Natchitoches populist. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1898-1899, 1899-01-13
Observation-Disclosures
CHAPTER ON INDEPENDENT
ACTION-PLAIN FACTS.
Under the Safeguards of the Democratic
Platform the United States Can Coin
Silver Free without Fear OF Foreign
ConspiratorB.

Q! Is it possible for the United
States to put in practice the free and
unlimited coinage of gold and silver
at the ratio of 16 to /, independent of
he action of gold-standard countries?
A. The United States can, under the
safeguards and restrictions suggested
by the Democratic and other platforms
declaring for free coinage Of gold and
silver, Put such law into effect with
1ut the cooperation of the gold-stand-
ard countries. France, with an aver
age population of 100000, main
tanned free coinage of gold and silver
at 151s to l for seventy years, when
there was not half the demand for
money there is now. The fluctuations
of production of the two metals were
greater than ever known during this
period, yet she kept her minis open
to the entire product of the world, put
ting a higher price on silver than. could
be had anywhere In the world,
thus fixing and regulating the
price of gold and silver for all the
world and all the time ranking
amongst the most prosperous OF ma
lions. With our 100000 energetic
people, our millions of acres OF unde-
veloped and uncultivated lands, ana
our unlimited fields Of profitable IN
vestinents begging for capital in large
quantities for their development, we
can surely do now what France olo
while human enterprise was yet IN
swaddling clothes. Mr. Blaine had
profound confidence in the ability and
recognized the duty, of the country in
this regard. He said (see page 81
Congressional Record, 1879: 'Thts
responsibility of re-establishiag silver
In its ancient and honorable place as
money In Europe and America de-
wolves really on the congress OF the
United States. If we act here with.
prudence. wisdom and frmness, we
shall not only successfully remonetize
silver and bring It into general use as
money in our own country, but. the in
fiuence of cur example will be poten-
sial among all European nations, with
the possible exception of England. In
deed our annual Indebtedness to Eu-
rope is so great that if we have the
right to pay it in silver we necessarily
coerce those nations by the strongest
of all forces self-interest-to aid us
in upholding the value of silver as
money
rious loss or injury result to the coun-
try?
A. No. The country was never more
prosperous than during the eighty-one
yecrs we were under such a law.
@, But are not the conditions
changed since then and was there not
more demand for silver then than now
since other countries we're then under
free-coinage laws, whereas now they
are not?
A. The conditions as to the demand
are not greatly changed. England de-
monetized silver in 1861, fifty-seve1
years before the United States. Th'
United States alone would use today
under free coinage, more silver thar
did all the silver-using nations prio
to 1873. According to the census re
ports we manufactured in 1889 $3.50,
100000 worth Of goods, nearly as mucl
as Great Britain. France and German,
combined; $4,000, 100000 worth NOR
than gold and silver in the world. Gu
railroads carry 60,0OO,00O tons Q
freight annually more than all the res
Of the world transports by rail an
water both. We produce $500, 100000
worth more agricultural products tina
any nation in the world. Our peopl
live better than any other, and, cor
se0nently. require more money,
@. Would the gold be driven out {
the country?
A. If money should become too plel
tiful it is barely possible that gol
might for short time tend to lea,
the country, especially II it were tt
more valuable metal. But IL gold
taken out something more valuab
will come to us in exchange for IT, tt
government may prevent any troub
by exercising It's option of paying /
obligations in gold or silver, therei
strengthening the weaker metal. II
motive for cornering gold, making
rup on the treasury and forcing issu
g@ bonds, will be removed by the pr
vision that no money shall be issue
except by the government. For
banks are not permitted to ISIS
money! bank notes--they will meet,
boads on which to base such notes al
Therefore will not be put to the niece
SHY OF forcing bond issues for CO
tinnapce of existence
q. Would this do away with nation
banks?
A. National banks, at present, ex
BY holding government bonds. Bon
arts government debts. They, the
fore live on the misfortune OF the p'
rla Thomas Jefferson answered Il