The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-06-12
AN IOWA OPINION.
JUDGE CALDWELL EXPRESSES
FORCIBLE VIEWS.

Des MOineS a., Jun 6.-The state non
partisan silver conference called by the
Central Bimetallic League opened In an
Informal at 1890 this morning in
the Y. M. C. A. auditorium. Amos Steck-
Ell. of Des Moines, presided.
This afternoon at 1870 the regular pro-
gram was taken up with much larger at
tendance. Judge c. c. Cole delivered
the address Of welcome. This evening a
large general meeting will be held in the
interest of silver at which a letter will
be read from Judge Caldwell, of he
Eighth district, declaring for free COIN
a4ga. It is as follows:
st. Paul, Mimi, May q, 1895.
]. Watts, secretary Bietallic League, Des
Moines, Iowa.
Dear Sir-I am in receipts Of your letter
inviting me to address a ~non-partisan
silver meeting in your city. There is an
unwritten law which forbids judges from
discussing political issues on the public
platform. In Difference to this law I am
constrained to decline your invitation,
but while 1 do not feel at liberty to en-
gage In the discussion Of this question on
the rostrum, I am free to exercise the
right that every other citizen enjoys Of
expressing my views.
I would have very littel respect fro the
intelligence or patriotism of a judge who
would declare that he had no opinion on
a public question of such vital impor-
lance to the veal or woe of this country.
l ave no hesitation in saying, therefore,
that I am in favor of the immediate and
unconditional coinage of gold and silver
at the ratio of 16 to 1, making the silver
dollar the unit Of value, as 1t was under
the act of 1892. Whether the act of 1892
was or was not surreptitiously repealed,
one thing 1t certain, the question of its
repeal was never made an issue in the
politics Of this country and the voice of
the people vas never taken upon it at
the polls or in n other manner. No
party or faction ever demanded it's re-
peal and the people and man. senators
and representatives in congress at the
time of Its repeal. were ignorant Of the
fact that 1t had been repealed until long
after the passage of the repeating act.
that repeal or restore to the statute book
the law 50 repealed without their sane
ton? Will the people approve an act
whereby one-half of the metallic currency
one-half of the money Of the redemption,
OF the country was practically stricken
out of existence?
This act necessarily appreciated the
value OF the metal hat was retained as
: money and deprecated the value Of the
metal that was demonetized. In this
way the purchasing power of the metal
retained as money was greatly aug
mented and it's debt paying power was
not at all increased. The people Of this
country want neither a 5O-cent dollar
nor a 200-cent dollar, but the one hum
dred cent dollar of their fathers, which
without their knowledge or consent was
taken from them by the act Of 1873. 1t
is vain to expect England to voluntarily
consent to an international arrangement
for the free coinage of silver when by so
doing the cost to her of our wheat and
our silver bullion would thereby be
doubled.
We give protection to our coal mines
and many industries, but at the dicta-
ton OF England for her profit we seal up
our silver mines and utterly destroy the
most valuable in the bounds of the re-
public. Our mountains contain enough
Of n of the precious metals to make us
the richest nation on earth. If the seal
on those mountains was broken, and sill
yer restored to the ran it enjoyed from
the foundation of the republic up to the
year 1873, we would speedily enjoy the
monopoly of the trade with India, China
and all the South American states.
When we do this England will be driven
In self defense to recognize silver. Sc
long as we proclaim to the world that it
is our purpose to adhere to a single gold
standard until England agrees to aban-
don 1t, the free coinage of silver at any
ratio will never come. Supplication will
be in vain. She will spurn our supplica-
ticns with that arrogance and insolence
that such cowardly and pusillanimous
action on Jul part deserves. What will
move England is courageous and agrees
sive action on u part n not cOwardly
supplications. The issue is sharply de-
fined. Those who do not favor the free
and unconditional coinage of both silver
and gold, making the silver dollar the
unit of value as was done under the act
of 1892, are for the single gold standard.
There is no middle ground.
l have the greatest respect for Presi-
few great party leaders in this country
today who has the courage and honesty
to boldly avow his views on this Dues
ton. The majority OF those who are
credited with being leaders of the party
are either as mute as oysters or utter
empty and meaningless plattitudes in
the hope of currying favor with both
sides. I have great respect for a real
live and avoWed gold bug" but only
contempt for a straddle-bug.
On questions of public policy affecting
the veal and woe of the country the man
who openly and boldly avows his senti-
ments, however erroneous they may be,
Is less dangerous than the coward or
hypocrite. The former never, bu the
tours truly,
NJ q CAInWETH r.