The advocate., 1892-04-13
ROBUST MENDACITY.

time it is q criticism of the Wichita
Beacon concerning a statement OF
the Beacon made respecting the ex-
ception clause in the legal-tender act.
We do not, at this time, propose to
discuss the propositions laid down by
the Capital for they are so mani
testify at variance with historic facts
as to be absolutely unworthy of no
tice. What we do propose to do is to
show the absolute purpose of Repub-
lican politicians and would-be journ-
slists from John Sherman down to
the common newspaper puppet and
isck-leg stump orator, to deceive
those who have not the facilities to
read history for themselves.
In the campaign of 1891 7. A. Fill
son, editor of the Concordis Times,
published "Republican Campaign
Hand Book" from which we shall
quote as part of our proof of the
above proposition. We shall at this
time only refer to that portion of this
hand book relating to the deprecis-
tion of the greenback.
On page 1913 Of this little volume,
issued for the enlightenment of the
voters of Kansas, we find the follow
ing:
John Sherman said In the United States senate
December IL, 1857, 1T became necesSaTyt0 to depre-
ciate the notes In order to make market for
the bonds And again on February q, 1858 he
said, the bonds were sold when the notes had
been so deprecated by our legislation pur-
pOsely.'
Such items as the above are to be found in
prOfusion in the Peoples party papers In this
campaign. Any well posted Individual cannot
fail to know or acqualnt themselves Of the facts,
but II they belong to the third party of course
they will not
To settle such falsehoods, w. G. Palmer, ed
ltOr Of the Jewell County (Kansas) Repub lean
wrote Senator Sherman concerning the matter,
and below we append the reply to the quotation
given at the opening of this chapter.
MANSFIELD, Ohio, Sept. %, 1891.
Mr.. W. o. Palmer.
DEAR SIR.-Yours Of the 18th is received.
never uttered such words as are contained In
the marked paragraph of the printed slip you
send me, nor are they true when stated by any
one. Every effort possible was made to main
tain the United States notes at par and to pre-
vent their declining. The exception clause
placed on the greenback, by which 1 suppose
you mean the clause excepting them from being
a legaLtender for customs dues, was In conse-
quence OF Of the provision requiring the customs
dues to be paid In cOlnin order to provide means
to pay the interest OF the public debt, and was
the wisest financial expedient adopted during
the war, by which alone we were enabled to pre-
serve some degree Of credit for our bonds, and
prevent a greater decline In the value OF our
greenbacks. It Is believed that without these
provisions our whole financial system would
have been wrecked In the dark periods OF the
war. IL Is hardly worth while to reply to the OBJ.
jectlons of cranks, made to financial measures
thirty years after the event, when, by the uni
beIodl VI lllouhAhup bhOoO PAO'ASAvho
were at the time deemed necessary and their
wisdom sanctioned by success
Very truly yours,
JOHN SHERMAN.
This little hand book was the text
book of Republican stump speakers
and pin-hesded journalists in the last
campaign. The masses of the people
have not access to public libraries,
and have not the facilities to look up
historical facts, and aware of this
fact Republican politicians willfully
pervert history for partisan pur-