Show A GLEAM OF SUNSHINE We agree with our contemporaries who accept the ibill introduced by Senator Sena-tor Jones of Arkansas as the most feasible settlement of the financial question that has been offered and is likely to prove acceptable At the same time we fear that it is too good with all its defects to become a law It is barely possible that the Democrats in Congress will drop their various projects and come together on that measure But the time is so short and the obstructions that the Republicans may throw in the way can < be made to hinder it so easily that we scarcely expect ex-pect it to toa carried through both Houses The bonds it provides for forms a feature of the Iblll which will antagonize some strong men dn the Senate as well as in the House But if they can accept ac-cept it in view of the other excellent provisions it contains the very thing to which they object trill help it along with members of opposite views and give it possibility of passage The great recommendation of the bill to the west and the south ds its > virtual remonetizaition of silver True it does not provide for that directly It says nothing about unlimited coinage nor of the ratio of 1C to 1 But it does propose to do that which will very soon establish both If silver producers an take their product to the mints and it shall be coined into silver Gollars of 412 grains each those coins will be legal tender as they are now and the ratio with gold will remain CS > now at 16 to 1 The price paid for the silver will be its London market value Uhe Gifference between its cost and coin value which the bill rather incorrectly calls the seigniorage wall go into the United States treasury But how long will the market price remain at its present low figure if the ibulllon can find thus unlimited un-limited market at the mints IW111 R not begin to rise at once Is it not almost al-most certain that it will gradually approach ap-proach to its former figure until it gains its old place and the silver dollar will < be worth its face value in wefizrVi as a commodity It is this provision that should commend com-mend the bill to all bimetallists con sidening the present impossibility to jump at one bound to the restoration of silver in the manner most desired by its extreme advocates It meets the objection of people who are not table to understand the silver question thoroughly and who are scandalized at the thought of silver sellers getting a dollar for that which is worth in the open market but fifty cents As the coinage of the bullion goes on and the benefit of silver money is ap predated so will the market price of the metal appreciate with the absorption I absorp-tion of the product by the mints the i silver producers will finally obtain the full dollar figure for their bullion and there will ibe no room for complaint from those who want the slIver dollar Ito I-to contain a dollars worth of metal Under the bill silver will come into fuller lrculat1 nbY the retirement Of L j 1 I E = > National bank currency of less than ten I bllars aaid the issue of silver cerdfi eaten or silver dollars This will be a i step in the same direction and will i help to bring about what the west and south so strongly desire We do not think the Republicans in Congress will favor the bill because hey do not want such a settlement of the burning question of the time by the Democratic party It is too favorabe to silver and they would prefer ieaving the matter anyhow for their party to work to their own advantage But if he Democrats can only see the light the Jones will prove a gleam of sunshine sun-shine which will reflect brightly upon the party and not only make 11 shine before men but bring prosperity to the entire people of our common country |