The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-10-16

mas Deen established IN Its place q monetary
based upon the free and unlimited
coinage OF silver and gold into money nj
the present legal ratio OF is to ] by the
independent action Of the United States,
which system all paper money shall
be issued by the government. and ain such
money coined or issued shall be a fun legal
tender IN payment OF all debts. public and
private, without exception
There is no way whereby Mr.. Bryan can
escape adherence to the three platforms
upon which he now stands before the
american people. His public utterances
curing the campaign OF 1896 are entirely
consistent with the platforms upon which
he has been nominated for President by
three different parties. Ii is idle, therefore.
TO believe that the money question is not an
issue In this campaign. i regard IL as OF
the greatest Importance. / .aoroughly he
lieve that Mr.. Bryan's election means the
CARVING out OF the policy of free coinage.
for which he has so long insisted.
THE American people cannot be excused
from responsibility II this opportunity shall
be given 20 the Democratic party. Ii cam
not be reasonably claimed that Mr. Rrvaa
will devote his entire administration to-
laws relating TO the Philippines. Neither
is IL reasonable. In my judgment. 10 count
upon Mr.. Bryan going into power with his
hands tied. This government is too great.
its history too much revered. its neonle
too ambitious TO ever place In the Dresi-
Dental chair any man either 10 be gagged
or tied. In my judgment il is a reproach
upon American people 10 even intimate
that any man who shall be made President
by the votes OF its people will go into the
office tied In any manner whatever. ex-
cept by principles upon which HI is ex-
pected 20 stand. IL viii, indeed be n sorry
day for this great government of ours
when the people shall elect TO the chief Of
hce OF the Nation a man who must be
protected or secured against doing some-
thing which he has stoutly insisted he will
do, If given power. 1t seems TO me TO be
ridiculous and utterly absurd TO talk about
the head of the American government be-
ing given the reinS OF administration. and
having somebody stand behind him with a
rope TO tie him down whenever he shall
undertake to perform any of his duties.
The American people are too intelligent
too well educated, and too honest TO ever
make so great a mistake. II a man should
be elected under a MISUNDERSTANDING of in
tenuon, or upon a misinterpretation OF a
platform, and after being I'm power. de-
ceive the people, the people could reason
ably be excused. But II such a man shall
De elected, after four years of public ut
terance, In a land of newspapers which
have constantly proclaimed his ut;erances.
and without denial, and after accepting
six nominations I'm four years from three
parties, which have in clear language de-
clared for the free coinage OF silver. the
American people cannot be excused IL he
shall put into practice after election those
principles for which he and his party have
so stoutly stood. 1t is not for me to sound
a warning to the American people, but in
my judgment IL Is the duty of every in
dividual to sound the warning wherever
he can have a hearing, so as 10 prevent a
possibility of a return to agitation. doubt
and dismay. which our people suffered from
'9S to 80.
GOLD STANDARD LAW.
The gold standard law OF March Il. 1900.
and which the tri-party candidate Is
pledged to overthrow, If given power, has
given great confidence to business, and per-
mitted this government to enjoy a financial
credit which no other nation on earth
ever enjoyed. For the first time I'm Ameri-
can history the standard OF value has
been specifically and clearly declared by
statute. Under the provisions of this law
the greenback. which is an honorable debt.
created at a time of great emergency, has
been made payable I'm gold. and the end
less chain whereby the greenback was re-
peatediy redeemed has been broken. The
treasury notes, which were based upon
silver bullion. purchased under the law OF
1880, have also been made payable In gold.
and are being cancelled as. rapidly as re-
deemed. and silver dollars. coined from
the bullion upon which they were issued,
are being Issued In their stead. Silver GER
tthcates OF large denominations are being
broken up into silver certificates Of small
denominations. and through such provision
the silver money is being scattered and alb
sorbed by the pocket trade of the people,
and the burden Of silver upon the gold
SIdIluaT0 reduced 10 the MINIMUM. instead
of increasing the burden of our money
upon the gold standard. Uncer the pres
ent law the strain has been very much re-
lieved. and under the operation of the
can hardly occur, unless the law should
be administered by its enemies. BY the
provisions of this financial law over eight
hundred million dollars of the public debt
ian be refunded at 2 per cent. interest.
Instead of bonds bearing 4 and s per cent.
this government has gone to a 2 per cent.
basis. Our 2 per cent. bonds have brought
US a credit which no other nation on
business confidence which have been es-
tablished under the gold standard law
have done more to make our Nation a
creditor instead OF a debtor Nation than
anything else that has been done.
MONEY CENTERS.
1.-THE establishment Of banks of small
capital. authorized by this law. has per-
mitted the creation of money centers OF
small degree in a great many communities.
thereby bringing interest rates down great
ly TO the benefit Of borrowers at the periods
when crops are to be moved. Interest rates
are lower than they have ever been. Money
is easy. Doubt has been removed. Conf
dence has never been greater. All the ma
tions Of the earth applaud our action and
praise our success. And yet his is the law
which Mr.. Bryan-the triparty candidate
is pledged TO overthrow. The fallacy which
seems pleasing to Mr.. Bryan, and a great
many OF his followers, and one which they
take great pleasure I'm repeating. is the
claim that the government is now coming
gold and silver at the ratio Of 10 to l.
These speakers have repeatedly ELECTED APP
pause from their followers by asking why
ii is that the Republicans are against free
coinage OF silver when the government Is
now coming silver at the ratio of 16 TO l.
II Is not only a ridiculous but a dangerous
YER IL coins at the ratio Of 16 to !, but that
coinage is not free coinage. IL is coinage
upon government account. The govern
ment exercises absolute and complete con-
troll of the amount of silver 10 be coined.
and prohibits and prevents coinage i'm any
other manner. There are federal statute
which impose Imprisonment I'm the peni-
tertiary for persons who seek any other
method OF coinage, and the counterfeit
game of Mr.. Bryan and his followers.
based upon that fallacy, has its compile
nent in the federal statutes preventing
counterfiting I'm coinage.
II recently heard an illustration which
10 me was so forclble that ] make bold 10
repeat IL. A custom has long prevailed
among people who search for the whale
to throw overheard, when q whale is sight
ed, empty casks. which. when floating
around upon the sea, attract the attention
of the whale. And while the monster fish
is satisfying his curiosity by examining the
empt casks he is steathily approached by
the boatmen and harpooned. Issues OF i'm
perialism. militarism and trusts in this
overheard by the Democratic party TO at
we are supposed TO satisfy our curiosity
I'm an examination of these empty casks.