The record-union., 1893-08-10
MUST Be REPEALED.
The Silver Purchase Law Has De-
stroyed Confidence.
Stirring Appeal to the Farmers of the
United States for Action-The
Country Suffering.

Joseph H. Reall, Chairman of the last
National Agricultural Convention. has
sent out the following appeal to the farm
ers of the United States:
Congress is about to meet for the relief
of the country's financial condition. In
order that quick and effective action may
be secured, and further loss and suffer-
ing prevented, your influence should be
promptly and directly eXerted with
members of that body.
The financial disturbances, depression
of manufactures and low prices for farm
products now prevailing are traceable di-
rectly to the present silver law and the
fear of tariff repeal. Money has gone out
OF circulation. Securities have depre-
ciated in value to an unparalleled extent.
Banks are failing by the score; mills are
closing everywhere; commerce of all
kinds languishes and general bankruptcy
hangs over the country. Unless conu-
dence is at once restored the whole people
will be involved in loss aud suffering.
Only the low average of values for all
commodities has saved you from the di
rect and more serious effects of the pres
ent crisis. You were the first, however,
to suffer from the present silver law.
With slight exceptions your products
have steadily declined in price since its
enactment in 1880, wheat reaching the
lowest figures ever known, and cotton,
corn and wool selling below the cost OF
production. The whole country has been
taxed almost TO the destruction of values
as well as credit for the benefit of an i'll
terest not one-tiitieth as great as yours,
and far Inferior to many other industries.
The silver purchase law has destroyed
confidence at home and abroad. Foreign
capital, which seeks safe Investment in
large volume, has been frightened away
and home capital alarmed. Thus the
wheels of enterprise, progress and devel-
opment in the construction of railroads,
improvement Of lands and operation of
mines have been stopped. The fear Of
tariff repeal has kept merchants from
purchasing goods, shut down manutact
ures, thrown labor out Of employment
and paralyzed industry.
The situation is unnatural for this
country, with its immeasurable resources
of the factory, field and mine, its indus
trious and intelligent people and abun-
dant crops, and must be corrected. With
thrifty population OF seventy millions
of people and the whole world for our
market, this should be the most prosper
Gus of all countries.
The silver purchase law must be re-
pealed and apprehension of new tariff
legislation removed by proper declara-
ton on the subject 10y Congress to save
ali interests from bankruptcy and restore
the country to prosperity.
Your voice raised at once and your in
huence eXerted properly will secure the
necessary action by Congress, and thus
avert further disaster and restore the
country to prosperity. You compose
over half the nations population and
own three-quarters of its wealth. You
have been its reliance in time of need, its
preserver both in war ana peace. Your
labor and enterprise have sustained and
advanced it in all directions, while your
conservative power has always been its
strength. You recognize the fact that the
interests of the banker, merchant, man
facturer, mechanic and laborer are your
interests and that their prosperity is your
prosperity, while without you prosper
they cannot.
All our people are essentially interested
in a sound national currency. Confidence
and credit are the beginning and end of
finance. The actual amount of currency
employed in the worlds commerce cuts
a small figure compared with the amount
of credit used.
The statement that a class or combina-
ton of men exists with special interest
in the supremacy OF gold is so silly that
it would not deserve notice but for the
harm even a weak lie may do. The tinan-
cier and capitalist can only obtain profit
by the active employment of gold or other
currency, and not by boarding it.
Your position on the currency ana tariff
questions has long been msrepresented.
and now that serious consequences have
arisen from legislation claimed to be IA
vored by you, it is time for you to call a
halt. You want that which every honest
industry wants-wise, sound and whole
some legislation, sound currency and
prosperous factories, that you may get
true value for your products and find a
home market for them, the nearer to your
doors the better.
With the country's finances put upon a
sound and lasting basis and the fear of
free trade and tariff tinkering removed,
prosperity will return to our finances
and the farmers, merchants, manutact-
urers and the whole people will thrive
Capital will be united, Improvement and
development will go on, and all will be
in the enjoyment OF the fruits OF their
toll.
To the end that these important results
may follow, it is advised that you address
your Senators and Representatives in
Congress by letter and petition, urging
the repeal OF the purchase clause of the
so-calIed Sherman silver law, that the
compulsory purchase of silver and the
effort to give it fictitious value may be
stopped, and that all discussion and
next election for Congressman, so that
the people may have an opportunity to
vote upon the question. Your influence
is necessary and your voice will be re-
spected by Congress, whose chief desire
is to legislate for the good of the people
Our country is strong in its national
legislators. They are honest, capable
and faithful to what they believe the
country's good. And the President has
the confidence Of the nation. His purity
of purpose, courage and patriotism are
known of all men. He will be found on
the side of intelligence and right Patri-
otism is before partisanship with the
American people, and there are times
when party politics must be laid aside
and business economy take its place.
The two great political parties, embracing
the most intelligent thought and best
purposes of the nation, each have its best
good at heart and will combine to ad-
vance and protect its welfare. There
may be mistakes OF policy, but their pur-
poses are right, and the country will al
ways be safe in the hands of either
Not only write and petition yourselves,
but urge your neighbors to do the same.
Address your representatives simply by
name, Washington, ID. G. They will give
you attentive consideration, as they seek
TO know the wishes Of their constituents
Secretaries of State agricultural societies.
State and local dairy, horticultural and
cattle societies and State and local patrons
of husbandry are requested to circulate
and forward petitions to Congress, ad-
dressing one to the Senate and one to the
House of Representatives Every citizen
should exert his influence in the same
direction and in the same manner, in
cluding the merchant, mechanic, manu-
iacturer, working and professional men.
Thus by individual and united action the
most powerful influence may be brought
to bear for the good of every man,
woman and child in the whole country.