The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-08-17

RefutatiOn Of Accusations Made b,
interruptions Democratic Organs.


Boston Journal.
honest and impudent political undertaking
than the attempt, of which some of the or
ganic defenders Of the present repudiated
national administration have been guilty, to
eaaers Sl
It is no more nor less than a les
from the hopeless weakness and wrong
medicines of the representative men Of the
Democracy. We have shown that, so fas
as Governor Mckinley was concerned. these
Democratic charges of timorousness were
utterly false-that he had spoken against
free coinage with vigor and q clearness
which were in refreshing contrast with Mr..
Cleveland's random platitudes. And these
INSCRIPTIONS party accusations are just as
untrue of ex-President Harrison as they are
of Governor Mckinley; There cannot be
the shadow Of a doubt about General Harri-
sons opinions of this question. He took
frequent occasion during his term Of Office
to state his views with force and direct
ness which won the warm commentator of
many of his political antagonists.
General Harrison did not permit the coun-
try to remain long uncertain of his attitude.
In his first message to Congress, on Dec. 3,
1889. he said:
Il think it is clear that If we should make
the coinage of silver at the present ratio
of the gold and silver dollars will be taken
account of in commercial transactions, and
l fear the same result would follow any
of coinage Such a result would be discred-
liable to our financial management and disas-
trOuS to all business interests. We should
peril
Later, in the summer of 1891, when there
was grave reason to fear that the large
resentatives would pass free-coinage bill,
President Harrison gave this unmistakable
intimation of his purpose to veto it in a
speech at Albany:
81 do not believe that the general govern
ment is solemnly charged with the duty
of seeing that the money issued by IL is al
ways and everywhere maintained at par.
l believe that l speak that which is the
common thought of us all when say that
every dollar, whether paper or coin, issued
s5am oPser By Soa sne
assertion that that poorer dollar will do its
first errand in paying some poor laborer for
his work: Therefore. in the. conduct of our
public affairs | feel pledged. for one. that
all the influences of the government should
be on the side of giving the people only
And a little later he said, in a speech at
Bennington:
'As long as the general government fur
nishes the money OF the people for their
will insist. as have said before. that every
dollar issued. whether paper or coin, shall
be as good and be kept as good as any other
the equality of what we cali dollars must
be preserved. or an element of uncertainty
and of bankruptcy will be introduced into
ali business transactions. This / may say
without crossing lines Of division How this
end is to be attained. will not attempt &c
sketch but do not hesitate to say that
feel myself in the public interest pledged
so far as In me lies. to maintain that equal.
essential to the perfect use of ALL"
That announcement was of weighty sig
nficance. II killed all serious attempts tc
enact free silver legislation. There was
none of the shilly-shallying about il which
characterized President Cleveland's seigni
orage bill. and angered and alienated mer
who had been his admiring supporters
After such utterances the country knew
just where Benjamin Harrison stood. Il
knows where he stands now. and the at
tempts of dscredited POLITICAL hacks to OBJ.
scure his record upon this question and tc
impute cowardice TO him and to other Re.
publican leaders will fail TO deceive the
American people The people have longer
memories than these shallow tricksters Inn
agine.