The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-05-19

Cnls summary eJectment have shown a
spirit OF bitterness which tramples in
the very dust that injunction of our
Constitution, ITO constantly strive to
secure entire harmony and good will
among all mankind, and brotherly love
among ourselves" The Constitution
OF my country guarantees to me free
dom of thought and freedom of speech.
The Constitution of the Alliance and
the ritual give me a solemn pledge that
there shall be no interference with my
politics O my religion. With this
shield l can turn all the shafts of malice
that may be hurled at me. In that
plea L attacked no mans life, | i'm
pugned no mans motives, | INDUCED
in no personalities. [ simply appealed
to the sense of justice and right that
all t~rue-hearted men possess.
But one of my critics argues that l
cannot support Mr.. Cleveland and be a
true Democrat, because he does not
agree with his party about the coinage
Of silver. My first answer is that the
only test of true Democracy is its Ma
tiOnal platform. In that platform GER
tain broad fundamental principles are
laid down, and an acceptance of the
whole, or a greater part of them, con-
fers the title Of Democrat, and that
platform has never had a word in it
about the coinage Of silver. Therefore
it is no test on that question.
There is a difference between prin-
ciple and policy. Principle is the
foundation, policy the superstructure.
The one is fixed, immovable; the other
allows latitude and variety in detail.
The principles of a party deal with the
fundamental ideas on which the State
is founded, and must be stable. The
policy of a party refers to the admins
tration Of government, and changes
with the shifting needs of an advanc-
ing civilization. Now Mr.. Cleveland,
while standing on the broad, solid prin-
ciples of Democracy, and even while
he was the chief Of the party, and head
Of the nation, expressed himself and
clearly, as he always does, on the
policy of unlimited silver coinage, and
nc one then thought of reading him
out of the party. On the contrary,
his party again made him it's leader,
and the white voters Of the nation en-
dorsed him by a large majority. There
is no more reason for denouncing him
now for the sentiment of his silver let
ter, than there was for denouncing
him then for the same sentiments in
his message.
Again say his letter wasnot directed
against a judicious coinage and circu-
lation of silver, but against a certain
Congressional bill, which threatened
to flood the country with a deprecated
and fuctuating currency, which does
not affect capitalists and spectators
so seriously, but always brings distress
upon the poorer classes. And hence
asked a suspension Of Judgment until
we could understand the full scope and
effect of that particular bill or measure.
AS it appeared to me, one serious
effect would be to create N of the
most gigantic monOpolies that the
country has ever SEEN. Under the I'm
limited free coinage clause, every
owner of a silver mine would become
more powerful than Aladdin with his
wonderful lamp. Every capitalist
could more than double his capital in
three investment. Let me illustrate
The mine owner has $500 worth of sill
yer metal, or bullion, as it is called, or
the capitalist goes into the market and
buys 500 worth of bullion (the market
price of a dollar is 20 cents in bullion).
Now under this bill the government
must put it's stamp on it, and it is i'm
mediately worth to the holder $1,000,
thus clearing $500 on a single invest
ment. But this is not all: The capt.
alist buys a poor mans farm for 81, GOO
and gives his note, payable in ninety
days. He takes 800 and buys silver
bullion, gets it stamped at the mint
into 81 600, then offers to pay his note,
and the poor man must take it, for
under this bill it is a legal tender, and
thus pays his 81 900 debt for only 800.
You denOunce the National banks
and capitalists for the high rate of in
terest they charge, but here your bill
gives the capitalist a rate of interest
of over 40 per cent, making the rate
you complain of pale into insignif-
canoe. Now let the government judi
ciously purchase silver according to
the needs of the country, and without
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