Honesty in Poli.ics and Legislation. 205 plea of war necessity, our people have acquiesced in Government credit money, as a temporary expedient. Mr. Carlisle's distinct purpose is, now, to make credit money a permanent institution. Momentous results now hang upon the decision of Congress and of a President elected upon the distinct pledge contained in his letter of acceptance dated September 28, 1892, as follows: "Every dollar put into the hands of the people should be of the same intrinsic value or purchasing power. With this condition absolutely guaranteed, both gold and silver can be utilized upon equal terms in the adjustment of our currency." The last Democratic National Convention declared: "We hold to the use of both gold and silver as the standard money of the country, and to the coinage of both without discrimination against either metal," etc.; and the last Republican National Convention demanded "the use of both gold and silver as standard money.' D So late as March 29, 1894, President Cleveland said in a Message to Congress: "I hope a way will present itself in the near future for the adjustment of our monetary affairs in such a comprehensive and conservative manner as will afford to silver its proper place in our currency." Honesty in politics and in legislation demands that the foregoing distinct, formal, and solemn pledges be carried out, and that a Bill be passed by Congress and signed by the President to utilize gold and silver upon substantially equal terms as standard money. If they cannot agree upon a Bill for this purpose it is their bounden duty to appoint a commission of competent experts to investigate and to recommend a plan. 23 PART V. SARATOGA FREE-COINAGE DEBATE. LETTERS TO "SPRINGFIELD REPUBLICAN." AFTER THE ELECTION, WHAT? EXTRACTS FROM THE DEBATE ON FREE COINAGE OF SILVER, BE- FORE THE SCIENCE ASSOCIATION AT SARA- From the Introductory Remarks by the Secretary of the Finance Department, Professor F. W. Fenks. The silver question has become the important topic of the day, and is likely to be the most important question of the next political campaign. It has been thought best, therefore, to have the matter talked out to-day before the Association by some of the best authorities on both sides that the country affords; and the debaters have agreed to let the question take the specific form : Resolved, That the United States should provide, by law, for free coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to 1 with gold. From Address of Hon. A. F. Warner. Twenty-five years ago there were not forty millions of people out of the entire population of the world using gold exclusively as money : |