DEMOCRATIC EXPANSION.
The people of this country seem to
Lave divided themselves into three sec
tions or parties regarding the question
of expansion.
First. Those who believe that having
driven Spain out of her colonies and
set the people free , it is now our duty
to stand by them and consult , advise ,
help , and , if need be , protect them until -
til they can establish independent republics -
publics , or decide of their own will to
become integral parts of the great republic -
public of the United States. This is
the true Democratic theory , and it is
so ably and plainly set forth by Senator -
ator CoekreJl in an interview that wo
hope every one will read it.
Second. Tnose who believe in adopt
ing the European system of colonial
expansion , and governing the people of
the colonies by force of arms , regardless -
loss of their wishes or preferences.
This is the Republican plan , as outlined
"by the administration at Washington ,
-ami we believe it will be eventually
condemned by niiu-ty per cent , of our
Third. Those who think that , the
Avar being over , our business with the
islands and their people is at an end ,
.mid that our ships and armies should
return home and U'ave them a prey j
< > nce more t. ) Spanish greed and retrit
liithe vengeance , or lt them come unc
< ler the dominion of any foreign power
1hat may choose to grab them. In
short , that OKI- whole duty is done , and
we should get out of the Islands. This ! '
idea is held principally by the limited
iiumbe. of our citizens who have gradt
iiated in the old Federal school of exi i
-clu iveness. like Senator Hoar of Mas- !
sachusett * . We have heard of only i
one prominent Democrat who leans
that way namely. Congressman Dailej
of Texas , and the vigorous opposition j
now being made to his continuance as j
leader of the minority in Congress j
* ho\v < very cl.'arly that he has no folj j i
lowing among Democrats generally.
Democrats have always been ext
pansjonists in the sense herein expressed -
pressed , and this jus ! , sensible and huc
maw policy , inaugurated and carried
out by our great Dt'inocratic statesmen j
Jefferson. Jackson and Polkhas
mail * ns mvat and respected by all the
nations of the earth. The .Monroe do.--
1rine. asve understand is. means not
onl\ that Europe shall not meddle with
American afi'air * . but that the Spanish
Islands that \v have < et free shall re
main sr > .
An . riiy rf 1OO.OOO
The announcement by President Mej
Kinley that he will need a regular army
of luoiOO ( men is made in a style which
wotdd become a Czar or a Sultan. Xo i
thought of leaving to Congress any cons ;
sideraiiou of tlr1 number of able-bodied {
male adults who should be drawn from
the pursuit * of Siriustry and converted J
Into human maf hint's for the shedding
of blood La > - accompanied that an- '
110111 < epiem. He apparently docs not
Ih'aiU ihe Senators who represent the
fiii " of liiis Union or the Repre < enia-
li\i of the juasses of the people tit 'o
lorm a judgment on that question. lr
I ? t'o : the would-be war lord to decide
(
1io\\ many he wains , and it is for Con-ii i
> -c to furnish ; ho raw material for
The better ro enforce hi * demand , too.
!
our w.-ir ; < > rd loftily addresses forurress I \
iu tin e words : il
" ! i is my purpose to muster our the hi I
volunteer army as soon as the
ii. - -s shall provide for the increase
of tii - regular < ? abl ! < : imcni. " j
T2) : > . of course , is a Jhrcar. There is .
noi Senator or Represent : ! five who is
not heiuir urged and entreated by volun
teer regiments from hi < own State Mo
obtain their discharge from < ervice , and
the 'mcut : o make t'ne deioniion inter-1
min.-'ole is fndicaiod 10 obtain the pa < -
sagi of the. lOO.OPd nieasitre.
Th" danger of a large army to a self-
goei niiiir republic df ( ' < not require any
argument , lr i * not the common tuus-
keioe'lbilr. . : ! ! high officer who is dang -
g i-i u Tii"t > ! ninandnnt may be eulo-
gizi'd n ; \i\ \ \ < a seciares and entertained j
nt l > HiHjiets : ami 1'estivaK while the furloughed - I
loughed ] > n\aie is jrlad to get a job at
fihov-eling snow from the streets. The
I
private will : ; ot conspire , but the soldier
who holds a military commission is the j
inevitable fee to the civil equality and [ 1
I
peaceful progress of his fellow citizens.
