The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-08-22
GEN. WEAVER AND SILVER.
G. =. Ktnman Defends the Candidate Of III
Peoples Party.

LI# FLt#.aa E#E44GN
To The INDEPENDENTS: Referring TO your
assaults upon Gan. Weaver because Of the
fact that he tool no part in the discussion
Of the free coinage issue st the national
farmers congress held at Council Bluffs in
1890. ] DO not think you are playing quite
fair. II IL not charged that hs voted
against free coinage; In fact II 10 taoitly ad-
mitted that his vote was in favor OF the
white metal. But the charge il that 10 did
not speak for 1t. Now have never heard q
similar charge made against . public mas
before. Two free coinage bills we're before
the last ongre and yet Judge Dixon did
not speak in favor OF either, still the Inter
Mountain did not charge him with being .
traitor TO free coinage. Thomas G. Power
and w. F. Sanders neither spoke for free
coinage; they took no pnrt in the discussion
Of the stewart bill, and The ~INDEPENDENT
has never said q word. "By their fruits "
shall know them,' and not by their words.
II il votes that count.
II 10 dollars TO ~doughnuts that the clod-
hopper who brings this charge against Gen.
Weaver 10 himself . gold bug. He went to
Council Bluffs and made = great noise for
free coinage, whore he could not possibly
affect the measure. and now when no has
an opportunity to assist IL he will vote for
either Cleveland or Harrison; and every
man who supp orts either is an enemy of
frss silver and a gold bug. This IL the kind
Of mon that throw cold water on the work
Of the great silver cham pion-hypoerites.
The men who support Cleveland or Harri-
son may claim to be silver friends, but they
do know that they are voting to place . man
In . position whore he will surely. kill 2 free
are supporting . Wall street candidate, and
svsry Intelligent man knows it.
Now ! \ rant to tell you that the demo-
cratic party is not now and never was sill
ver's friend any moro than the republican
party. Boar this in mind: Whom silver
wore In q small majority in both houses OF
congress-; but there wore almost as many
denocrats ~ republicans, n whom the
vote was taken, with the exception OF one
democrat and two republicans in tho house.
overy democrat and every republican in
both houses Of congress voted for the con.
summation of that crime. And l want to
tell you that in the year 1890 twenty EIGHT
states Of this union elected their re.resen-
natives on free coinage platforms giving to
the democrats 4 majority of 14S, besides
the alliance men: and they have been SO
loyal md true to the white metal that
they have defeated two free coinage bills in
ons session of congress-. And now they are
advocating the election Of the most DO
nounosd gold bug in the United states to
the Office of president of the United States.
Wall street 10 full of such free coinage men
| - oA0 AAo 4 ! / Aov q
the hon to 10 personally acquainted with
Gen. Weaver for over fourteen years and
know for q fact that he has never wavered
or faltered in his advocacy Of the white
metal since 1877. The Bland silver bill was
passed in 1878, not because the democrats
were in favor of il. but because of tho ire.
msndous clamor raised by the people,
through the agitation produced by Peter
Coo. er, Con. Weaver and their followers.
1t is high time the people of Montana
were waking up to realize who are silver's
friends, and who its enemies. Within the
last few weeks l have travelled over several
ride of the great range. A country which
has not one-fourth of its former population.
Towns that once were tlourishing are now
almost deserted and none without a long
list of vacant houses. Almost every mine
shut down and everywhere we were con-
fronted with the awful %ousequences of the
demonstration OF silver. With silver SO
low the mines could no longer work at a
profit. and consequently the rancher had
lost his market. Everywhere was desola-
ton and gloom. In d few years unless
silver ia remonetized speedily that whole
east side will be deserted to the stockmen.
The good people of Helena oannot afford to
fight Weaver N his party; for a city To-
Gated in the midst of q desert u
fouish. Z,
maintain that the system of finance ad.
vooated by Gen. Weaver and laid down in
the peoples party national platform is q
perfect system, and ! challenge any repre-.
sentative democrat or republican in the
state of Montana to meet me in joint de-
bate upon tho issues presented therein
Respectfully. G. E. K1NMAN.
Woodville, Mont, Aug. 20. 1892.