Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-07

lowing letter to a select number OF promi-
nent Democrats. 1t was intended to be
secret document, but it fell into the hands
OF THE DISPATCH correspondent. Here
it is:
MANsFIELD o., Feb. g. 1871
DEAR SIR-l take the liberty of sending you
reading The danger to the Democratic party
and the injury to the country which Will now
from its falling into the free silver trap SET i9r
II oy the Republican managers is, trust. sun
clent excuse for what otherwise wouiu
not ask your attention to. The Senate piil
IS only scheme for turning over 70
the Silver Ring the Sl2,000,00O to Sl5.UOuVvo VI
annual profit which the Government (the Wnole
peoplel now make; and a surer way OF ueleaS sao
ing and damning the Democratic party In io9E
than to get it committed to such indetensipie
class legislation has never been invented, and
should we fall into it the Republican party
could we'll afford to pension its author.
10 whom can the rank and file of the party
turn In tins time of danger but to its leadlng
men, OF whom you are one? The greenpach
craze, which ruined our party prospects LOT
about II years, and which turned our brightest
hopes into dust and ashes. was ten times as
detenslble measure, for bad as 1t was, from
an economical standpoint, no particular class
were benefited at the expense of others;
while under the Senate bill every man,
woman and child in the United states
profit to very limited class. That an ap-
parent, but fictitious, sentiment demands such
action is patent to you. but it has been manu-
factured through the most persistent LOBBY
ever known; 4 lobby that extends from wash
ington into back townships in remote States:
When the sense of justice. the good judg-
ment and conscience of the De mocratic masses
are brought to bear upon this gu estion they
VIII see that it is only another phase OF
protection, hair of the same dog we killed
III November. Under the tariff we were to tax
% people TO give five enormous profits on what
they manufactured, and under the Senate sill
yer bill we are taxing 9S9. or perhaps $685. to
give an outrageous profit to each silver pro-
ducer or owner.
We should either favor protective tariff with
IT'S attendant evils crush out this
Senate bill. Let us be consistent. Along
with the injustice of this proposed legislation
comes the debasing of the standard of value,
and the party which is responsible for it (when
its effect begins to be fet) will be pursued by
an outraged people until it is beaten into pulp
at the ballot box.
Even if you happen to have some
doubt as to the evil effect OF free coinage
of debased dollars, there certainly eX-
lists no logical or sound reason why the
Democratic party should take any risk of
wrecking itself. To-day the entire country is
with US. Why. then put up the future of the
party and the welfare of the millions of honest
men and women whose interests il should defend
on the hazard OF 4 die, and that. too, when the
bulk of human knowledge and experience tells
US all the chances are against us.
AS there is no reason why we should commit
the party in this way, and no occasion for TAX
ing step which cannot be retraced after it is
taken, feel sure that in you the people may
depend upon friend who will demand that a
halt be called before it is too late.
Respectfully yours,
MICHAEL d. HARTER.