davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-05-10
PARITY OF SILVER AND GOLD.
Declared by Congress in 1SOO-CauSe
of the Present Growing
Disparity.

In the act of 1890, providing for an
lion by the government, it was de-
clared to be 1.-The established policy
of the United States to maintain the
two metals, gold and silver, on parity
with each other upon the present
legal ratio, or such ratio as may be
provided by law" The fact that the
method adopted by the act to maintain
the parity of these two metals
with each other was not successful,
does not render this declaration nuga-
tory, or in the slightest degree weaken
it's force. It is still the established
policy of the United States to main
tain their parity with each other upon
a legal ratio. The value of gold and
silver is depended upon, and is gov
erned by their use as money upon that
ratio without discriminating against
either metal. In other words, the law
must place both metals upon the same
plane as money metals, and provide
for their unrestricted coinage upon the
ratio it prescribes, and equally endow
the coins struck from them with the
money function. We have learned
from experience that their parity cam
not be maintained by purchasing Il
portion of one of them as merchandise
for monetary use, and continuing the
other in the condition of money metal.
While the coins struck from the metal
SO purchased will be on parity with
the coins struck from the other metal,
for the reason that they are equally
endowed with the money function,
there will be growing disparity be-
tween the coin and bullion value of the
metal so treated.-Illinois State Regis
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-05-10
THE EQUITY INVOLVED.
Dishonesty of Demon tizinr a Metal
and Remonet thing at a Low
er Valuation.

There is n great question of equity
involved in the maintenance of the
present legal coinage ratio between
gold and silver. That was the ratio
which existed from 1884 to 1873, and it
exists now. To first demonetize the
metal, destroy a large part of the de-
mand for it, thus lowering it's value
compared with gold, and then re1non-
etize 1t at lower valuation is dis
honest transaction on it's face. The
market price Of silver bullion cuts very
little figure in the question, because the
bullion on the market constitutes but
a small fraction of the total stock.
Whether that bullion be rated at 81
cents an ounce or $1.29 makes no prac-
teal difference. 1t is simply question
of whether we can absorb and use the
surplus-the quantity left after the
wants of other nations have been sup
piled. If we can do this, every other
nation and individual wanting silver
must pay as much for it as it is worth
at our mint, and thus help sustain our
ratio. The idea that we must take all
the silver in the world is absurd. Every
nation uses large quantities of silver,
and will continue to do so. The only
difference is that now there is not a
sufficient coinage demand to take the
surplus at the ratio Of 1914 or 16. Con-
sequsntly there is a steady scramble
on tie part of the owners to sell. AS
silver is an imperishable commodity,
which can be and is carried over in
definitely, the tendency of even small
surplus is to force the price lower and
lower. While, as before stated, with
our mint open, and S0,000,00O American
people putting forth an unceasing and
increasing demand for it, there is
scarcely a doubt that the market price
will follow our coinage ratio. 1t is
sometimes asked why did not our ratio
control the market prior to 1878? The
answer is that there were then other
important nations, with France in the
lead, coming the silver at higher value
than we gave it. But those minis be-
ing now closed, that disturbing infu-
ence is removed, and our ratio would in
all probability control the market. 1t
is also said that the opening of our
minis to sixteen at one would keep
France and other countries from OPEN
ing theirs at 1914. This is not a Sc
rious objection. If those countries
really want to resume coinage, an
agreement upon the ratio would be
an easy matter. We could change to
1877, and the difference would more
than repay for the recoinage of the en-
tire mass of our silver dollars. Or the
country which formerly coined at 151H,
could resume at 16, gradually replac-
ing the old coin with new. The former
would be the better and more probable
action.-H. +. Bartine.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-05-10

The only countries where farmers
have done we'll as class during the
long period of depression, have been
countries on silver basis, using silver,
not gold. as their standard of value
like Mexico, China, Argentina, and In
dia and Japan until the gold standard
was introduced into the two latter,
when their agricultural and laboriug
classes Immediately came under the
same evil spell that haunts all the gold
standard countries. In India, previ-
GUS to 1898, when the non-coinage act
was enforced, the acreage of wheat had
enormously increased; and in Argen-
tina the acreage which in 1880 was AGO.
600, had increased to 100000 in 1890,
and to 100000 in 1893. Land is there
steadily rising in value, while in Eng.
land it is Neutrality-suspicious., farmers
are exposed to the attacks of Iocusts and
tope.:ods ofdrought, and havenot such
excellent systems of roads and rail.
ways. M <IS:.s i III zs x,zs ~, u 5ss:sI.. =
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-05-10
the institution many vicious and many

