Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1895-12-26

stroyed. The value of property dimin-
ished in proportion, wages fell, and the
value of everything was deprecated
except debts and gold. The mortgage,
the bond, the coupon and the tax have
retained immortal youth and vigor.
They have not deprecated The debt
remains, but the capacity to pay has
been destroyed. The accumulation OF
years disappears under the hammer OF
the sheriff, and the debtor is homeless,
while the creditor obtains the security
for his debt for a fraction Of what 1t
was actually worth when the debt was
contracted.
There is, Mr.. President, a deep-seat-
ed conviction among the people, which
1 fully share, that the characterization
of silver in 1873 was one element of a
great conspiracy to deliver the fiscal
system Of this country over to those by
whom 1t has, in my opinion, finally
been captured. I see no proof Of the
assertion that the characterization act
of 1873 was fraudulently or corruptly
procured, but 1t is impossible to avoid
the conviction that it was a part Of
deliberate plan and conspiracy formed
by those who have been called specula-
tors to still further increase the value
Of the standard by which their accumu-
lations were to be measured.
Mr.. President, there is not a state
west Of the Allegheny mountains and
south of the Potomac and Ohio rivers
that is not in favor Of the free coinage
of silver. There is not a state in
which, if that proposition were to be
submitted to popular vote, it would
not be adopted by an overwhelming
majority. 1 do not mean by that in
cluslon to say that in those states east
of the Alleghenies and north Of the
Ohio and Potomac rivers there is any
hostility or indisposition to receive
benefits that would result from the re-
monetization of silver. On the con-
trary, in the great commonwealth
that lie in the Northeast, upon the
Atlantic seaboard-New York, Penn
sylvania, and the manufacturing and
commercial states-I am inclined to
believe, from the tone Of the press,
from the declarations Of many assem-
blies, that If the proposition were to
be submitted there 1t would also re-
ceiVe a majority Of the votes. If the
proposition were to be submitted to the
votes Of the people of this country at
large, whether the silver dollar should
be recOined and silver remonetized,
Notwithstanding the prophecies, the
predictions, the animadversiOns Of
those who are opposed to it, have not
the slightest doubt that a great major
ity Of the people, irrespective of party,
would be in favor of it, and would so
record themselves. They have de-
clared in favor of 1t for the past 10
years, and they have been juggled with,
they have been thwarted, they have
been paltered with, and dealt with in a
double sense. The word Of promise that
was made to their ear in the platforms
of political parties has been broken to
their hope. There was a majority in
this body at the last session Of congress
in favor of the free coinage of silver.
The compromise that was made was not
what the people expected, nor what
they had right to demand. They felt
that they had been triAed with, and
that is one cause of the evaporation
that was expressed in the verdict Of
November 4.
l feel impelled to make one further
observation. Warnings and admoni-
lions have been plenty in this debate.
We have been admonished of the
danger that would follow; we have
been notified of what would occur If
the free coinage of silver were support
ed as a part of our financial system.
am not a prophet nor the son of
prophet, but l say to those who are
now arraying themselves against the
deliberately expressed judgment of the
American people. a judgment that
they know has been declared and re-
corded say to the members of this
body, say, so far as 1 may do so with
propriety. to the members of the co-or-
dinate branch of congress, and say, If
without ircS.opriety may do so, to
the executive of the nation, that there
will come a tins when the people will
be triHed with no longer on this sub
iect. Once, twice, thrice, by executive
Intervention. Democratic and Repub