There is uo necessity for 100,000 men
in the army. The temporary garrisonIng -
Ing of Cuba will not require over 25.-
000. Xr will as many be required for
the Philippine Islands , unless gross mis-
nianajremeul there prevails. New York
Ken s.
M-'Kiiiley's Mess a re.
McKinley's message to Congress i.s
mostly devoted to ancient history , for
in these days of electricity such an
event as the war against Spain last
summer may lie classed among the rel
ics of the past. However , when the
President was engaged in archaic re
searches he might as well have been
IJOIHSI and fair in his recitals.
It is to be noted that he gives Ad-
jnii.-al Sampson all the credit for sinash-
flng Cervera's fleet , when there isn't a
child in the United States who doesn't
know that Sampson was absent from
/the / battle and that Admiral Schley was
dn active command of the fleet. With
& like blindness to fact and a like par
tiality for administration pets , McKin-
lej gives Shafter praise and mentions
General Miles only incidentally as
bringing re-enforcements to Santiago.
Instances of official favoritism
,
j/ot calculated to give the Ameri-
* Z
can people much confidence in the
other conclusions put forth by the
President.
With fine satire and splendid disre
gard of existing conditions the Presi
dent ] says Ihe nation is rejoicing in a
steadily increasing degree of pros
perity. If he had said that the trusts
i of ] the nation are thus rejoicing no one
would be found to differ with him , but
the j farmers , the mechanics , the mer
chants and the laboring meu are still
waiting anxiously for that long prom
ised j dawn of prosperity. Certainly a
document which lacks essential ele
ments of truth in any of its statements
may be suspected of nnsoundness iu
most , of its pronouncements. Chicago
Democrat. j
Cause of Low Prices.
Under the caption , ' 'The Cause of
Cheap Cotlon , " the I ansas City Jourc
ual makes a labored effort to show that
the cause of the extremely low price of
cotton is over-production , and , as evi
dence ! , shows that in 1808 the cotton
c of the United ' ' "
crop States 'is reported"
at about four times the amount actually
raised in 1S72.
We will admit that the Journal's fig
ures are correct ; and we will further
admit that the wheat crop is large in
proportion \ , and that the oats crop and
the hog crop and the hay crop , and all
other crops including the human crop
- are very much larger than in 1872.
In fact , we will go the Journal's whole
length and breadth and depth as to the
enormous increase of crops of all kinds
since 1872 , and more , and then ask : Is
the t Journal's claim good , or its case
proven j : ? Not a bit of it.
The Journal merely skims the sur-
face. It should dig in , and go down ,
and get at the bottom facts , and then
draw accurate coif elusions. Why are
all products selling at lower prices now
than in 1S72V Simply this : While all
kind's of crops have increased at a rapid '
rate , the money crop has not only in
creased , but , by the fraudulent demone
tization of silver in 187. . , the crop of
actual redemption money of the whole
country has been greatly reduced , and
consequently , a dollar will buy more of
the t productions of the farm and planta
tion now than in 1872.
And that is not all. "The half has not
been 1 : told. " Crops of all kinds are in
creasing , and they will continue to in
crease faster than the crop of gold , and
prices of everything the ' common pee
ple" have to sell will decrease more and
more , and the price of gold will yet increase
11c
crease , until the owners of the gold , and
securities payable in gold , will own the
balance j , of the people , even as the white
man , ; owned the black one iu slavery
days ] , with this difference : then , the
white owner had an interest in the person -
son of the black , so il was to his inter-
e to care for him while well and cure
him when sick. Xow. the gold owner
and the bond owner have only an inter-
Je < t in the property of the poor white
slave : and , when he fails to pay his interest -
terest promptly , mercilessly kicks him
oil' the property , sick or well , and turns
it over to another , leaving the victim of
the crime of ' 7I > to freeze or starve.
What cares he , soulless and unconseion-
able oppressor nf God's poor ones ; he
has another slave to take the place , and
when the new one gets old or sick , he
gets yet another. And thus is the crown
of thorns actually pressed down upon
the { brows of the poor victims of Repub
lican treachery , and thus are they cruci-
lied on a cross of gold.
