The Project Gutenberg EBook of If Not Silver, What?, by John W. Bookwalter

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Title: If Not Silver, What?

Author: John W. Bookwalter

Release Date: July 17, 2005 [EBook #16320]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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IF NOT SILVER, WHAT?

by

JOHN W. BOOKWALTER

SPRINGFIELD, OHIO

1896

"If you will show me a system which gives absolute permanence, I
will take it in preference to any other. But of all conceivable
systems of currency, that system is assuredly the worst which
gives you a standard steadily, continuously, indefinitely
appreciating, and which, by that very fact, throws a burden upon
every man of enterprise, upon every man who desires to promote the
agricultural or the industrial resources of the country, and
benefits no human being whatever but the owner of fixed debts in
gold."--_Speech of the RIGHT HON. A. J. BALFOUR, at Manchester,
England, October 27, 1892._

As a manufacturer and somewhat extensive land owner I have a great
personal interest in the money question. As a traveller I have studied the
situation in other nations, and thus, I may modestly say, have enjoyed the
great advantage of getting a view in no wise disturbed by partisan
politics. As one whose prosperity depends almost entirely upon that of the
farmers, I have naturally thought most of the effect monometallism has
had, and will continue to have, upon them. I have, in a sense, been
compelled to think much on this great issue. These facts are my apology,
if any apology is needed, for giving my thoughts to the public. But is any
apology needed? Providence has granted to a few the leisure and the
opportunity to study these economic problems, on the correct solution of
which the welfare of millions, whose toil leaves them little leisure for
study, depends. Is it not the supreme moral duty of those few to give
their conclusions to the public? I have always thought so, and in that
spirit I present this little work, and ask th