ing freely, the ratio in France was 15½ to 1, while in this country it was 16 to 1, and this difference in ratio was the only disturbing element, causing only slight fluctuations in the comparative value of the two metals, when measured in each other—this depending on the direction in which the bullion was moving:
"But the moment the 'connecting pipe' was cut, the derangement in the values of the metals and of all property began.
"And now," said Coin, "if I have not answered Mr. Gage's question, I want him to say why I have not."
Coin
had been listened to with rapt attention. A pin could almost have been heard to drop at any moment. No sound was heard except the voice of the young speaker, whose pleasant style of address had a charm about it that did not wear away.
There were many scholars and thoughtful business men in the audience—men of intelligence. Many of them owned large business blocks. Capitalists who had made Chicago what it is—such men as Leander McCormick, H. H. Kohlsaat, L. Z. Leiter, Phil. D. Armour, Potter Palmer and Samuel Allerton; merchant princes like Marshall Field, John V. Farwell and Franklin MacVeagh; lawyers of local and national reputation, such as Luther Laflin Mills, Judge Henry G. Miller, Judge Collins, Jno. S. Cooper, Edwin Walker and A. S. Trude.
There was a fascination in Coin's manner of delivery that had caused every word he uttered to be heard and understood. They had listened critically, expecting to detect errors in his facts or reasoning. There were none. They were amazed. He was logical.
Real estate owners who had seen their rents going down, their houses becoming vacant, while their taxes