And so will it ever be until this dark
night of the single gold standard gives
way to the glorious dawn of bimetallism -
lism which is dawning , we confidently
believe , will come in the year of our
Lord 1)00. ! Carl 31. Brosius.
Trust Methods.
What is the first thing the trus-t man
agers do when a new trust is formed ?
They cut down the wages of their em-
ploy.es. What is the next tiling thought
of ami put into execution by the new
trust ? The prices of its product are
raided and the consumer taxed. Aral
what is the third result brought about
l ' y the forming of a trust ? The strang-
ling of all competition , which kills op
position and places the employe and the
consumer equally at the mercy of the
combine. '
These are consecutive steps of prog-
ress made by the trusts. These are
the inevitable results the results , in-
deed , for which trusts are created. It
is useless for Republicans to argue
that trusts are legitimate business enterprises -
terprises and that to oppose trusts > s
10 become a foe to the "best interests"
of the country. Trusts are combi'ia-
lions made for the set purpose of mak
ing money irrespective of the rights of
the people , the rights of lab r , of the
consumer or of competitors. Under the
trust-creating , trust protecting rule of
the Republican party there will never
be any redress for the wrongs which
these combine * inflict.
Protectionism Exploded for Good.
The persistent and heavily increased
deficit since the Uiiigley law went into
operation shows its failure as a rev
enue producer , while large exports of
domestic manufactures underselling
the foreigners in their own markets
demonstrate the absurdity of its pro
tective features. In short , the protec
tionist theory has been exploded , and
as a political issue it is dead as a door
nail. New York Herald.
The old custom of watchmen calling
the hour of night is still retained in
two localities in London , namely , New-
Inn and Ely Place. , _ .
CYCLOMETER FOR CANOE. '
Distances- Covered by Canoeists Can
Be Accurately Measured.
A canoe trip through the everglades
of Florida , described by former Lieu
tenant Hugh L. Willoughby , of the
Rhode Island Naval Reserves , in a
book just published , is of particular in
terest to wheelmen , because all the dis
tances he covered were measured by a
cyclometer.
All ordinary means of marine meas
urement are useless in the everglades ,
and as it was necessary to keep a rec
ord of the distance involved Lieutenant
Willoughby devised the scheme where
by he used a cyclometer for the pur-
CYCr.OJIKTEK POK THE CA..NO- : ' .
pose successfully. He atttached the
front fork of an old bicycle to the stern
of his canoe. In the jaws of this was
swung a 28-inch bicycle wheel , the tire
being equipped with a series of small
paddles , so fastened that they regulat
ed the speed of the wheel to that of the
boat. The cyclometer was attached in
< ho usual manner.
Repeated experiments with the de
vice demonstrated to Lieutenant Will-
oughby that the slip of the wheel was
constant , and that its trailing behind
the boat recorded reliable measure
ments on the cyclometer even when go
ing at a slow gait. He says that the
\yheel and cyclometer gave excellent
results as a log of the trip. Canoeists
and oarsmen might take a hint from
this for their next tours on the water.
An old bicycle wheel is easy to get. and
it } must add to the pleasure of the trip
to keep an accurate record of the dis
tance covered.
A BICYCLE WHEELBARROW.
The Operator Relieved of the "
.Entirely.
The principle of the bicycle applied
to the wheelbarrow is a novel design
brought out by a Canadian manufacturer
1t
turer t , but it can be easily made at
home. The two wheels are arranged
1c shown , the extra one being support
ed in such a manner that it can be
1T brought 1 into use whenever desired.
This ] is effected by a notched arrange-
TWO-WIIKEIKI > BAUKOW.
meiit on the frame supporting the rear
wheel and engaging with a correspond
ing ' part on the inside of the shafts.
With the weight disposed on two
wheels the movement of the barrow is
merely a pushing one. almost the entire -
J
tire weight being removed from the
arms. When an obstacle , such as a
curbstone or uneven surface , is encoun
tered it is very easily surmounted by
depressing the handles , when the rear
wheel is made to act as a fulcrum , and
f he weight readily lifted over.
