Natchitoches populist., 1899-01-20
NATCH1TOCKEs, La, JANUARY 20, 1899.

cents per bushel. The conclusion Is IN
evitable that neither tthe reduction OF
the cost Of production or an over-pro-
duction has caused the decrease in |
price, and it is also shown that great
deal more would be consumed If the
people had the means with which 1t
could be secured.
Q. Is there not a possibility that
some one or some business interests"
may be injured to some extent? e. g.,
may not persons or corporations who
receive fixed incomes, salaries or
wages be compelled to pay higher
prices for what they buy and receive no
more than they now do for their SER
vices or any increase of income?
A. The class receiving fixed incomes
incapable of being advanced is alone
the beneficiary of single gold stand
ard. Blaine put the case very clearly
in 1880 when he said: "The destruction
OF silver as money and establishing OF
gold as the sole unit Of value must
have ruinous effect on all forms of
property except those investments
which yield fixed return in money.
Those would be enormously enhanced
in value and would give dispropor-
tionate and unfair advantage over
every other species of property. Few
incomes, however, are absolutely fixed.
Almost every line of business and
every product Of human endeavor
must be affected advantageously by
the general prosperity of the masses.
If it be insisted that some will suffer
at least some inconvenience IL not
slight actual loss, l can reply in no
better way than by using the language
of an old soldier Of my acquaintance:
When the war broke out / was lead
Ing a pleasant, prosperous life. My
country called me to face the dangers
OF flying shot and shell and whistlfng
bullets. Did I heed her call I must
give up my peaceful, pleasant career
and risk my life. must give up my
$40 per month to receive S1S But the
welfare Of my countrymen, the fate of
nation hung in the balance, and |
shouldered my gum Almost the same
condition confronts me today. Ten
million ill-paid or unemployed labor
ers, my countrymen, are appealing to
me. / hear the complaints Of fifty
millions Of homeless men, women and
children. I know that tens of thou
sands in this land Of abundance are
in want. The future welfare of my
country is at stake. Ny duty is clear,
and though / and some with me be
reduced to bread and water, | will
vote for bimetaIlism and return of
prosperity to my country" Because a
man has fixed salary or income to-
day is no Indication that his condi
tion will be the same next week or
next year. At the caprice of an en-
ployer he may be dismissed at any
moment and be supplanted by one Of
the dozen or more who are waiting for
such a place Nor is present fixed
income an assurance to any man that
his good fortune will descend to his
children and possess them Of a like
advantage.
@. Do not the Republicans favor the
free and unlimited coinage of silver?
A. They say so in their platform,
but affirm that we should wait for in
ternational agreement.
@. Well, if it be condition to be
desired at all, why not have it at
once?
G. And If it be not desirable. why
attempt to promote it by international
agreement?
Q. Or, IL it be III any measure neces-
sary, what are we to do while waiting
for international agreement or in case
of failure to secure it?
The platform does not answer these
questions and / leave them to the
reader.-J. J. Thompson's Flnancia
Cateehism.