Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-02-02

is not SO satisfactory an answer to the
: public as proof Of THE GAzETTE's mis-
representation.
The statement that THE GAZETTE
has "abused'' Mr.. Mills finds no syllable
of verifcation in its columns.
It said that he wrote the Phillips
letter
The charge that the Phillips letter
was forgery has been retracted by
those who made it.
Itsaid that thatletter contained senti-
ments which savored more of Boulanger-
ism than of patriotism-and his support
ers have reluctantly admitted that it is
indefensible.
It said that he contemplated a fac
tional war on Speaker Crisp and the
Democratic majority in the house.
Hardly had the indignant denials of
his Texas supporters been uttered ere
he, in the first moments of his return
to Washington, wrote a note to Speaker
Crisp, decliningan important committee
which he had intimated a willingness
to accept, and explained it to the press
as declaration of war upon the major
jority-a step which brought upon him
the severest criticism of his strongest
supporters in the speakership fight,
and which renders it impossible for
him ever again to be given place as
one of the national leaders of the
party.
1t said that he was opposed to free
silver coinage and has quoted his own
utterances at divers times and places
to prove it. He does not deny it, but
followed up the charge with the asser-
ton, not more than thirty Gays ago,
that free silver would not put dollar
in the purses " of the people. 1t has
remained to these whom the Waco Day
has graphically termed his fool
friends to assert in Texas his devotion
to silver, while in the East both he
and his friends-such as the gold organ
of Boston, An Honest Dollar-are busy
assuring the people that he has been
converted to a knowledge of the falla-
cies of free silver. Observe that we
say "he."
THE GAZETTE does not deal in innu-
endoes. Its information is that Mr..
Mills himself assured the New England
congressman that if he were elected
speaker the coinage committee would
be organized against free silver. One
of its authorities is Mr.. Sherman Hoar
of Massachusetts,, who refused to abide
the action of the Democratic caucus on
the speakership, because a candidate
was not selected who would not give
the assurances as to silver which Mas
sachusetts demanded.
It will avail nothing to abuse The
GAZETTE for making this statement.
If it is not true, that fact can easily be
proved; if it is not true, then Mr.. Mills
knowingly permitted Misrepresentation
to be used in his behalf by the New
press. They urged his cause
on the ground that he was sail right"
on the finance question, and they are
still abusing Mr.. Crisp because he is all
wrong, from their point of view.
THE GAZETTE does not charge Mr..
Mills with evasion. So far, he has
not uttered one word to sustain the
lame apologies made by his Texas
He is against free silver; he
sticks to it, and stands by his assur-
ances to New England It would be
unfair to charge upon him the petty
eYasions and trickeries of some of his
Texas supporters. It is their business
to win the fight. He can not be held
accountable tor any utterances but his
own.
THE GAzETTEs opinion of Mr.. Mills
is easily expressed. 1t does not think
so little of him as do some of his Texas
allies who seek to use him to ac-
complish their personal ends, and who
seem to fancy that his principles may
be shifted hither or thither, as they |
choose to pull the string. Mr.. Mills
is a man of many good qualities, who
has rendered good service for the
Democratic party and who is capable |
ofmuch more if he can be wrested from
the influences of those little souls to
whom the look of men in Office is
benson. The prattle of such syco-
Dhants has destroyed the usefulness of
many good man, and no man is in
more danger to-day from such source
than Mr.. Mills. II. he had listened to
the timely and friendly warning of THE
GAZETTE less than thirty days ago, he
would not with one swipe of the pen
have cut himself off from all future
hope of national leadership, and
thrown himself entirely upon those /
whose fawning now but measures the
possibilities of future treachery when
they have no further use for him.