The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-08-22
COLONEL ]. ". ROBERTSON.
Writes In Characteristic styles His Views of
the Situation.

are now passing through individual opinions
are valuable only in making up concensus Of
opinion which results in public opinion usual.
ly correct.
10 those who, like myself, are looked to
by hundreds of operatives mostly
women and children, for work
in order that they may be fed, clothed and
housed during the coming winter, the present
financial situation is so serious as to pro-
duce great anxiety to both employer and en-
ploye. The employer Of labor, however,
though greatly and anxiously concerned, pos
sibly more for his employees than for himself.
is consoled by the knowledge, gained from ex-
perence, that most financial panlcs are
caused by unbridled speculation or magma
ry fears which end sooner or later in estab-
fishing financial equilibrium in values and
confidence which results in a season OF
healthy prosperity. Not with the wage
earners. The majority of them cannot bridge
over natures demands for the present with
hope for the future. Hope may feed the SOU
but cannot satisfy the cravings OF hungeri
an empty stomach cannot be reasoned with,
and has ''bowels OF compassion" From
this standpoint the situation financially Dor
ders on the alarming
The private financial situation is so siam.
esed with the political situation that sep
aration is impossible. TO the federal adj
mnstraton all eyes turn for relief. for the
whole Of what may be properly styled our do
of the federal government. Under our pres
ent financial system sovereign states are ut
terly powerless, though fully able, to aid
their citizens and find the only local re-
lief to be had is by an agreement of banks
to give to the public the benefit OF their
credit through Clearing house certificates,
thus creating a local. temporary currency 70
be used until the storm blows over
Is not this condition Il commentary on
financial system born in the Commissions OF
war? Is it not an unanswerable argument In
favor of safe, well-guarded local currency
Does it not show that the anti-federalist OF
1791 was right in resisting the demands OF
Alexander Hamilton and that their fears OF
the future effects of bis policy were inspired
by something bordering on prophetic vision!
But in the face of the condition which con-
fronts us we ind congress pledged by sol
emn promises to the people to give financial
relief, to maintain gold and silver on pari-
ty our money standard, GallyiDs over the
demands of inOrdinate ndvdualism
which, doubt, conscientiously desires to
blot out one-half the peoples money by adopt
ing the standard of purely commercial peo-
pie whose dealings with all other peoples OF
the world, civilized or uncivilized, for hni-
dreds of years have proven them to be the
most selfish in demands Of any other people
the globe.
Mr.. Editor, cur farmers and laborinS class
es are not fools They read the Handwriting
the wall" The interpretations to them
is this: The adoption of England's standard
of money will inevitably lead to the adop-
ton of EDEands standard of wages. 1t has
been my privilege during tho past four
weeks to have come in contact with many
large gatherings of what call 1.-The bone
and sinew" of our state, those whom Mr.
Lincoln styled the plain common people, ana
whom he said ''C1od must love very much
because he made so many Of them have
mingled with them, and let me tell you, my
friends in congress, those people are thinking
and watching thinking deeply and watching
keeny and while they cannot probably
weave fine spun theories on financial ques-
tons, or debate or bedevl over the question
of ratio, they know what they want; they
remember what they were promised ana they
are fully determined that the pledges made
when they siected you to represent them
in congress shall be redeemed. Our people
fully endorse the language used by Mr. Cleve-
land in his address to the notifying commit
tee that the personal fortunes of those to
whom you have intrusted your banners are
only important as they are related to the
fate of the principles tney represent and to
the party which they lead" They have not
forgotten that Mr.. Cleveland i'll his formal
letter of acceptance told them that public
officials are the agents of the people and
that 1.-The administration and management of
our government depend upon popular will.
Federal power is the instrument of that
will. not its master" "At all times
and in all places trust the people.
And also from the same source THAI the
wants of our people arising from the defcien-
cy or imperfect distribution of money circu-
lation ought to be fully and honorably recog-
nized and efficiently remeded."
Our people also know that there never
was a policy unanimously adopted by all
parties that which demands both silver ana
gold a parity the money standard of
ing the canvass clearly recognized and insist
ed on this policy. There are some things,
however, our people do not understand. One
is that during the canvass they told
over and over again by every democratic
speaker candidate and journal, that in tariff
reform would be found the full measure of
relief from their heavy burdens, and that now,
by some 'hocus pocus,' this question OF
first consideration during the canvass has beer
ordered to the rear during the first months OF
the administration and the financial policy
on which all parties agreed has been pushed
to the front and made, under the pretext OF
a silver flood, bone of contention creap
ing widespread distrust which has taken
the daily wages from thousands. Another
thing they do not understand is how it can
to pay their obligations in just
what they promised to pay; and yet another,
why this great nation of 65,0000O0 of people
a large majority of them agriculturalsls the
UlOSl eucISctiC anu lHNc.sllNe people Oh eartn,
blessed by God with DoundlesS resources
should be dictated to by slow, selfish com
mercial people to their financial policy
Our people heartily endorse this sentiment
so well expressed by Mr.. Cleveland in his
letter of acceptance: I'VE have undertaken
however, to build great nation upon a
plan especially our own aad they are of
the opinion that we nave succeeded In our
undertaking, and that while the rights OF
the people is the cornerstone of this great
nation. Il financial policy especially our own
is, or should be. part of the foundation.
Mr. Editor, the people are in earnest terri
bly, in earnest, in this matter of demand.Ig
Il redemption of solemn pledges They do
not regard these pledges as simply the Jingle
of "a sounding brass and IA tinKtfng cymbaI"
and they will do just what Mr.. Cleveland
said they would do when he uttered the fol.
lowing deliberate words taken from his I'm
sugutal address of March l., 1898
Anxiety for the redemption of the pledge.
which my party has made and solicifnde
for the complete justification of the trust
the people have repOSed in us constrain me
to remind those with whom | am to Cooperate
that we can succeed in doing the work which
has been specially set before US only nv
the most sincere, harmonious, and disuterest-
ed effort. Even if insuperabe obstacles and
opposition prevent the contamination of our
task shall hardly be excused and II
failure can be traced to our fault or neglect
we may be sure the people will hold us to