The times., 1898-02-16
The Monetary Commission.

after more dlfhcuit TO Sel lie9e
The Monetary Commisston'
The Monetary Commission. select
ed by the executive comnllIlee oL "
self-coustftuted indianapolis conNen-
tion which assembled for the express
purpose Of establishing the gold stan
ard have also made a report ana pro-
mulgated F bill the provisions OF
which are so strikingly like the prop
oSitionS of the Secretary OF tffe 1ied9
urv. in all material particulars, as 20
suggest that they were compared anu
harmonized before either was gwen
10 the public. This report ana bliI are
somewhat more bold in the assertion OF
the purposes entertained than Is even
the proposition of Mr.. Gage. 1heSe
distinctly propose that silver dollars
shall not hereafter be coined; thdl
standard silver dollars shall be re-
deemed in gold: that the silver bullion
on hand at present shall be sold. and
suggest that silver dollars may also be
melted down and sold as bullion. Wa
are assured that the notes OF the banks
cannot fail to be safe, because
baine based upon all the resources OF
All The hanks issuing them. they are
based upon the Whole business OF the
country" Certainly no bank VIII be-
come liable for the notes Issued oy
another bank over which II has no con-
trnl or supervision: hence this scneme
must contemplate the establishments
of some central bank authority. having
the absolute control Of the issue OF all
paper naney-a great bank trust, pooi,
or syndicate with powers such as no
man has ever before had the auuacitY
to suggest This committee has call
ed uDun commercial bodies all oNer IhH
country to assemble and indorse their
report Thus, the people are put upon
m, Of KF-h1 x intended and of
the means of its accomplishment.
Considering all this. is it any wonder
that the Spectator one of the great
English newspapers, should say, as 1t
did some months since:
Being audaciOus beyond any Old
World experience. the great capitalists
of America are determined TO capture
free opinion and to prevent criticism.
They subsidize pulpits they buy tho
press thew seat their Well-paid attoT-
neys in the United States Senate, and
at length they stretch their hands over
the colleges, which it is easy to cap
ture by examples of generosity Thus
their design is To prevent any effective
action which shall in any way weaken
their authority, or undermine their
position. Their object cannot be mere
wealth-making for they already en-
joy wealth beyond the dreams OF
avarice. Apparently their intention is
a powerful oligarchy, and then to eX-
tend the sway of that oligarchy over
other lands. IT is reserved for the
free West to dismiss from academic
service tried and competent teachers at
the bidding of rings Of millionaires
who viii not hear one single criticism
or questioning of the Justice or neces-
sity of their doings. or of the char
acter and tendency Of the trusts they
have built up with the aid and at the
expense of the public. The divine right
of kings is TO be succeeded by the di-
vine right Of milIionaires, who are
to run everything. including the Ameri-
can Senate and the conscience and in
tellect Of university professors, 1t is
none of our duty to say how the Amefi-
can people shall deal with the porten-
tous growth of that money power which
0vershadows the institutions of the re-
public But we think that the rich
men OF Ameria are revealing such a
deadly plot against all genuine pub
lie freedom that, unless we are mis-
taken, the opening years Of the new
century Will witness an Outburst in
the West which viii amaze the civil
lied world"
In view Of the great principles in
volved, and of the danger so close at
hand, We urge the people everywhere
to arouse themselves. and at once to
take steps to save themselves and their
children from the fetters now being
openly forged to bind them. In recent
years there have been a number of in-
stances Of Congressional districts
where the advocates of gold and mon
opoly We're largely outnumbered by
their opponents, and where, neverthe-
less, by a failure to unite and act to-
gether. friends of the gold standard
have been successful. Thus, as the re-
suit Of a personal or partisan wrangle
the cause of truth and justice has been
oVershadoWed, the interest of human
ity ignored, and the greatest good to
the Government subordinated TO an ig-
noble strife. We appeal to you, let
this not be the case againi Our only
danger is in division. If we are in
earnest we must have harmony
amongst ourselves. If there should be
those who would divide US, let them
be summarily and emphatically rebuk-
ed by the people. who have none but
high and patriotic motives.
After the bold declaration of the Ad-
ministTation in favor of the gold stan
dard no sincere bimetallist can ever
again, by his vote or influence give
aid or encouragement to the Republic
can party.
The issue is Joined; we cannot avoid
it if We would. Either the friends of
bimetallism or the advocates of the
gold standard, trusts and monopolies
must succeed. Who is not for us is