy of sixteen
to one is menace to the general pros
perity which extends over the country,
how can they do themselves and the
| country better service than by going
to the polls and voting the ticket which
is pledged to continue the present
"sound-noney" policy which has
brought confidence and prosperity to
the nation? Do not look upon voting
to sustain Sound money" and to pro-
tect the country against the paralyz-
| ing influence of siXteen-to-one agita-
ton in 1900 as simply favor to party
organization, but regard itas matter
of personal interest the same as pro-
tecting an employment or taking steps
to insure good crop or good bust
ness next season.-Indianapolis Jour
nal.
UFree coinage at the ratio of sixteen
to one would place the United States