People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 April 1896 — Page 6

6

THE SILVER QUESTION

INVASION OF THE UNITED STATES BY THE ASIATICS. Bow Th«jr Exchange the Prodncts of Their Libor for Our Gold. Which They In Torn Exchange for Silver to Hire Cheap Labor to Compete with Oon. (By Joseph K. Clark, Butte, Montana.) The question that seems most to bother the Americans in regard to the Chinese-Japanese situation, is whether our brothers of the Orient are our financial superiors or not, and, as they <, appear to have the best of the matter at present, to an unprejudiced observer, it would seem that as they know when they have a good thing and then make the best of it, they, at least, are the financial superiors of those antiquated minds that see nothing but financial disasters in bi-metallism. If the recent treaty between those nations is carried out in the spirit as well as the letter, and to the adaptability of the Chinese is added the ingenuity of the Japanese, their progress during the twentieth century would be wonderful indeed. The Chinese, since the time of Confucius, seem to have done nothing but adhere to ancient customs; the Japanese, on the other hand, are a people of progress, and during recent years have made gigantic strides in all the arts and sciences and in commerce. The first cotton spinning factory in Japan was established at Kagishima more than forty years ago, by Shemazu Harihisa, the greatest feudal prince of modern times.

For nearly twenty years this was the only factory of the kind in the country, but in 1867 the people began to wake up and since then so many other factories have been established that there are now 580,564 spindles in operation, which, taken with those now in process of construction, will make the total number of spindles nearly one million. One of the articles in the JapaneseChinese treaty that will be most important to the development of the Chinese, and important to the world of commerce reads as follows: “Japanese subjects shall be free to engage in all kinds of manufacturing industries in all the open cities, towns and ports of China, and shall be at liberty to import into China all kinds of machinery, paying only the stipulated import duties thereon.” At first, with but a casual thought, it would seem that this article opens up before Americans visions of great prosperity; that soon the United States would soon wrest from England the supremacy in the oriental trade. All this would happen and more, if advantage were taken of the treaty (for the Japanese look upon us as their best friends), and if we were not brought into direct labor competition with them. While we may be slightly benefited for the time, as it is, still, they are rivals to be feared, not despised or looked down upon, and the treaty virtually makes China and Japan one nation, with a population of 500,000,000 people. For labor they pay about 17 cents per day in gold to men and 11 cents to women. They are the greatest imitators in the world, and ah they have no patent laws by which foreigners may be prothey seize upon every useful patent and with their cheap labor turn out products for a net cost that would make Americans open their eyes wide in astonishment. A recent article in the “Inventive Age” has the following paragraph: “One of the subjects for our statesmen in the near future will be: ‘How best can we protect the American manufacturers and the American laborers from the imitative genius, piracy and cheap labor of Japan, not alone in cotton and cotton goods, but in the manufacture of everything the arts produce.”

Thirty-five years ago the Japanese might have been classed as barbarians, and they were divided into many factions. They had a civil war and the victorious party proclaimed the present reigning sovereign “mikado of the Japanese empire.” He was but seventeen years of age, but had been educated in the United States and had acquired many American ways and modes of thought. Under his enlightened rule a great social revolution took place. Edicts were promulgated tolerating Christianity and permitting Buddhist priests to marry nuns. It is claimed by some people that the marriage of this multitude of Buddhist priests accounts, in a great degree, for the intelligence the Japanese display to-day as a nation, for the priests were the educated men of the land. In 1871 a board of education was formed and a year later a college with a staff of European professors was established and largely patronized. As their chief intercourse was with the United States, England and France the study of the languages of those nations was insisted upon, and the adoption of all mechanical appliances that could promote the arts and, sciences was encouraged. At this time one railroad was in operation, with others in process of construction. Now their railway system compares favorably with those of the European powers. In 1870 a national mint was established at Osaka, the machinery being imported from England. In this year they issued their first coin made in their own mints. Heretofore it had been coined in other countries, but used as national coin. The Japanese came from a mongrel Tartar source, and their origin dates

