People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1897 — THE GOLD STANDARD. [ARTICLE]

THE GOLD STANDARD.

’JEADY AND WAITING FOR THE NEXT BATTLE. Disaster and Distress Follow the Saccess of the Standard of Gold—How to Avert the Danger- —Loyal American Sentiments. The first great battle of the standards is past. The standard of gold still flutters from the mast of the ship of state. With the dying echoes of the last clash of battle a new campaign is inaugurated, a campaign which will end in the freeing of millions who have been galled to the quick by the yoke of gold. The curse has dimmed the happiness of many a home. This golden octopus has robbed the laboring millions of a just division of the fruits of their toil. Its shining tentacles have slowly encircled American industries, while patriotism and thrift are waning in the hearts of the masses. But, thank God, patriotic blood still beats in a hurrying flood in the hearts of American men. Six millions of them have been brave enough to stand by the principles enunciated by their forefathers. Bimetallism was the child of our constitution. When silver and gold walked side by side, prosperity rewarded the efforts of the American people. “United they stand, divided they fall.” The gold standard is not an American policy, but the policy of our enemies. History fails to record an instance of a victory won by following the leadership of the enemy. Disaster follows this course, as experience has abundantly proved. President McKinley tells us that he hopes to bring about International bimetallism. It is a vain hope. If, as he has said, the gold standard is a good thing, why should he dhange it for international bimetallism? If it wasn’t a good thing why should we wait for the consent of England before we give relief to our starving countrymen? To listen to England was not once the spirit of Americans. Have we lost that independent spirit manifested by our forefathers in the Immortal document that is dear to the heart of us all? Are we no longer able to legislate for the relief of our suffering humanity? Must we stand idly by and see the masses of our common people converted into cowardly poltroons?

The gold men charge us with being traitors to good government. Where •can tyranny be any blacker than in the heart of the man who is willing to •sell his fellows into golden bondage? "The traitors and slave owners of our last war claimed to be sponsors of national honor and good government and at the same time were plotting for their destruction. The colored man of the south gets along very well without his master, so can the millions of plain people of the whole nation subsist without British gold and Wall street monopoly. The success of the cause of bimetallism convokes the aid of all loyal Americans. We must warn the people of their danger ere our institutions of freedom are crumbled to ruins. Arouse them as did Paul Revere the commoners of Massachusetts. Arouse them as you would of a coming pestilence or flood. Do not lay down the gauge of battle until every dollar shall be as good as every other dollar under our flag. Remove the stain of statute law from our silver dollar and prosperity and happiness will brighten every home in our fair land. Augusta, Wis. A. HERRICK.