the. institution many vicious and many
convicted persons. Some of them are
only slightly insane, and others have
been sent there without ample evidence
of their insanity. During the day.
time they mingle with the milder in
sane, and at night share the rooms with
some innocent youths who should not
thus be subjected to contamination with
vice.
Within the walls of St. Elizabeth's
there are heroes of Manila, Santiago.
San Juan and Guantanamo; and there
are also survivors of other wars, hud-
died together with thieves, pickpockets,
mail robbers, embezzlers and some muir
derers. That this condition ought not
to exist needs no demonstration. The
superintendent of the asylum, DR.. God
ding, says that he is helpless in the
matter; that he tries to keep the vicious
separated from the innocent, but finds
it next to impossible. The attorney
general continues to avail himself Of
the privilege to send alleged insane
criminals to the asylum; and yet, they
say, nobody is to blame for the shame
lu1 anu 1ucACUSdOlo CONDITIONS winch
prevail.
Upwards of $50 soldiers of the war
with Spain have been sent to St. Eliza
beth's. The doctors and nurses say
that nearly all of them are young men
suffering from melancholia and de-
mentia. Without exception, they have
been averse to eating, all of them be-
ing suspicious of their food, and eat
! ing only when required to do so with
gentle persuasion. The course of
| treatment has been principally the adj
ministering of tonics, by trained nurses
who have shown kindness, tenderness
and womanly solicitudefor their health.
Those who have been induced to par
take literally of food, such as milk and
cereals, have gradually recovered, and
one-third of them have been dismissed
as permanently cured. About so of them
are now regarded as incurable. Their
melancholia continues, and they eat
only when constrained to do so. Con-
sequently their physical vigor is de-
pleted and they are slowly wasting
away.
Although the number of inmates of
St. Elizabeth's increases, the congress
has made no increase in the annual ap-
preparation for their support, main
tenance and treatment. It is pre-
sumed by the congress that 1,4oo pa
tients will have $3.50 each per year de-
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-05-10
TROUBLE IN FINLAND.
Ancient Liberties Threatened by the
Gar of Russia.
The Most Autocratic Edict of the Dec
ade - Why the Finlanders OBJ
ject to Its Spirit and Harsh
Provisions.
Especial Correspondence.]

While, with one hand, addressing the
nations of the world in grandiloquent
sentences about the brotherhood of
man and the need of universal
peace, Gar Nicholas, autocrat of
Russia, with the other signed
an edict whose object is to de-
prive the Films of the rights of self
government and of privileges which
have been theirs ever since 1909, when
the grand duchy of Finland became a
part of the Russian empire, during the
reign of Alexander I.
Before dwelling upon the injustice
of the ukase in question, it might be
well to learn something about the coun-
try and people whom it affects. Fin
land constitutes the extreme north
west corner of the Russian empire.
North of it lies Russian Lapland; east
the governments of Archangel and
O1onetz; south Lake Ladoga and the
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-05-10

chained, which are to furnish electric
and other power to the national capital.
The former estate of Gen. Lee has
long been called Arlington National
cemetery, but it has not been truly a
national burying ground. It has been
sectional, in a sense, because only the
soldiers of the northern armies were
buried there. 1t is now, in every sense,
a national cemetery, because recently
the bodies of nearly 800 of the soldiers
of the United States, who fell in the
war with Spain, were brought from
Cuba and laid to rest in Arlington Ma
tional cemetery with the honors of war,
and with the president of the republic
as participant in the exercises. These
soldier dead went forth from southern
as we'll as northern states when the call
for volunteers was made. Therefore
the bodies of the brave southerners as
we'll as those of the north lie there
beneath the folds of the stars and
stripes, guarded by the soldiers of Fort
Myer, and where the rising sun each
morning casts over them the shadows of
the Washington monument, and the
dome of the capitol building.
While our national soldier dead have
thus been inferred on the Virginia hill
side of the Potomac, scores of sufferers
have been incarcerated ON Maryland
heights, in St. Elizabeth's asylum for
the insane. Incarcerated is the prop
er word to use, for the overcrowded
asylum contains not only the sick, the
mentally alienated and the aged in
sane. There are criminals also there
who might better be in the infirmaries
of penal institutions.
In 1885 this site was selected and hos
pital buildings erected in order that
care might be taken of the insane from
every state and territory. AS time
passed the buildings have been modern
lied, additional quarters erected, and
all modern improvements placed at the
disposal of the management for the
care and well-being of the unfortunates.
Among these hapless victims of viola
tions of the laws of health there are
scores of the youthful soldiers of the
republic whose minds are unbalanced
because of the hardships they endured,
and the crimes to which they were made
subject, because of the rapacity and
grasping cupidity of certain unconvict-
ed criminals.
The present capacity of St. Eliza
beth's is 1,4oo. That many can be COM
fortably housed, bedded, boarded and
attended by physicians and trained
nurses. But there are 1887 now with
in the walls, and each room and ward
are crowded. As usual when seeking
to fix the responsibility for abuses in
government circles, the inquirer can
only ascertain that nobody is to blame.
It is the great big elusive nobody upon
whom responsibility is always 1fxed.@,*
Under the act of congress, 1882, the
attorney general is permitted to COM
NIT. to St. Elizabeth's all insane per-
sons who are charged with offenses
against the United States, and the at
torney general has literally construed
that law. Hence it is that there are IN
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-05-10

