The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1898-02-22
Primary Of t||t Money Question
w. !. BRYAN ON THE RATIO.
No Plank of the Chicago Platform is to
be Abandoned The Silver Leader
Gives the Reasons.

some OF the reasons whloh lead me
believe that the money question pre-
sents an issue which Is still paramoun
In Importance.
In the platform adopted at Chicago
the Democratic party said:
" Recognizing that the money ques
tion is paramount to all others at thi
time, we Invite attention to the fac
that the federal constitution namet
silver and gold together as the moL e,
metals OF the United States, and tha
the first coinage law passed by g N
gress under the constitution made tn,
silver dollar the monetary unit an,
admitted gold to free coinage at ratio
based uponthe silver dollar unit
After thus elevating the que stiJI
to the place OF supreme Importance
the platform proceeded to point out
the effect OF an appreciating dollar
and declared the unalterable oppusi
tion OF the party to the gold standard
characterizing 1t as both un. American
and anti-American. The platform
specifically demanded:
First.-The free and unlimited coin
age OF both silver and gold at the pre-
sent legal ratio OF l6 to /.
Second-That the standard silver
dollar be made full legal tt nder,
equally with gold for all debts, public
and pr gate.
Th: d-The enactment of such legis.
lation as will prevent for the future
the demonstration OF any kind of legal
tender money by private contract.
Fourth-That the United States
shall not surrender its right to re-
deem it's obligations in either gold or
silver.
Flfth-That the government shall
not issue interest bearing bonds in time
OF peace.
Sixth-That the government shall
not surrender to national banks the
right to issue paper money.
While the declaration against ma
tional bank notes Is not part of the
silver plank, the division line between
those who favor independent bimetal-
Identical with the line which separates
the advocates of government paper
from the supporters OF natiodal banks
OF issue, and the two questions will be
settled together.
Nothing has happened since the cleo
tlon to lessen the real or relative i'm
portance OF the money question. II
the gold standard was bad in 1896 it is
still bad; il our present financial sys-
tenn Was un-American and anti-A Amer
lean in 1896 1t has not become natural.
lIeu Since JnaJ Ulmc.
In 1896 independent bimetallism was
pointed out as the only remeuy fol the
gold standard, and the failure OF our
monetary commission to secure later
national bimetallism strengthens our
contention. The Senate has recently
put itself on record in favor of that
plank OF our platform which declares
that the silver dollar shall have debt
paying power equal to the gold dollar
and that the government shall not sur.
render its right to redeem coin obliea-
tions in either gold or silver, and the
House has declared against tle propo-
sition.
The effort OF the secretary of the
treasury to secure authority to issue
more bonds and his demand for the re-
tirement OF the greenbacks are in
direct opposition to the positions
above stated Thus it will be seen
that events, not free silver agitators,
are keeping the noney question before
the country.
The evil fleets OF the gold standard
are SO apparent that the Republican
party refuse ) to become sponsor for
the system 1t is so indefensible that
even Secretary Gage In his recent
speech at Philadelphia took occasion
to say that the president is In favor of
international bimetallism and has
the support OF all his cabinet in his
effort to secure the cooperation of 9TH
er nations In getting rid OF the gold
standard.
But while the Republican party,
through the chief executive, still holds
out the hope OF international bimetal-
lism, none OF the party leadersssy
word In defense of the double standard,
independent or international.
Why not?
Because International bimetallism
can only be defended on the theory
that the existing gold standard Is un-
satisfactory, and the Republican party
leaders know that the Republican par
~ has no real intention OF abandoning
the present gold standard, and they
cannot, therefore, afford to say any
thing which would make the people
dissatisfied with 1t.
Neither do they, as a rule, say any.
thing in favor of the gold standard, be-
cause to do 80 would at once raise the
question: Why, then. is international
blmetallism desirable Z?
Occasionally speaker will be found
who will take both sides OF the ques-
tion as did Mr.. Gage at Philadelphia.
After trying to show that the gold
standard had been great blessing to
the laboring man, he declared it to be
the intention OF the Republicans to
substitute another system. The ques-
tion at orce arises, IL the gold stan.
dard has been q blessing to the labor.
Ing man, why does not the Republican
party advocate Its retentiou, rather
than Its abandonment?
International bimetallism will have
exactly the same effect as independent
bimetaliism In raising prices. II fall
In prices is an advantage, then rise
in prices cannot be desirable; and II,
on the other hand, rise 10 prices,
whether obtained through independent
bimetallism or through an interna-
tional agreement, 10 good, then the
fall In prices caused by the gold stan
dard must be admitted to have worked
an injury.
The fall in prices extending over the
last rs years, has, In fact, been dis
astrOus to the producers OF wealth ir
every gold standard country OF the
world.
France now desires to abandon the
gold standard the German reichstae
declared for International bimetallisu
In 1895; the farmers and laboring meI
OF England are now protesting agaius
the gold standard. Can any Democra
deny that relief from the gold stan
dard is imperatively needed? Shoul,
the Democratic party abandoa the po
sition IL has taken on the side OF tn