Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1902-03-15
SENATOR STEWART ON SILVER QUESTION.

The decentralization of silver WAS
robbery OF the debtor class tor the
benefit of the creditor. 1t retarded
and inflicted untold mis-
cry upon the human race tor more
than twenty years. The silver min
ing industry of Nevada was utterly
pa raiyzed. Nine-tenths of the peo-
pie of the United States, and perhaps
more, were in favor OF the restoration
OF silver and the people OF Nevada
were conspicuous in their efforts tor
the repeal OF the law so injurious to
the masses, and particularly to the
silver miners. Zach party pretended
to be for silver and claimed that the
other party was not i'll favor OF the
restoration OF the white metal. FL
nally, in 1906, the Democratic party
at Chicago boldly declared for blmet-
allism and nominated William J.
Bryan tor President, who made
vigorous fight tor tree silver. The
so.called gold Democrats, who had
dominated the party, repudiated the
platform and the nominee and put up
a ticket on gold platform with Pal
mer and Buckner as candidates and
then silently or openly aided the Re
publican party.
II contraction OF the money volume
caused by the decentralization OF sill
yer had continued, the overthrow OF
the money power would have been
accom- plished in 1900 The want OF
more money was apparent toall. The
country was 50 aroused on that ques
ton that a political revolution seem
ed inevitable, when an unparalleled
output of gold commenced supplying
the want OF money produced by the
non-use OF silver. During the four
years from 1896 to 1900 more than "A
thousand millions OF new gold from
the mines were added to the stock
on hand. This unexpected output of
gold killed the silver question by the
Increase of the circulating medium,
and the revival of prosperity which
the advocates OF silver claimed
would he brought about by the re-
monetiZation OF silver.
Mr.. BRYAN was so much gratlhTd
or elated with the encomiums which
he received tor his eloquent advocacy
OF silver in 1896 that he tailed to OBJ
serve that the prayers OF the people
for more money had been answered
upon the demand in the Chicago plat
form tor silver To furnish more mon
ey, notwithstanding that demand
had been complied with by the out
put OF gold. The people were pros
pering AS he had predicted they
would prosper if the circulation
were increased through the reInone-
tization OF silver. The general pros
perity OF the country paralyzed him
and his followers in the campaign
and forced them 10 make irrelevant
excuses tor fighting the Republican
party. The Republican party claim
ed that all the new prosperity was
the result OF Republican policy and
Republican legislation. The Demo-
cratic party was in no position to
Join issue with the Republicans on
that question bcca ause they had taken
the position in their platform that
the want ot money oceasloned by the
dcmonetization OF silver was still in
flicting uumitigating injury. The
response OF the people was: "We are
prosperous and opposed to change"
Since 1900 the output of gold has
continued. In the limited period OF
six years about 1900 millions OF new
gold has SO enlarged the circulating
medium as to create an era OF un-
exampled prospe rity in the United
States. 1t is true that the silver min
ing industry has received a heavy
blow and that that industry would
be restored to its former prosperity
upon the reconciliation OF silver. Ii
the people engaged in silver mining
had the power to restore silver and
regain the prosperity which they
lost by its demone ti2ation, 1t would
be their right to do so. Silver can
only be restored Ivy Act of Congress,
and the silver miners alone are
small part of the people of the United
> ates The general cooperation OF
tn, people to redress the wrong in
fidt q bv the dcmonei IZation of silver
was secured hy the universal suffer
ing vhich that Legislation produced.
Blu. when reliet came to all except
,.lose engaged in silver mining
and to them TO the extent that they
in the general prosper