later, enacted series of regulations,
which were vigorously carried out, for
the avowed purpose of uniting the Firms
more closely with Russia. The charac-
teristic features of the coinage, Gus
toms and the postal and railway service
of the grand duchy were done away
with, and the Russian language was
ordered to be taught in the interme-
date schools, in which the study of Rus
sian had before been optional. His pet
project, to make the Greek Catholic the
state church of Finland, Alexander
never carried through, as the promise of
receiving 1.-THE high privilege to wor-
ship in their own Uutheran) churches
was so obnoxious that an instruction
could not have been avoided had the
cars officials attempted to grant as
a privilege that which every Finlander
considers an inalienable, God-given
right.
When the present car, Nicholas H.,
assembled the throne, he recognized and
confirmed the fundamental laws and
liberty of the ancient grand duchy, and
would probably have continued to do
ence of the Slavophile leaders who in
duced him to issue the tyrannical edict
which is at the present time on the
point of being enforced. Hitherto the
young Finlanders subject to military
duty formed regiments of their own,
stationed in their own country or at
St. Petersburg, but now it is proposed
to ASST gn Finnish recruits to Russian
| regiments in distant parts of the en-
Pire so that "they may imbibe the Rus
sian national spirit and lose their local
characteristics
The general diet and state council of
Finland, two bodies which have existed
| from time immemorial, are about to
request the nations of the earth to pro-
test to the car against the meditated
attack upon the vested rights of the
grand duchy. It is doubtful, however,
| whether such an appeal would have
the powers. Evidently the car is de-
| termined to Russianize Finland, the
only province in his vast empire where
in liberty and personal rights find rec
ignition. An instruction could be
easily suppressed by the Russian troops,
and unless the orthodox priesthood in
sists upon the establishment of the
Greek church none is to be feared. The
Finlanders are, without exception, old
fashioned Lutherans who would pre-
fer death to giving up their faith. In
this respect they are very much like the
Scotch Presbyterians, whom they fur
thermore resemble in the absence OF
the sense of humor
Half of the population of the duchy
speaks the Finnish tongue, one of the
chief branches of the Uralo-Altaic fam
lily of languages; the other half Swed-
ish. While this diversity has seriously
interfered with the progress Of the
country along commercial lines, it has
not divided the people. Intermarriages,
centuries of common government, but
more especially perfect community Of
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-05-10
MAINTAINING PARITY.
Erect of the Use of Two Metals in the
Currency Is to Steady the
Volume Of Money.

The way the bimetallic principle
brings the money metals together and
maintains their parity with each other
can easily be understood. It is made
plain by the following familiar illus
tration of Jevons: when two recep-
tacles for fluids are separated from
each other, the height to which the
fluid will rise in each depends upon the
quantity poured into it. But when
there is connecting pipe between
them the fluid will rise to the same
level in both, whichever receives the
supply" And this exactly illustrates
the movement of the metals in west
ern Europe, under the bimetallic law
of France of 1903, which provided for
the unrestricted coinage of both met
ais, and gave to the coins struck from
each the Office of unlimited legal ten
der. The legal tender function, allow
ing the coins struck off from one of the
metals to freely take the place of the
coins struck from the other metal, for
monetary purposes, was the connecting
pipe, and as the fluid discharged from
tIAC NOlAAAAOAl OuCllO" "1o ~ S11lE
though in the inflow the color OF one of
them may have been white and that of
the other yellow, SO where the stand
ard is bimetallic money, and in it's re-
lation to commodities as expressive of
value as is a single standard, though
it is called bimetallic or double stand
ard because the two metals are select
ed for full monetary use. The effect
of the use of the two metals in the cur
rency is to steady the volume of money
and consequent price of commodities,
and prevent that great depression of
prices caused by shrinkage of the
volume of primary money and credits
resting upon it, which inevitably takes
place when only one metal is used
Illinois State Register.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-05-10

