The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1893-07-27
GOMBROON,
NEAR BLACK MOUNTAIN. y. c.,
July. ~, 1898.

= , A-'f''
Secretary Mecklenburg Co, ALI
ance, Sir have received a cop>
of the resolution of Mecklenburu
Alliance adopted at a recent meet
ing, urging Senators and Rcpresen-
tauves to stand by the present silver
purchasing law until some satisfac-
tory substitute shall be adopted.
| observed this action with great
pleasure, for two reasons: In the first
place, it is the exercise of one of the
III Dst valuable and Legitimate func-
tl"nS by which the Alliance can be
made to subServe the interest of the
farmerS-the concentration of their
whole influence upon the issue of the
day. In view of the notorious fact
OF combinations among all other
branches Of industry and in every
form Of capital, | years ago urged
upon our agricultural classes the i'm
portance of such organization as
would enable them to make their
vast but widely scattered and dis
Jolnted strength felt, promptly and
efficiently IN legislation. Now. the
preservation of silver as a part of
our currency is one Of the most vital
OF all the issues which our people
have been called upon to decide for
half century. The enemies of sill
yer money have displayed wonder
tul sagaclty IN their tactics. Though
scattered throughout the civilized
world they have obeyed "a single
voice from headquarters in London.
From New. York the word comes
down the line to all American capi-
tai and the response is Immediate.
" hat Is known as the Sherman law
Is the only legislation on our statute
books whlcn binds us to the use Of
silver, and the cry is raised for it,
repeal under various pretences. ali
equally false. The banks, stock
brokers, hond-holders, chambers of
commerce, ct id omme genus, clamor
for its repeal and urge the calling of
an extra session of Congress to as
semble and sit during the dog days
for that purpose alone. Tariff re-
peal, which formed the chief issue OF
the past campaign, is thrust to the
rear and the interest of capital is
placed In front, to be dealt with I'M
der the demoralizing conditions of a
fraudulent panic created by capital
itself and called by Mr.. Ingersoll
1.-The bankers panic"
Under these alarming circumstan-
ceS | have listened, and mostly in
VAIN, for the voice Of the Farmers
Alliance sounding their opinions and
wishes and Of those thew represent.
composing fully one half OF the ma
ton; giving the feeble and vacilat-
ing among politicians to understand
what they had to expect if they be-
trayed the peoples cause on this
great financial question. This action
of your Alliance is the first official
utterance on the subject | have seen
IN the State. It is time your order
was bringing eve " atom of its in
fiuence to beal. 1t should use every
means possible to let it be known
that there is yet another and entirely
different world in the fields and
homes Of toll, whose interests de-
mand attention as well as that com
blnatlnn of money dealers, stock
brokers. and gamblers and specuIa-
tors who assume for themselves to
constitute the business interests
of the land. The effect Of this
prompt and united action cannot
possibly be doubted.
In the next place | was glad to
read the resolutions of your Alliance
because they cOncutred with nv own
most serious convictions. Many wears
ago, after as thorough and impartial
al examination of the question as II
was capable of making, | came to
the absolute conclusion that the use
Of silver as well as gold, on equal
terms, as the basis of our currency
was best for the welfare of the peo-
pie Of the United States. This view
has governed my course in Congress.
The fact that nature sometimes WELD
ed more of one metal than the other.
thus causing a discrepancy in their
intrinsic values, did not disturb me:
for learned from history that for
nearly three hundred years during
which a ratio between the two metals
was fixed by laws, the fluctuations
n intrinsic value had never exceed
ed - per cent, and that soon after
that law was withdrawn great and
fluctuations immediately
began, which will doubtless continue
so long as we treat one metal of fixed
and standard value and the other as
a commodity. 1t is not necessary to
go over all the grounds in which my
was founded. | simply
wish to assure you that my opinions
are unchanged.
Recent developments which seem
to have unsettled so many silver ad- |