The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1895-04-20
Executive Office
jackson, Miss. April l3. 1894

jackson, Miss, April l3. 1898.
Hon. John A. Redhead, Centeryille.
Wilkinson County, Miss:
Dear Sir--I have your lette of the
9th instant, which is similar in SUBJ
stance to others | have received since
announcing for the seat IN the United
States Senate now filled by Senator
George. recognize its relevancy to
my candidacy and the right of the
voters OF Mississippi to the declaration
for which you ask, and shall endeavor
to comply With your request for an
expression of my Views accordingly.
My simple announcement upon the
Democratic platform Of 1892 is literal
disproof of any charge that | am an
enemy Of silver for the party law de-
clares for the restoration of silver rs a
standard money and for It's equal CON-
age with gold as a principle of party
faith. The convention which framed
and adopted that instrument, however,
recognized that silver had become a
deprecated metal, and that existing
laws forbade its unrestricted coinage.
Hence, to preserve the mistaken con-
fidence of the business interests in the
stability aud soundness of the curren
cy In the event of Democratic victory,
The declaration OH silver was qualified
by proviso that "the dollar unit must
be of equal intrinsic and exchangeable
value,o or TO be adjusted by international
agreement or by such safeguards OF
legislation as shall ensure the mainte-
nance Of the parity OF the two metals
and the equal power of every dollar
at all times and In all markets in the
payment of debts"
We are not left in the dark as to
the motive of this careful and guarded
phraseology which, much as 1t has
been characterized of late as strad-
ding, no intelligent and close read.
ing can misunderstood. IL was ex.
planned in this sentence: "We In.
sist upon this policy as especi ally nee
essary for the proteslion of the farm.
ing and laboring classes, the first anu
most defenseless victims of unstable
money" After mature aud full de.
liberation this resolution was agreed
upon in a committee composed ol
Democrats from every State in the
Union, as one on which all could stand
and after debate Ia the convention il
was adopted with practical unani nifty
Pending It's adoption, substitute pro.
viding for the free coinage of silver
exactly as now favored by my oppo.
nents, was voted down almost without
a dissenting vote. | have thus quoted
from our party law, Interchangeable
until the party again meets in nationa
convention. 1t was indorsed by thu
democratic press all over the country
and under It q great victory was won
think bave thus proved that [ an
no "enemy of silver further than tb,
Democratic platform is its enemy, ant
that am not an unsound Democra
by opposing the free coinage of silver
| would preface what | have to say
on the currency question BY disclaim
ing all pretenslous to mastery of thu
monetary science, but | have, | think
reached right understanding on som'
simple principles which have been sc
abundantly verified that they are ii
truth facts. These have led me 20 dis
trust aud reject the proposition tha
this country can effect the full restora
ton of silver independent of the grea
nations with which we trade. Imam
tain that this belief is entirely consist
ept with bimetalllsm, aud that enter
tanning it am less a monometallist IL
fac. than those who favor national fret
silver coinage at the l6 to | ratio
II is not rational to consider tht
panacea they propose without being
impressed by the fact that the condi
ton of silver is not due to the acts o
this country alone. 1t has been pro
d,cod nv the combined action OF th,