The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-08-20

MANSflELDJ Va 1hps' Ave SSAANhSA
Sherman is now at his homo in this
thriving city, preparing for a>battlc
which, il he wins, will send him to the
Senate for the sixth term. 1t is forty
thrcc years since he entered political
life, and he is now Bixty-eight
aPcople outside OF Ohio and many OF
them even in the State" he said to-day
to a correspondent, do not seem to
understand this campaign. Every Re-
publican who rcyeres tho memory Of
his party should be made to understand
that there is another and perhaps a
graycr question than the tariff to be
settled in Ohio this year. We arc
brought face TO iaco with tho great
iinantial problem which we all thought
had been settled in the great war OF
1875, when Hayes won the fight for an
honest dollar with Governor Allen, who
represented the liberal currency idea.
THEN it cane in the ,guise OF grcenbacks
md now it comes in the garb OF free
'This Is an exactly similar fight, ex-
ccpt We have to Join hands on the tariff
and fight for two vital questions instead
OF one.'
"Now, after sixteen years, the same
e Inject is up in different garment.
There were wide differences OF opinion
in both parties then, and there are to-
day, and this carries an element OF I'M
certainty,into the calculations on the
result. II you substitute the word sill
yer for greenhacks the arguments to-
day are identical with the arguments
made then. Democrats declare for un-
limited coinage; we declare against it.
The ,Earmers' Alliance comes IN on a
raid'hoth on the tariff and silver, us
allies OF the Democrats. They are an
unknown, but do not seem to be very
potential quantity. They are not iniiu-
eAcing our Republican farmers very
much.
"The Indifference OF our friends out
side the State Is our danger. The whole
country helped US with money and
workers, almost without limit in the
Greenback campaign. 1t is different
this year. The people OF the East do
not seem to understand the situation.
"The papers are full OF words about
the tariff question, and seem to be
wholly unmindful OF the fact that 1t is
by no means the only important ques-
ton up for consideration, butt have
too much faith in the Republicans OF
tile county to believe that when they
understand the situation they will fail
to arouse themselves TO the necessities
Of the hour. Let rs be defeated in
Ohio this year upon this free silver
question, and how is it possible Tor us
to elect President in 1872?
''This is not the preliminary skirmish
of the campaign; it is tho battle; and
while the Democrats are divided upon
this question. 1t must he borne in
mind that tits a party OF severe dis
cipline and Democrats do not often stay
away from the polls or iail to vote the
ticket. But have no fears OF the re-
suit. We have won harder fights than
this. But it is well that the people OF
the country be informed of the issues.
Should we be defeated, however, the
blow will fall hard upon the great imam
cial centres OF the East and upon the
workingmen all over the country.
"The Democracy, although committed
tofree silver, seems to push the tariff as
the main issue, and that the financial
auestionis an incident. This is natural,
on account OF the wide difference in its
own party upon the silver question.
Two-fifths of the convention which
nominated Campbell was strongly opS
posed to unlimited coinage. But it
never pays to belittle the enemy. In a
fight like this precauion should be
taken. Free silver would cheaper the
purchasing power of the workingmen's
dollar. He could not compete with the
merchant or manufacturer, who could
mark up his wares to meet the imitation
standard every hour il he chose, while
the laboring man would find it very
difficult to get lis wages advanced pro.
portionately. Even il he did, how much
better off would he be?
The man who is earning dollar aud
n half day and the Turner who is get
ting n dollar and half for q bushel OF
wheat, would find that under free silver
the purchasing power Of that dollar and
half would very rapidly drop to dol
lar and quarter, and that the twenty
five cents loss would fall, not on the
thomcrchant or manufacturer, but upon
tho man who labors, or who tills the
soil. That is the memorable law OF
trade, because the price OF commodities
is fixed by tho markets of the world
and cannot be changed by any local leg
laturc or vagaries OF any single coun-
try"
Plunged n stllotto Into His sIdo.