tar back into antiquity. The national religion is Bhuddism, bat sanction wa* given to the worship in the old faith, Sin Fin, or Faith in Gods.. The Chinese have historical legends that antedate the flood mentioned in the Bible, and have a history that reaches back farther than any other nation now in existence. The wonders of the Empire caused the discovery of this continent, for Columbus had in his mind as much the discovery of a short route to Cathay, as he had the desire to proye the correctness of his theory that the world was round. If it had not been for his vivid and glowing descriptions of the riches and marvels of this country, Isabella and Ferdinand probably never would have listened to his pleadings, and have supplied him with vessels, and men, and money to make the trial. Later a famous traveler. Sir John De Mandeville, returned home with glowing accounts of the country, and with strange tales of the queer people inhabiting it. Their first porcelain furnace was set up in the seventh century in the' province of Kiangsi, but the celebrated furnaces of Kinti Chin were not established until almost two hundred years later. They now have over five hundred porcelain furnaces in operation, which supply nearly the whole world in porcelain ware. In the matter of baking the porcelain, no other country has ever excelled them, one single piece passing through forty hands before it is deemed finished.

The date of the origin of the manufacture of silk in China is lost in the mists of remote antiquity. From the Chinese the Persians acquired the art; from the Persians the Greeks learned it, while it is not known whether the Romans had it from the Greeks or through some intercourse their sea captains had with the Chinese themselves. They excel in the manufacture of damasks and flowered satins and in their simple hand looms can reproduce the most intricate of French and English patterns. China Crepe has never been imitated successfully. In the tenth century they had invented printing machines and were proficient in the manufacture of the finest paper. Their most elaborate works are the Imperial Canal and the Great Wall. The latter was built about 200 B. C. and extends west from Pekin along the entire northern frontier for a distance of over 1,500 miles, over rivers and across mountains and plains. It was from 15 to 30 feet in height, and 25 feet at the base, while the top was 15 feet in breadth, or wide enough for six men to ride horse back abreast. The Imperial Canal is one of the greatest works of its kind in the world and flows from Pekin to Canton, a distance of 1,200 miles. This great work was constructed in the thirteenth century and runs through a most fertile country, where every variety of vegetable life may be grown on account of the diversified climate. Thus, centuries before we became a nation, China had progressed in art and manufacture, and although they have been isolated to a great extent from the rest of the world, thereby being unable to profit by the developments of civilization, with the Japanese to teach and aid them, they will b® able soon to make anything that can be manufactured in any other place in the world.

They produce the raw material in their own land and sell the manufactured article for gold in a gold standard country. I have thus briefly outlined the present condition of China, simply to direct your attention to what we may expect in the near future, when the well paid labor of America will be brought into direct competition with the pauper labor of China and Japan. There is only one logical conclusion to come\ to if our legislators do not take some active steps towards preventing such competition—the wages of American labor will drop. The gold bugs have always been victorious. You ask, “Why?” “Because the masses do not understand the financial question?” This is true only in part. The main reason is that the gold bugs have bought both Judge and jury. Is it any wonder that they are awarded the verdict? Three-fourths of the people of the United States are in favor of free coinage on a basis of 16 to 1 and have cast their votes to that effect, electing on a silver platform men who, when elected, repudiated their promises and deceived the people, supporting gold bug theories regardless of the suffering and misery their actions brought upon the people who elected them. The time has come when the masses must make the great effort of their lives to gain recognition. In the elections of 1896, the silver question will be the axis upon which all others revolve; so prepare to make the fight of your lives. Cast aside all party affiliations. If you cannot get an honest mao nominated in your own party, vote for any honest man, regardless of party, but be sure that he is honest. Remember that the gold-bugs are preparing for the greatest fight they have ever had; they realize their jeopardy and that the people have become determined to be heard and so are making strenuous efforts to provide against defeat. This is not a political fight. It is a battle with the pluotcrats of London and their agents in the United States on one side and the people on the other. The people must win, for if they lose, the cause of the people—free silverwill be retarded for years. Nominate, regardless of party, an honest man. One who will boldly and at all times support free silver, and

RENSSELAER. 11 HUI.M , . A PHIL 23. 1896.

