Page:Coin's Financial School.djvu/121

 Rh balance of the world are added to the gold standard, should such be the case, one pinch from that block of gold the size of a gold dollar (one-twentieth of an ounce) will be so valuable that it will not only buy two bushels of wheat, as it does now, but it will then buy four bushels of wheat.

"One-half that quantity will buy ten hours' labor from a strong-armed mechanic. So much as you could put in the palm of your hand, will then buy a man's soul—a statesman's honor. It is breaking down the fabric of our institutions ; driving hope from the heart and happiness from the minds of our people." And with a voice low and impassioned that reached the finer fibres of every heart in that room, he added: "Who can estimate the damage to the commerce and business of the world? Who can estimate the suffering that humanity has and must yet experience? In what language can we characterize the men behind the scenes who knowingly are directing this world to the gold standard?"

A man rising in the middle of the audience, exclaimed, with the accent of Ireland in his tones: "Imps of hell unchained, banqueting in selfish glee upon the heart's blood of the world." It came with the Irish ring in the words, rich and mellow, yet breathing fire and vengeance —vengeance for wrongs seared into the human heart suddenly and forcibly realized. The words seemed to linger in the air as if searching for the objects of its hate. It was learned afterwards that his name was Dalton, a member of the steamfitters' union in Chicago. He was loudly applauded for his appropriate answer.

rapped for order and continued:

"We are not here to deal in sentiment—we are plain matter-of-fact people.