The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-05

eorues 70 seize upon places % power and
eutbof4ty which they could otherwise never
secure.
The second proposition Ii this platform
looks 10 the subyersion Of our present finan-
cial system and the substitution therefor
Of a monometallism. based entirely upon
silver, or psper representing silver, which
would become the only currency available
tor the transaction Of business. Now.
financial system is a growth or an evoiu-
ton which IL constantly being improved Or
developed In accordance with the advances
made ia civilization. Our present monetary
system II the renIi. OF q growth which has
been IN progress for more than third OF
century To this growth have been given
the time and labor Of the best. the wises,,
the abiess ard most patriotic men OF the
country during that time. This system Is
J not yet perfect by any means. but {; has
furnished the country with the I3osE Fe!t-
able, the best and In al. RESPECTS the most
satisfactory medium OF exchange the eoun-
try has ever enjoyed. 1t II composed OF
gold. silver and paper in about equal pro-
portions. all kept at par BY limiting the
fssuee Of paper and the coinage OF silver.
al rood In every part OF the world. ard
altogether in ample supply for the needs
Of the country When hoan Of 500 60 O
was recently asked for by the presiden; at
the low rate Of per cent. per aanum.
. q, 100 90 90 was offered by the people OF
the limited States alone. The amount OF
money per capita in circulation Ia 1ss0 was
t1aGo. In isss II was s2i2 Do and at the same
time tho greatly increased use OF checks
reduces the amount OF currency actually
required 10 that which Is needed for what
-might be called clearing house PURPOSES.
! The financial systems " all other civilized
countries. like cur own. are The result OF
svolutions which have been going on for
more than hundred years and they are
constantly being adapted 10 the CONNER
cial and progressive needs Of the world.
FaIlacy 0f the Double Standard.
All OF these countries have found 1t 70
their advantage to make gold their stan
dard OF value. for reasons which are too
, well known to need repetition. A double
standard ID Impossible. Gold and silver
cannot be kept at parity Of value by leg
isiation. We have now tho only bimetal-
Ism which In possible and are using about
- much silver as gold In making up the
volume of currency now In use. A. mat
ter Of fact. gold has been our only measure
Of values since the year 1884 AZ We can
Of necessity have but one standard Of val
ues, the people OF the United States. along
with all other enlightened nations. have
chosen q monometaliism Of gold rather than
Of silver. and their choice has been amply
Justified In their own experience as well as
that OF the entire world Of business men.
Space does not permit. quotations which
might be made from many OF the fathers
! Of our republic. including Thomas Jeffer-
son. the reputed father OF the present Dem
ocratlc party. going 10 show that they acted
upon precisely the same principles ~ those
which governed our Republican fnanclers
In the creation Of our present system. Yet
Il Is seriously proposed by the advocates of
free silver that this system. which has
been 50 thoroughly tested during the most
trying experiences OF our countrys history.
shall be abolished and another adopted by
which gold woIld be instantly driven out
Of circulation and silver made our only
range tho business IT the country beyond
oil computation. that all values would be
tmmeasurably reduced and confused, and
that infinite disaster would be entaiied, es-
pectally upon the working people OF our
country. who constitute a5 per cent OF our
total population. and who would be power
less to protect themselves from such dire
calamity. Is evident TO all intelligent men
who are familiar with the facts OF history.
the teachings Of experience or the dictates
OF reason and common sense That many
hePublicans have been carried away by the
specious arguments. the false promises or
misrepresentation Of these silver boomers
u not strange. when We remember how
many were deladed by the greenback her
esy OF twenty-five years ago, but they soon
"a" tasir mistake then. as they are doing
now. and made haste TO correct H.
when the silver mine owners of the
western states some years ago saw en- op-
postnniiy that presented Itself OF holding
np the senate OF the United States. they
quickly seized II, and with the aid OF nm
scrupuious demagogues Throughout, tho
country. they undertook TO compe, the
United States government TO pay them ons
dollar for silver the production of which
had cost them only from lea cents 70 IS
cents: but the country soon realized tho
outrageous character OF the attempt. and in
many o. the states OF the unien oil parties
have stamped It with their disapprovai
Laying aside. however. all the usual srau-
msuis which might be made On this sub
Jet. II VIII undoubtedly be found that an
arehy Is the underlying motive with MANY
Of the advocates OF free silver
Anarchy In single Tax.
- with reference 70 the third, or single
TAX proposition. il IS sufficient al this time
TO say that equality before the law is a
fundamental principle of our government.
When this IS undermined or DESTROYED.
there is no assurance whatever that any %
TIE other safeguards OF The republic viii
be preserved or respected. II equality be-
fore the law Is not 10 he considered IN the
matter Of the taxation Of property. then &
VIII be obsolete as Ear as all other matters
are concerned that relate - tae protection