after nominating, elect him, and the cause is won. Beware of bankers! They are false prophets and nine-tenths of them are auxiliaries of the gold bugs in London. They are gold bugs themselves for purely mercenary reasons. With gold mono-metallism they can retain their high rates of interest. What does it matter to them that you lose your farm or your home; that the laborers on railways, in fields or in factories, have to work for a few cents a day to compete with the cheap labor of China and Japan—they get their interest just the same. Every one that can read should study the financial question and prepare himself to cast his vote for an honest, true man. who will at nil times and in all places work for the good of the country and the good of the people. What little gold there is is controlled by, comparatively, a very few men, or locked up in vaults by the hundreds of millions. At the beginning of the Christian era 1 the Roman Empire had 1,800,000,000 of ; metallic money. At the end of the sis- ! teenth century they had less than j $200,000,000. India and China then ! were in the height of their glory and ' splendor and the inference is that much j of the money that disappeared found its | way into the coffers of the wealthy In- j dian and Chinese nabobs. In these countries gold was needed, j for the Chinese, at this time were building the Imperial Canal, and in Tndia gorgeous and magnificent temples were being constructed. Are we going to follow this example? ; Are we going to furnish money, depre- i dated in our own country, but to other j nations worth its own value, that they j may beautify and make rich their own'] lands while paupering us? At this time the Roman Empire must , have had men who well might have | been named Sherman, Carlisle and j Cleveland, who acted as emissaries to j India and China and made the Roman i masses believe that silver was worth- ! less and so demonetized it. The monied people of India and China at that time, probably, were as ready to buy it at fifty cents on the dollar as their descendants are ready j to buy it of us, and we are not sure that they even paid that much. But, however, they lost their mon ey, their trade, their power; for when a nation or individual loses money, j credit goes with it and with the credit 1 goes trade and power. To this loss of money and power may j be accredited their decline in civilization, their decrease in population and commerce and the disappearance of their freedom. History records nothing to show the cause of this deplorable result except the shrinkage of bimetallic money. History repeats itself, and if we, the people of the United States, cannot retainb imetallic money, we will follow in the footsteps of the Roman Empire. We alone are not suffering from the demonetization of silver; the peasantry of all gold standard countries are sharing the disastrous results with us.

In the statistics compiled by Archbishop Walsh of Ireland it is shown that prior to 1873 the exports of yarn j from India to China and Japan alone ! were practically nothing. In 1873 oc- | curred the demonetization of silver. ! What effect that had upon the industry j may be seen from the following table: In 1874 ?’ 1,000,000 In 1875 5,000,000 In 1880 25,000,000 In 1885 75,000,000 In 1889 127,000,000 In 1891 165,000,000 England had this trade until silver was demonetized in 1873, when she lost it, and while losing this she lost in nearly every other branch of commerce in proportion. It is only a question of time when all her spindles and looms will be silenced. What has been said of England may be said also of the United States or any other gold standard country, unless bimetallism be adopted. Demonetization of silver is responsible for this loss of prestige. It is easily enough seen why silver standard countries prefer to trade with one another; and when silver is demonetized by any nation that nation immediately begins to lose her trade. To cite a suppositious case that may ; be made applicable to ourselves. Supj pose we were to have our gold discounted at the rate of 100 per cent by I the silver standard countries. Would ! we not at once seek some gold-standara 1 nation with whom we might trade, that jour gold might be taken at par? Eeverse the case, and the present situation is explained. As I have said, they sell the manufactured article in a gold standard country for gold, and for gold alone. They take away nothing but gold. This is one reason, and a potent one, why gold is disappearing from the United States. This gold is shipped to London and is changed for fifty cents on the dollar for bar silver,’which is taken to China and Japan, coined and put in circulation among their own people, where, at its coined value, it is as good as gold, and has the same purchasing power. The gold then goes into the vaults of London only to come back to the United States to purchase our bonds at a high rate of interest. The London bankers take in exchange our silver at fifty cents on the dollar, they having contracted far into the future at that price, knowing that the production of silver is running short. It may readily be seen why nations having a silver standard do not care to join the gold standard nations in international bimetallism. At present they make a profit of 100 per cent upon every dollar’s worth of gold they exchange, but if they joined in international bimetallism, they would be compelled to take in exchange for their manufactured articles