Hospital for Sick Plants.
A hospital under the care of Prof. B.
Galloway , chief of the division of
vegetable pathology , has been estab
lished by the Department of Agricul
ture of the United States Government
for the treatment of sick plants. Dis
eases affecting plants and vegetables ,
as well as remedies , are investigated.
The work will not only benefit farmers ,
but all lovers of flowers. A violet-plant
was placed under a glass jar. where it
was provided with only poor ventila
tion. Germs of a disease known to be
injurious to this plant were mixed with
water and sprayed upon it. Soon large
yellow spots appeared upon the leaves.
After the jar was removed , the patient
rapidly recovered , showing that the
germs would have had no effect had the
air in which the plant grew been fresh.
The plants in a row of young corn are
given water in different quantities ,
mixed with certain proportions of salts.
a found in natural soil. When certain
strengths of salt are added , the little
mouths 1 of the hairlike tubes of the
roots ] , through which ( lie plants drink ,
become so badly puckered that the
plants starve. Plants growing in salt-
marshes and by the seaside are sup
plied with larger mouths. By testing
the , amount of salt in his soil , the fann
er can ascertain how healthy lcore \
is likely to be.
rruneUes Ste-dily Increasing.
Within two hnndrod years , it is pre--
ilicted. blue eyes and light hair are
destined to disappear. Statistics show
that in England , out of one hundred
blondes , only fifty-five succeeded in
marrying , while out of one hundred
brunetteSt seventy-ui'ie find husbands.
Moreover , histoiy confirms these sta-
tistics. From the remotest times the
blonde has been giving way to the
brunette. The "Iliad" refers continu-
ally to light-haired warriors and worn-
en. but now the shores of the Archipelago
pelage are inhabited by brunettes. In
the days of the Romans the Gauls
weie blondes , but their descendants
do not resemble them. And among
the Germans , Scandinavians and An
glo-Saxons the proportion of brunettes
is steadily increasing.
The less money a man has the strong
er is his belief in tUo equal
iion of wealth.
AGRICULTURAL NEWS
tHINGS PERTAINING TO THE
FARM AND HOME.
Suggestions on Makinjr Palatable and
Nutritious Ensilage-Most Farmers
Cultivate Too Much I/ami Stock Show
Preference for Salted Hay - Notes.
The dairyman who owns a silo usu
ally needs very little itJIrice on the
points involved in making palatable
and nutritious ensilage , but suggestions
are always welcome , and the following
from the American Cultivator is worth
considering :
There is not the need that used to be
supposed of doing the work of cutting
in a single day , so that fermentation
could not begin until after the top was
covered with some weight to press the
silage together. The effect of fermenta
tion is to liberate carbonic acid gas.
This is heavier than the common air.
and therefore remains in the silo unless
there is a hole near the bottom to scud
in a current of fresh air. The greatest
care should be taken to see that insects
or mice have not drilled holes through
the woodwork of the silo during the
time it has been unoccupied. If such
holes can be found they should be cov
ered and closed with cement.
The shorter the silage is cut the better
it will keep , because short silage packs
itself closely and incloses little air. It
is the amount of which the silage holds
at the beginning that determines how
much it shall ferment. If the amount
is small the silage will come out sweet.
The richness of the silage has much to
do with its sweetness or sourness. Corn
that is Hearing maturity , but without
drying of the leaf , makes the best sil
age. It has more sugar and starch , and
these , so soon as they ferment , are turn
ed into carbonic acid gas. and thus stop
any further fermentation. On the oth
er hand , green , corn that is nowhere
near mature , and has little sweetness ,
makes a very poor silage , and is mostly
very sour. So , too. is silage made from
putting in whole cornstalks. These
cannot be packed closely , and the result
is that many of the stalk * will be al
most rotten when taken from the silo.
Cultivate Fewer Acres.
1 am surprised at the small crops of
grain , grass , potatoes , etc. . that are j
grown on many farms. The lack of
sufficient good stable manure is largely
responsible for this. A few years ago
a company was formed and a large
strawboard factory built at the eminty
seat of my county. Since then every
farmer within a radius of ten miles of
this establishment fortunate enough to
have any straw has sold it at the very
low figures of from $1 to $2 per ton.
