How Gold Gets Its Place

R. P. Dexter of Galva, Hls., asks: "Why was silver demonetized? ' 'Did any country ever come to a gold Standard through the eft'orts or the wishes of the people of that country?" The two questions ruay be answered together. The people of many oountries have discontinued the use of silver as Standard monêy (demonetized silver) because they prefer gold. Secretary Morton said in a public address the other day that they deferryized flatboats on the Missouri river in the neighborhood of Omaha because steamboats served the purpose better. Later they deferryized steamboats because a steel bridge served their purpose better still. They didn't wake those changes as the result of an election, but aa a matter of business. In like marnier the principal commercial nations have abandoned uilver and accepted gold aa the standard. They have not done so by any town meeting process, but simply as a matter of business. In the dealings of men living in diferent conntries, or in what is called international trade, there is no standard prescribed by law, or lawful money. But gold has been accepted as the Standard by common consent. The people engaged in this trade prefer gold. Önly a short time ago Bolivia deliberately abaudoned the silver standard and adopted the gold standard. What the peopJo think of the change may be learned from a citizen of this country who was there at the time of the change, and who "describes the scene3 of rejoicing among the people as something far surpassing any other demonstration he ever witnessed. They regarded the change from silver to gold as deliverance out of a wretched condition into the light of a new and bettdr era. ' ' The people of other gold standard countries, whether that standard was originally of their own choosing or not, are not agitating for its abandonment. This country may be regarded as an exception, but the agitation here is less formidable than uiauy people seem to suppose. Silvcr miue owners, dishonest debtors and boy orator demagogues are not "the people. ' ' - Chicago Chrouicle.