oar sllvsr on a parity with gold, thereby depriving themselves of the handsome profit they are In the habit of realising, for they would have to pay for our silver 129 29-100 per ounce. This would leave the gold in our country and there would no longer be complaints of a depleted treasury and a diminished gold reserve fund, and no need of further issues of government bonds. Then r too, they would purchase our raw material, for there would be no discount on their silver money; but at present, as we will pay only fifty cents on the dollar for their silver, they will not buy of us, preferring, naturally, to deal with some silver standard country where their silver is taken at par. This proposition appears to me so simple, so plain, so capable of but one solution that it is a matter of wonderment to me that our so-called statesmen and financiers should hesitate concerning the course tp pursue. If this condition of affairs is to continue; if our silver is to be used in this manner; if we have to compete with the cheap labor of China and Japan, what is to become of our laboring class, of our farmers, of all our industries? A friend of mine who has a large vineyard in California, says that in consequence of the continued hard times it did not pay him last year to pick the grapes, and that rather than see them rot on the ground he fed them to hogs. He also said that if the prospects were no better this year he .would make no attempt to cultivate his vineyard, but would allow it to run to weeds. Buyers of wheat last fall sought in vain for the cause of the unprecedented and continued low prices of all cereals. The visible supply warranted higher prices, but instead of going higher the price continued to decline. The same cause that affects our depleted treasury and our reduced gold reserve fund, also affects the price of all our Industries, the price of wheat, the price of cotton, the price of everything that is produced in the United States. There is only one remedy for all this and the sooner it is applied the better it will be for all classes of people in the country, and that remedy is bimetallism. The cause of the trouble is the demonetization of silver, which occurred in 1873, and the deleterious results have come upon us so gradually that we have lost sight of the cause in the effect.

When the people realize that the demonetization of silver is the real cause of the hard times, they will demand, with their votes, the free coinage of silver on a basis of 16 to 1, and when that time comes, as come it must, then will the tide of depression turn and flow in the direction of prosperity. I predict that the time has come — that in this year of 1896—bimetallism will become a law, the only drawback being that for the past twenty years the gold bugs have had control of the press and the press has made the masses believe that silver is worthless, and that nothing but gold is money. I have too much faith in the intelligence of the masses to think that they will believe longer in the goldbug theory, and if it does not come this year, then in 1900 will they proclaim their independence of thought and demand bimetallism, but failure this year means four more years of hard times and low wages. When the people come to understand that there is not one-fourth enough gold in the world to supply them with money, then will they rise up in their t might, overthrow the single gold I standard and place silver where it be- ! longs as the people’s money. I The silver cause has been discussed I for twenty-three long years. During : this time we have had great panics and great strikes, tramps have overrun the country, and the Coxey army made march on Washington. Silver has been championed and defended, not only in the United States, but in England, by the most emi- | nent lawyers and statesmen, but up ! to the present time has been defeated 1 in every trial.* We, the users of gold, as a minority of one-fourth of the people of the w r orld, can never control the majority of three-fourths, who use silver, and the sooner we succumb to the inevitable the sooner will we become prosperous. The people’s money it has been from all time, and the people’s money it should be for all time to come.

Senatorial Extravagance.

There are ninety senators. They have 353 employees to wait upon them at a cost of about $482,000 a year. That is to say, each senator, besides his salary of $5,000 a year, must have attendance costing $5,355 a year. There are 121 clerks to committees, etc., in a body numbering only ninety persons. There are fifty-two laborers, though nobody can imagine what labor they perform. There are fifteen policemen, though the senate end of the capital is fully guarded by the capitol police. Senator Chandler has rendered a public service by calling attention to this monstrous extravagance. It is an abuse of large proportions, and it is made worse by the fact that most of the money is paid to persons near to the senators themselves for purely nominal services. In other words, the senators are quartering their families and dependents upon the country at an annual expense of nearly half a million dollars to the taxpayers. The exposure ought to compel a reform.—People’s Party Paper.

Congress appears determined to divert the minds of the people—even if it has to run s bluff on every nation of the globe.

POPULISM MEANS IT.