government of St. Petersburg, and
west Sweden and the Gulf of Bothnia.
1t has total area of 10000 square
miles, and population of about $780,
600. The country consists principally
of a tableland from 400 to 600 feet
above the level of the sea, interspersed
with hills of modest elevation. In the
north, however, the Manselka noun
tains have an average height of between
5000 and 1000 feet. The coasts, par
ticularly on the south, are surrounded
by vast number of rocky islets, sep
arated from the mainland and each
other by intricate channels, rendering
the shores of the country easy of de-
Tense in case of hostile attacks. But
the chief natural feature of Finland
is it's myriads Of lakes which spread
like a network over a large proportion
of it's surface.
The climate is ri gorous, the winter
in the southern portions usually last
ing from six to seven months and in
nine months. Dense fogs are frequent.
In the north the sun is absent during
December and January; but during the
short summer, when that luminary is
almost perpetually above the horizon,
the heat is often uncomfortable. Crops
in all sections are exposed to the double
danger of being destroyed by sudden
frosts and by the ravages of insect
pests. Mining gives employment to a
large percentage of the population, the
principal minerals being iron, copper,
sulphur and marble. The most impor-
tant products, however, are timber,
deals, potash, pitch, tar and rosin,
which are exported to every corner of
the globe. Next to agriculture, stock
raising and fishing form the most i'm
portant occupations of the inhabitants.
The history of the Firms is long and
checkered one. Originally they we're
wild pagans, living under their own in
dependent kings until the twelfth cen
fury, about the middle of which the
country was conquered by the Swedes,
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-05-10

voted to their support; but, inasmuch
as there are now almost 1900 inmates of
the asylum, it will be seen that the
actual amount per capita must be
less than 5000, which is clearly made.
quate.
The names of the soldier and sailor
insane will never be known to the gen.
eral public. Those who are cured may
go to their homes and resume their
avocations, and their relatives and
friends will never know that they have
been in an asylum. The hospital roll
is carefully kept from scrutiny, because
those who have been temporarily in
sane do not want that fact known; and
besides it is to their advantage to have
the fact kept secret, because it is often
difficult for one to secure employment
if it becomes known that his mental bal
ance has ever been lost, even Temperate
ly. Moreover, in the most hopeful
cases, where the attending physicians
see that a patient is about to be re-
stored to the complete possession of
his faculties, such patient is trans
ferred to some other hospital, and often
returns to home and friends without
himself knowing that he has been in
sane. The lapse of time is accounted
for by telling the patient that he has
been feverish and delirious. Physicians
say that this is a merciful deceit, saw
ing many young man the morti6ca-
ton of knowledge of his past defcien-
cy, and also saving him from the con-
slant apprehension which might again
bring on the mental disease.
Because of the fact that so many of
the soldier heroes have suffered not
only with temporary alteration of
mind, but also by contact with the vile
and vicious, it was said at the begin
ming of this letter that to rest beneath
the sod is better than to live and suf-
fer. The soldier dead who rest at Ar
lington have done with their suffer-
ings and privations for their country's
sake. The soldiers living at St. Eliza
beth's have yet before them many days
of sorrow, and possibly may spend
their entire remaining days in the
shadow and cloud of insanity, with
accompanying disease, and ultimately
end their days within the four walls
of the haven of mercy which is to them
prison. SMITH D. FRY.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-05-10
The Currency Question.
"HONEST MONEY!
" mat HAS the Goldhte to Say Regard
Ing the Recent Actions of
Japan and Russia3

The ''objection" to free coinage in
TINS country has been, and is, that it is
dlshonest." The market price" of
silver is less than 60 cents an ounce,
and the coinage rate at sixteen to one
is $1.29. It is claimed that the dishon
esty of coming 60 cents worth of sill
YER into twice as much money is too
clear to require any argument. The
same connection has been made right
along, whether silver was worth 60, 70,
~, 30 or 100 cents per ounce. 1t has al
ways been dishonest, according to gold
standard reasoners, to coin it at any
higher rate than the market price.
This, of course, excludes the coinage
use of the metal as an element in it's
value, and assumes that silver will be
worth no more with the American mint
closed and the silver deprived of that
demand. Laying aside this palpable alb
surdity, there are few simple ques-
tions we would like to PROFOUND. First,
If to lower the value of money below
the gold level, or to coin silver at a
rate above the market value in gold,
is dishonest in America, is it not equally
dishonest everywhere? What, then,
has the goldite to say of the action of
japan in reducing the weight of the
gold yen one-half and establishing the
gold standard on the basis of what has
been called in this country ''50-cent"
silver dollar? Have we heard any out
cry from that source about the dis
honesty of Japan? Russia has acted
in similar way. She has reduced the
weight of her gold coins so that the
quantity of gold which formerly made
ten rubles will now make Is. Have the
gold men INDUCED in any denunciation
of the dishonesty" of such action on
the part of Russia? Both Russia and
Japan refused to recognize gold as a
true measure of value. The one cut
down the gold coin so as to bring it
to the level of the paper currency of
the country, the other reduced it to the
level of silver. Is it not quite as dis
honest to reduce the weight of gold
coins and at the same time compel the
creditor to take them at their former
value as it is to coin cheaper metal?