With the money received for the straw
some cheap grade commercial fertilizer
is purchased. As a consequence the
soils of the farms are becoming thinner
each year from a lack of sufficient hu
mus to make it lively and friable. It is
very poor practice to sell straw from
the farm. Keep enoutrh stock to work
over all the straw and rough feed into j
manure and then judiciously apply it to !
j
the fields. The labor will be more than j
doubly paid for by increased crops.
Another trouble with a great many
farmers is their greed for too many
acres. How common it is to-hear a man
boasting of the number of acres of corner
or wheat he is putting out. but when the
.
harvest comes he usually has about
one-third less acres than at seeding
time. It is an old adage thit "tillage
is manure. " We have this proven by
j
seeing a field that has had an extra
f
amount of work put upon it before sowing
ilii
ing it to wheat. The crop will lie much
iih
larger than on a field only half prepar
ed. If we expect to keep our farms in
n state of fertility that will enable us to
grow paying crops we must concentrate
our work upon fewer acres and have
them well fertilized. It pays much bet
ter to raise a given number of bushels
of wheat from ten acres than to raise
the same number from twenty. By
doubling the producing capacity of an
acre half of the land can be in grass ,
thus giving it a chance to recuperate.
M. C. Thomas , in Orange Judd Farmer.
Favors Pal tiny : Hay.
The farmer who guides himself by
ivhat he reads about salting clover hay
will probably become confused , says a
writer in the Stockman. One authority
says never salt it it is dangerous to do
so. Another no less confidently assures
us that it should be salted : he has al
ways done so , likewise has his father.
Plainly when doctors differ the individual -
vidual may use his reason about the
matter , and if possible decide for him-
LE I
self. The objections against salt is that !
it i is deliquescent and therefore an in
crease of moisture is to be expected
from its use. After many years of ob
servation and experience we have con
cluded that for us salting clover hay is
very desirable. We have endeavored
to arrive at this conclusion intelligently
by repeating tests both iu the mow and
stack. The clover which is sufficiently
cured to keep without salting will not
suffer from heat if salt is applied. While
.
it is true that salt is deliquescent , yet
.
it is altogether probable that this drawback
.
back is balanced by the preserving
quality , for why should salt cease to
preserve hay when it is applied to oth-
6r commodities for this purpose ? Yet
we can admit , if necessary which our
observation does not warrant that salt-
! ug does not materially preserve the
hay , and still claim our case. The > pref
erence of the stock for the salted liay is
apparently a sufficient guide.
Suppose the individual had to partake
of his food unsalted. would ho not make
an objection ? Neither would he be rec
onciled to this if his salt came in daily
or weekly installments
Winter Protection , or Strawberries.
There is no quostlon but some good
protection "is iUlijn t rssyntial to the
strawne.ry plants , hut authorities. ( Us-1
agree about the best to be adopted
While some advocate manure , others
object to it , and recommend straw
leaves , litter or anything of this nature
The chief objection to manure seem !
to be that seed weeds are apt to b (
sown with it on the strawberry bed
But if one's manure is as good as i
ought to be weed seeds ought not to bi
spread in this way. Moreover , 'onl :
well-rotted manure is fit for this work
and the weed seeds will generally havi
died out before manure reaches tin :
stage. The value of the manure hi en
riching the plants is often overlooke <
by those who prefer other things foi
protection. All through the winter tin
strength of the manure is soaking int <
the soil , and by spring when the pro
lection is removed the plants are fertil
teed richly and ready to spring into im
mediate and rapid growth.
But if one has no suitable manure a
hand , the next best thing is probably
forest leaves , collected in the woods
and mixed with just enough straw t <
keep them in place. A few twigs of the
trees gathered with the leaves will be
of value. These spread over them wil.
help to keep them from being blown
about by the wind.
Straw is good as a protection , but
sawdust is not so easily handled. The
rain makes the sawdust cling to the
plants so that it sometimes proves quite
a nuisance. Potato vines can often be
utilized for protection of strawberries ,
especially in connection with a fc\\
leaves. The two mixed together make
a cheap and effective covering. Wis
consin Agriculturist.
