The advocate., 1892-02-24


Michael d. Hsrter, whose name
will not be entirely unfamiliar to read
ers of Congressional proceedings, has
sent out the following very interest
ing circular to Democratic editors:
PERSONAL AND PRIVATE.
To the Editor:
You may entirely disagree with the views OK.
pressed in the little pamphlet enclosed. Free
dom Of judgment In such matters belongs to every
citizen. On one thing, and that pure matter Of
policy, we undoubtedly do believe, which Is:
That 1t win be suicidal for the Democratic party
to pass free coinage bill through the House
this session.
You can do much to prevent 1t through your
editorial utteTsnceS, and especially by personal
letters to such Democratic members Of Congress
as you happen to know
Permit me to add that no time Is to be lost, as
there never was time when the lobbyists and
paid forces Of the silver ring were more active
than now
With the tariff as the central Issue of the preSl-
dental fight, We win carry all the sure Demo-
cratic states, and New Hampshire, MasSachu-
SettS, Rhode Island, Connecticut New York,
New jersey Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois and
Iowa, with some show of Ohio; with "Free
Silver" In our platform, or the record behind US,
and free silver bill passing the House, we can
not carry solitary state In the entire list, ex-
cept Indiana, and lt Is likely TO lose us that state
also.
ills apparent to every thinking man, that the
only safe course Is, to keep the silver question
out Of Congress, and out of the platform. Your
services to the party at this juncture are OF the
highest value. I am certain you win pardon my
asking you to exert them In the two directions
suggested, as we'll as In any other you think Of
Every man who looks ahead can see that II
we permit the silver issue TO creep into our cam
paign, we shall be so badly defeated as to make
Us sorry We nominated or adopted platform In
1882. We have educated the party against class
legislation by the tariff discussions Of the past
fifteen years, and lt cannot be driven into the
support Of the still worse class legislation, which
would authorize any mine owner or bullion
Speculator to take what averages In cost to pro-
duce) but Al cents, TO the mint and get coin,
which any other man must take In exchange for
100 cents worth OF labor and his savings. The
Germans have, to their great honor, always
stood for sound and honest money. They would
leave us In drove, and instead Of taking to the
woods would 90 into the Republican party. The
enormous Hebrew vote, always extremely In
tellgent upon such issues, would also all be cast
against US and before we had been engaged fiYe
weeks in the campaign most Of the reading
Democrats, and the bulk Of the other thoughtful
voters among US, would be ready to smother the
free silver SWindls with their ballots.
There is not Republican In the United States
(unlesS he Ia specially patriotic one), but wishes
the Democratic party to espouse the cause Of
the silver kings against the people.
Whatever you feel your duty to the party, and
TO the country, ought to be done at once.
Yours truly, MICHAEL d. HARTER.
Some idea may be obtained Of the
reason why the passage of the free
coinage law by the present Demo
cratic House would be fatal to the
party in the coming political contest