THREE VITAL QUESTIONS THAT DEMAND SOLUTION. Ob Their Proper Solution Depends the Perpetuity of the Nation —The Populist Party the Only Party That Stands for the Best Interests of All the People. Many unthinking persons have but little idea of the true meaning and objects of Populism. There are three vital questions, upon the correct solution of which depends the perpetuation of the nation, the security of our institutions and the happiness of our people. These are money, land and transportation. Only one of the three great national parties have taken a decided, positive stand upon these three burning, living issues, and that one is the People’s party. Now for the benefit and instruction of those who seek for knowledge. the unthinking, and even the prejudiced, we will enumerate some of the objects of this rising young giant, the new party of the “great plain peo.ple.” Populism means the complete annihilation of the interest bearing bond system, whether national, state, county, municipal, township or school. Populism means that wealth, which demands the greater protection, shall bear the greater burden of taxation, instead of compelling the poor man to pay all the taxes and exempting the rich. Populism means equality before the law, protection to voters, and honest elections. It means fair, but moderate salaries, fidelity to trust, and disfranchisement for malfeasance in office. Populism means that every man and woman who desires to work shall have the opportunity of doing so, and at fair living wages, according to ability. It means that no one man, corporation or company of men shall be permitted by class laws to accumulate such vast wealth at the expense of those who toil incessantly for a mere subsistence. Populism means the repeal of the national bank act, and the issue by the general government, On its own credit, the credit of the whole people, of all money used. It means that the volume of currency shall be, limited to so much per capita, and shall be increased only as the population and business increases. Populism means a postal savings bank, and the closing forever of these present swindling concerns called state and national banks. Populism means the restoration of our convenient fractional paper currency, out of which we were mfeanly swindled by our modern financial brigands. Populism means absolute death to the bank system of inflation and con- , traction, so long practiced, to the disturbance and ruin of business, and starvation of the laboring people. It means such an adjustment of our financial systems as will make a general panic impossible. Populism means that no alien shall own land .in the United States. It means that no landed monopoly or system of tenantry, serfdom such as exists abroad, shall exist in the United States, but that there shall be a limited ownership of land. Populism means protection to labor as well a& capital, in our home industries, and that none- but American citizens shall be employed in our manufactories. Populism means the government control of railroads, telegraphs and telephones, and no more giving of subsidies, lands, or special privileges, or franchises, to grasping individuals or corporations. , It means a vigorous prosecution of public improvements, as roads, canals, etc., but in no case to create an interest bonded debt, to lend its credit, or to enter into partnership with any individual for such purposes. Populism means simple laws, and arbitration to be substituted as far as practical for bur expensive courts. It means that every citizen is a soldier, ready at call to defend his country’s flag. A large standing army and an expensive navy belong more to a monarchy than to a republic, to Paganism rather than to Christianity.— Reformer, Walla Walla, Wash.

NOTES AND COMMENT.

What the People Are Saying;, Thinking; and Doing;. The fact that McKinley’s nomination is now generally conceded makes the Ohio Republican platform of increased interest. No doubt McKinley had much to do in shaping it. . Of course it declares for protection, and points with pride and all of that. But in not a single instance does it denounce the financial policy of Grover Cleveland. It dodges the money question with the widest Straddle ever attempted by any political party. * * * A correspondent for one of the metropolitan papers says: “The time was when an earnest protest from an Arkansas Congressman against the sale of liquor in the capitol at Washington would have been considered more notable than it was yesterday. Temperance sentiment has been making headway in the South. The Vice-President of the Congressional Temperance Society is a Southerner—John Alldn of Mississippi. Mr. Little, the Arkansas member who assailed the senate and house bar rooms so vigorously, is a native of the state he represents. His protest was timely. Whisky used to be served by the capitol caterers under the name of “cold tea,” and those who bought drank out of cups. There is no subterfuge about the sale at present. Champagne corks pop loudly, and all kinds of drinks are