SOJMC Poultry Do Nots.
Do not "keep 1,000 fowls in quarters
built for but 500. Do not try to be a
fancier before you are a common poul
try man. Do not try to teach others
until you know something yourself. Do
not change to a new \ariety until you
have fully worked the old one. Do not
study the art of cure until you have
mastered the art of preventic.u. Do not
fail to remember that health in the hen-
nery is brought about by cleanliness.
Do not be 'ed away by reports of oth-
ers1' good success : try to beat it your-
i self. Do not boast and think you know
it all. Do not fail to read of the experiences -
encos of others and try to profit by
their loss. Do not trust alone to hired
help , but try to do some of the work
yourself.
American Uiitter in I-Inj 'aiuJ.
Tiie butter product of the United
States bids fair to become a rival of the
Denmark product in England. This is
possible from the shrinkage of space
brought about by present-day condi-
rio < ls. making possible the transporta
tion and delivery of butter in the Eng
lish market fifteen days after making.
Under these conditions injuring the
sweetness of the product being unim
paired , and notwithstanding the hesi
tancy of the English merchants to en
gage in the butter trade with the Uni
ted States , the product of this- country
promises to obtain a firm , foothold and
command the highest prices-abroad
Traiiiintr Poultry.
To build a comfortable poultry house
will not prevent the fowls from roosting
on the tree limbs in winter unless they
are taught that the house is for their
accommodation. This is done by catching -
ing them at night and placing them in
the { house , where they must be confined
for j a week , at the end of which time
they will have forgotten their former
roosting places and when given their
liberty will return at night in. their new [ j i
quarters. 1 '
- -
Good Farm Hands ? ctrcc.
A good hired man is the exception
rather than the rule. There are many
n : . n who can plow and perform general
fttrm work in a routine manner , but the
man who understands what i& required ,
and who needs not be told what to do.
is indispensable. Intelligence is neces
sary to make a good farm hand , anfthu
T
best men iret high wages.
l
' Farm Notes. !
It is estimated that the cost of pro
tecting tre , ° s to prevent disease , by the
use of spraying mixtures , isless than
%
one-fifth of a cent per tree , and the
spraying may also increase the profit
on fruit.
Sulphur is injurious when given in
the food during damp weather to animals -
mals or poultry. For hens that are
shedding their feathers it is beneficial if
added to the food in small quantities
twice a week. It is also excellent for |
hens that are laying. !
The largest profit for butter is in winter -
ter ( if it is of the best quality , because
.
it can then be kept to better advantage j
and more easily shipped to distant mar- j
kets. The cost will depend on how \ 'l
.
much ensilaire was stored this fall.
*
The honeysuckle is a hardy plant , and
in a few years forms a thick covering to \
a veranda or lattice frame. The com-1
mou morning glory is another climbing |
which should not be
plant overlooked , i
as it grows from seed and reaches a | '
great height the first year.
A difference of only Ic per pound , ref ;
eeived for a steer may amount to $10 01 j j
$12 for the entire animal. To fatten the J
steers is to not only increase their j
weight , but also to add quality. Profits !
are small on all goods , but the- largest j
profits are received only for the best. ; j
While it may be better to cut out the j
old wood from blackberries in winter- ,
after the ground is frozen , is will be an
advantage at this time to * plow under
the crab grass aiid weeds as. so much
green material. But fvf blackberry
fields are manured , yet no crop re-
spends more readily tv good treatment
than blackberries.
Steers of the boot/producing breed.-
have large frames.vhich can hold an
abundance of me : . The more meat the
farmer can cro\.rd ; on a frame the larg
er his profit. m Niul he , therefore , should 11
not object.o his steers being heavy I
feeders. as they will make their D I
MI a snorter lime than if dainty ,
*
\ \
'
I Attribute * of Money.
