The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1894-07-11

response TO an Invitation TO address
the Club on 9The Principles and
FIXTURE of the Democratic Party
Mr. Frank Armstrong, Secretary,
Parkers6nrg, w IA.
My DEAR SIR:-It seems that ]
misunderstood your motives in
writing me former letter inviting
me to address your club, and owe
you an apology for misconstruing
you.
My Democracy teaches me to be-
i lieye in free trade, and any meas
ure looking to a reduction or aboli-
tion of custom duties will receive
my hearty support. The record of
my vote in the House will show
/ that in every instance, except that
of coal, 1 voted for the adoption of
lower duties than those proposed in
the Wilson bill.
have nothing to conceal in this,
and have never attempted to hide
my sentiments on this subject. AS
my constituents, recognize your
right TO ask me why / voted to place
a duty on coal; but, before answer,
permit me to say that / have regret
ted that vote ever since it was cast,
as / believe that it was mistake.
1t was the one instance in which /
departed from my fixed convictions.
on this question. / hope to have
an opportunity to correct this error
at the proper time. / reasoned in
this way: The duty of forty cents
ton on coal will not affect its cost
to our people nor to anyone in the
country except those along the
coast of New England, and New
England manufacturers are amply
protected IN this Wilson bill, and
cheaper fuel will only increase
profits without benefitting the con-
sumner, and at the same time de-
priving our State OF a considerable
market for coal. / do not now be-
lieve that our state will be affected
in any way, whether we have du-
ty. on coal or not.
I would be very glad to have the
support of your organization in my
race for re election, but it is my de
sire that the people of our district
should fully understand my views
upon another important question, as
we'll as that relative to the tariff,
and therefore wish to give you my
opinion upon silver, which in its
importance to our people is second
to mono. l do not believe prosper
ity will return to us until silver is
restored to its proper place as full
legal tender money receivable for
debts public and private, on an
equality with gold and our minis
are open to its coinage at the old
ratio This sentiment which / have
advocated so long is now growing
in strength everywhere, not only in
our own country, but abroad and
the leaders of all political parties
are catering to it, and are vieing
with each other in their efforts to
get into the silver boat. We'have
but little gold in our country, and
every dollar of our money-silver
and paper-is dependent upon it,
hence all the doubt, want of conf.
dence, etc. In trying to ape the
financial policy of England, the
great creditor nation, we as a great
debtor nation, have fallen into error.
Silver has not declined in value.
Silver bullion will buy as much OF
the necessaries of life Chose things
that we eat and wear) as ever, it
would, but gold, in obedience.t to the
law of supply and demand, has
enormously appreciated. To com
pei the payment of our country's
immense indebtedness-oublic and
private-in gold, in my opinion,
means universal ruin.
The course of the Senate on the
tariff bill is Inaccessible, and cannot
be too strongly condemned In the
seclusion of committee rooms, more
than four hundred amendments to
the Wilson bill have been adopted
and brought into the Chamber as
the work of the party; and the pub
lie is not permitted to know who
secured the adoption of this or that
amendment or upon what grounds
it was done. Democratic Senators
are accused of peddling favors to
their Republican colleagues, and the
rights and property of the people
are being traded away to trusts
The great body of Democrats in the
Senate and House have been, and
are, true to their principles and to
the people; but traitors are there,
who have taken advantage of cir
cumstances to secure favor Tor their
own particular monopolies, and to
improve their own private fortunes
on the misfortunes of the country.
AS Congressman Clark truly says,
ave need a Tarpeian rock from
which to throw our traitors"
In conclusion, permit me to say
that L am not soliciting or begging
support from any quarter, and while
no one would appreciate help more
than L would from your city and
your organization, yet the party
will not find me sluggard, or sore
head, if it passes me by for some
one else. l believe that political
parties, as we'll as individuals,
should be honest, and when placed
in power on a promise to reform
abuses, should proceed to keep their
promise in simple, straightforward
waV.