served la the glasses which custom as* sociates with them. Wine lunches are given in dommittee rooms, especially at the senate end. The restaurant privileges are much sought after, and it is because they carry with them the sale of liquor. • Mr. Littie was right when he deI nounced the present condition as a pub- | lie disgrace. He possibly weakened i his case, however, when he concluded with a tribute to the sobriety of public men, and said it was a rare thing to see one of them intoxicated. The fact is, there have been several disgraceful scenes upon the floor of this congress, all due to the rent-free bar rooms established by congress. In the course of a night session recently a Western Senator was in the midst of a set speech when another Senator slowly arose with his hand on the corner of his desk. The hand slipped; the Senator lunged forward, but recovered his hold on the desk before he went down. The Senator w'ho was speaking stopped. ‘Ur! Ur! Ur! Ur!’ began the other in a hesitating tone, as he swayed to and fro. ‘I ehtirely agree the Senator from Blank,’ sang out the one who had the floor, with ready wit. The Senator, leaning on his desk, twisted his head and looked solemnly at the other. ‘Thass all ri’,’ he said, and sank into his seat. People in the galleries tittered and the speech went on. The house during this session has had two or three cases not quite so pronounced, but still plain enough.” * * .n It will not be really necessary for the republican convention to pander to the wishes of the free silver men of the. West and South, if the indications for the past two years count for anything. Every state north of Mason and Dixon’s line, and north of the Ohio river is more than likely to go republican, so far as the contest between that party and the democrats is concerned.. These with the electoral votes of lowa and Minnesota would give them 227 electoral votes, or three more than a majority. They can thus lose every silver state and then stand a fair show—from their point of view—to elect their ticket. Of course we are using republican estimates on their own strength, and figuring as they will likely figure when Carter, Teller, Mantle, Dubois and others appear at the National convention with a demand for a plank, favoring free silver. They can, and likely will say, we do not need the silver states to carry us to victory. * * *

Notwithstanding all the hue and cry and hired editorials ag.iinst fiat money the government goes right on making it. Last month it created $1,500,000 silver dolars worth 100 cents each, with only 50 cents worth of material used to the dollar. But when it comes to nickles and pennies the government is not satisfied with the Dutchman’s profit of one per cent. It takes several hundred thousand pounds of nickel and bronze to supply the demand for coins of these two classes in the course of a year. The Government buys the raw material in the form of blanks, or disks. That is to say, the nickels and pennies are furnished ready made, of the proper composition, size and weight, but with nothing on them. They look like coins which have been worn perfectly smooth. The Government buys these blanks by the pound. , v At the present time the price paid for the blank nickel pieces is 32 cents a pound, and when a pound of these blanks has been run through the ponderous stamping machines the product is $4.40 in nickels. A pound of the bronze blanks costs the Government 20c, and makes $1.46 in pennies. The Government profit on nickel and penny manufacture is $650,000 a year, but there are those who think it ought to be considered more than this. The bronze blanks contain 95 per cent copper, and the nickel blanks 75 per cent copper. Copper and nickel have both gone down in price, so as to leave a considerable margin between the cost of metal and manufacture and the prices paid per pound by the Government. Nickel used to be worth 72c a pound; it is now worth less than half thqt. For five years the blanks have been furnished by one manufacturing company in Waterbury, Conn. The contract has been held by the Waterbury company without competition. Other manufacturers, who claim that the blanks can be furnished profitably at lower prices, have stirred up Congress to investigate the matter, and to insist that bids shall be called for, and that the contract shall be let to the lowest bidder. One of the curious things about nickel and penny manufacture is the erratic demand for them. Weeks go by without a oall. Then telegrams come in from different parts of the country asking for as much as $30,000 worth. Another curious feature about this money making is that the old and worn coins sent back to be redeemed form a very small proportion of the amount issued. The Government is pouring out a great stream of new nickels and coppers which never find their way back. The supply disappears, is absorbed, and the public keeps calling for more.

Send Him Papers.

The National Reform Press association, having elected Gen. Paul Van Dervoort president of that body, he requests that all members of the association and others that are in the newspaper reform work send ( him their papers, especially during the campaign. No man in the movement has made greater sacrifices during the last four years than Gen. Van Dervoort, and we urge pll reform editors to comply with his request. Populist papers please

W. S. MORGAN,

copy.

Editor Populist Ready Prints.