Each coin ? 3 basic , and it is coin and
not commodity that Is money. There
are absolutely no foreign balances that
arc ; not payable in either coin , just as
in a nation witb worthless bark money
"
there is no balance not payable ii :
bank. If one nation , uses the coins ofT
another both the clearings and bal
ances between said nations will be on
the basis ofi the coins of both nations
so < used , and this is the principal meth
od by which money gets general power
without extensive recoinage with at
tendant expense and delay. Certifi
cates or notes- given in purchase are
also an effective method , provided
their redemption assured by manda
tory coinage where redemption is call
ed for. and nothing left to the discre
tion of faithless officials.
There are some who assert that only
one metal is or can be fluent , but at the
same'time will profess to pledge parity
of or "between the two metals. " In the r
propositions in hand , however , by "a" '
commodity isreaiiy meant any "com
modity" with "fluency" , "given. " and
the author of same holds that fluency
is given to both gold and silver , while
only gold is fitted for fluency , which is
honest , while said officials are either
dishonest or incompetent.
If part of the coin be advanced in its
power by using the other part only for
local balances , or by redemption direct
in advanced part , or by enforced legal
exceptions in. . its use , the clearings , as
well as balances- , will all be on the
basis of the part with restricted local
power. Of course , when part of the
coin is thus made subsidiary , the need
of limitations will appear urgent in
just the proportions the part with un
limited power bears to a safe super
structure of credit , and general prices
will fail in proportion to the coin made
subsidiary. lie is a dummy or a knave
who will not see the change now made
, .
from a nominal coin basisto a practi
cal single part of the coin.
Coinage of Silver.
Whatever else money may be defined
to be , it is purchasing power. The pos
session of money enables its- possessor
to command a certain quantity of other
things in exchange for it. Referred tea
a particular commodity , this purchas
ing power expresses-itself as the price
of that commodity. It can , therefore ,
be truly expressed only by reference to
all commodities. In other words , the
purchasing power of ri'oney is indefin
able except in terms of average prices.
In the language of John Stuart Mill :
"The value of money is inversely a *
general prices , falling as they rise and
rising as they fall. " It does not define ,
for , any true economic purpose , a dollar
,
to call it 23.8 grains of standard gold
or some convertible representative
thereof. Since money is purchasing
power the real meaning of a dollar , or
of any other piece of money , resides in
.
the extent of its purchasing power.
We cannot intelligently conceive of
a money unit except as the embodiment
of a certain amount of exchange power
against other things- general. This
conception is vital to any useful discus-
sion of the economic , industrial and social -
cial aspects of the money question. The
habit of thinking in terms-of gold rath
er than iu the terms-of things that gold
stands for vitiates much that is at-
ernpted in argument on the subject and
blinds the non-money and producing
classes to the fatal' weaknesses of the
gold system.
Money in its origin and on principle
is a mere convenience in connection
with things , but those interested in
adding to its value as measured by
things have succeeded in making it
more important and influential than all
the productive functionsof society
combined.
Falling Prices * .
The monej--Lending class stands back
t > the gold standard , and is responsible
for its existence to-day. They favor it
because it increases- value of their
dollars.
They oppose free silver because , by
bringing steady or rising prices , it
would take from them their unearned
increment ] and give it to those who
have ] earned it. Perfect justice would
be done if the dollar could be kept ab
solutely stable in its general purchas
ing ] power. This- would work impartial
justice to both , money-lender and pro-
31
1 .
drper.
But if a preference is to be given to.
either it is better that it should be giv
en to the producing classes , not only
because they are weaker , but more es
pecially because rising prices mean
general prosperity , although they work
temporary injustice to the holders of
tixed incomes. They are compensated ,
however , , by the greater security of
their investments.
It is doubtful if there woulu be an
excessive rise of prices under f cee coin
age. The value of money wluch is the
Level of prices is fixed by s-jpply and ;
demand , and the supply of both gold ;
and silver together has har-Jly kept up.
with , the increase in bysino s and popu
lation.
But if. prices did not nise materially
free coinage would prexent them. from ,
falling : , and thus come , nearer to. establishing - .
lishing a dollar that retained a stable
purchasing pover , t > .at robbed neither
debtor nor credit.iueUher money
lender nor product ! : : in cr.her w.ords , an-
honest dollar.
The largest gold coin in existence
worth aboin § 315. it is the ingot
"loot" $ f Annara and Us value is writ. ,
ten on the coin \viih India Ink ,