People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1894-07-27
Hackney'S Letter to Blue.
LAW OFFICE OF W. P. HACKNEY,
WINFIELD, KAs., June Is, 1894.


Hon. r. w. Blue, PLeaSdnton, KdS.:
DEAR SIB-In report of your speech
made &C Kansas City, Kas., Saturday even
ing, as published in the Kansas City Jour
nal yesterday morning, you are made to
say that you "Eke the national platform
on the money question"
In this l presume you refer to the ma
tional Minneapolis platform of the repub-
Iican party. Is this so, and do you still
adhere to that platform?
Inasmuch as the Kansas City Journal is
your friend, | presume you will answer in
the affirmative. If this is so, is there any
difference in your position now and that
of John Sherman and the other members
of the republican party of this Congress
who have gone off after Grover Cleveland
on the money question:
If this is so, then what have you to say
to the last paragraph of the money clause
of the platform upon which you we're nom
mated, which provides for the opening of
the minis of this country to the coinage
of American silver? In other words, do
you cOnstrue that to mean, as it was in
tended las l understand it), that the Amer
lean product should be coined at the ratio
of 16 to l, or do you mean it shall be coined
at the ratio evidenced by the bullion value
of the two metals?
An open and fair declaration on your
part in response to these interrogatories is
in order at this time, in view of your past
political declarations on this question, as
we'll as your declaration on last Saturday
evening, and, as an Old-time friend, who
has, when possible, testified the same per
sonally, think am entitled to an answer
without any equivocation or hesitancy.
want to know, if you shall be elected ia
Congress, what may expect from you on
this question. was not in favor of youl
nomination at the late convention because
of your we'll known prior financial senti
ments, but l was led to believe by you
friends that the adoption of the platform
referred to would meet with your hearty
appreciation, and that you would enter into
the campaign in accordance with the spiri
of the coinage declaration therein con
tanned.
l know that the republican party has
been wrong on this question, and seriously
and radically wrong, and 20 years of dis
astrous and adverse experiences ought K
convince the most skeptical of that fact
But these disasters have been so terrific o.
late that it seemed to me that the leader
ship of the party must face from tn,
breakers In front of which We are drift
ing, and steer for the broad and deeI
ocean of the rehabilitation of silver, and
as a step in that direction, thought thu
Kansas plank would be bridge to tide III
over from the mistakes of 1892 to the sue
cessful issues of 1896; from the single, golC
standard of 1892 to broad, ststesmanlik,
bimetslliIm of 1896, as enacted into Law
prior to the crimes of 1873 and those fol
lowing whereby silver was stricken down
But If you are correctly reported in tn
Journal, you are now where John Sherman
Ben. Harrison and the other cuckoos il
the republican party, who do Grove
Olevsland's bidding on this money ques
tien are, and you are not in accord witt
the great mass Of Kansas republicans, an
ought TO be defeated at the polls in No
Tember next.
As much as it would grieye me to see
confederate soldier defeat you this year
there are worse political mistakes thai
voting for sx.confederate soldiers nov
and TO vote for man who was in the con
federate army 90 years ago, wrong thong
1t may have been then, is far better 70
the American people than to vote for
man vhs vas right 80 ysars ago an