The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1899-04-21
BRYAN ON THE RATIO.
suxer Champion Tells Why the
Present Figures OF y" ="
shoaid Nat lie Changed

tbat id can only ne securtu ny lhuc-
,,.ndcnt action. but suggest change
~ ratio. They ask. why sixteen TO one?
answer that there are several reasons.
sixteen to one is the ratio at which
,ve had free coinage from 1884 TO 1873.
II is the ratio now existing between the
,.od and silver coins in circulation, and
II X more favorable to gold than the
ratio now existing in most European
countries. To change the ratio by in
dependcnt action, besides changing eX-
isting contracts, lesscning our cur
rcncy and mourning great expense
would put us out of harmony with
other nations: especially would il put
MS out of harmony with France, the
European nation most friendly 10 sill
yer. where the ratio is fifteen and
half to one. II, by international agree
ment. we should change the ratio To
thirty-two to one, for instance. il
would nccessitate the rcconage of
more than four billions Of silver into
coins twice as large provided the
change was made by increasing the
Size Of the silver coins). To double the
Size Of the silver coin of the world
would diminish by onc-half the silver
money Of the world: il would dimin-
ish by onc-quarter the entire volume
OF metallic money Of the world. Such
shrinkage in the volume Of money
would. in effect, add billions of dollars
to the debts of the world. Should so
great an injury be done without the
necessity for it being proven beyond
q reasonable doubt? Bimetalists con-
tend that gold and silver have been
driven apart by hostile legislation. and
that they can be brought together by
friendly legislation. They contend
that legislation favorable to gold has
Increased the purchasing power Of an
ounce of gold throughout the world
ard lowered the general level of prices,
while the same general legislation has
essened the demand for silver and low
cred the gold price of that metal. They
contend that the restoration Of the free
and unlimited coinage by great ma
lion like the United States will increase
the demand for silver to point where
the minis will require all the surplus
silver of the world. and thus. by rails
ing the gold price Of silver and lowering
the purchasing power of an ounce of
gold, will restore the parity at sixteen
10 one, and thereafter maintain the
parity at that ratio. IL is true that
some bimetallists do not believe that
this nation alone can maintain the
parity at that ratio. but shall the great
majority who do believe surrender their
fnnxinri IN ha m tva1xv faxy
who doubt? Upon what principle can
the minority demand of the majority
the right TO dictate platform? Those
who are opposed TO the gold standard
must act together. and the plan of ac-
tion must be determined by the ma
iority. The moment the ratio OF six
teen 10 one is surrendered. our silver
plank loses it's force. Those who OPP
pose the ratio of sixteen TO one are not
agreed among themselves. No consid-
cradle body Of men ask for any other
specific ratio. One man says twenty to
one, another twenty-four, another
ihrty-two but all the directors
together are small in number
when compared with those who
firmly believe in the ability Of this
nation to maintain the parity at six
teen to one. If il is proposed TO leave
the ratio 10 congress. it must be remem-
hcred that those who desire bmetal-
iism demand Affirmative action, and
everyone opposed to the ratio fixed in
any proposed bill will be counted
acainst any kind of bimctallism. If the
ratio in left TO be determined by CON
rrcssmen who run upon different plat
forms. il gives chance for variety
Of ratios. which will effcctually prevent
any legislation favorable to bmetal-
ism, and will also give n chance for
friends OF the gold standard TO slip into
congress under the pretensc Of favor
ing some underlined ratio. but who. rs
matter Of fact, would use their posi-
tons TO maintain the gold standard.
The ratio Of sixteen to one has been
adopted by the democratic party i'm a
convention, which. more than any re-
cent convention. received its authority
direct from the people. The rank and
me- Of the party instead Of leaving the
ratio to the leaders, expressed their
own opinion upon the subject. and that
sention. This ratio has also been in
dorscd by the populist party. the ma
tonal silver party. and the silver re-
Tuhicans. To abandon the ratio would
hc wrong in itself. and as impolitic rs
y would be wrong. If the democratic
party were to allow its policy on this
question to he determined by a few
doubling Thomases, or by the desert
ers who supported the enemy in the
great struggle between democracy and
plutocracy. it would lose the respect
and confidence of those who now look
70 IT as an efficient means OF restoring
government Of the people To turn
rom its clear and courageous cnuncia.
lions to wallow again in the mire Of
ambiguity and deception would alien
ate those who have been drawn to it by
The platform Of 1896. The democratic
party could have retained within lis
iolds the dcscrters of 1896 If il had
consented TO a meaningless platform
nueit preferred TO lose Some NOM be r,