Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1895-07-17
Lucas on SIIrer.


From the CaGrksbmg Netrs.
Saturday afternoon at 2 O'Clock Juoge
Daniel B. Lucas made a one hour and a
half speech at the courthouse upon the
currency question, advocating the free coin
ace Of silver at the ratio of 16 to /. The
meeting had been extensively advertised
both through the county newspapers and oy
q large circulation of bills and posters. IL
was expected BY many hat a large crowd OF
people would attend but this expectation
did not materialize. By actual count there
were Just one hundred and ffty-three per-
sons present. The audience was of a mixed
political complexion, consisting of Repuo-
~licans. Populists and Democrats. The Dem
ocrats and Republicans present were OF
about equal numbers, the Populists makiag
the majority of the crowd to be composed
of Republicans aud Populists. The atten-
ton given by the audience was not TO say
strict. In fact, a great deal of restlessness
prevailed and many left the room IN the
midst of the speaking.
Mr.. Lucas was introduced by Hon. Ira y.
Post, of this county, in quite a little speech
very commendatory to Judge Lucas. MI
Lucas took the platform manifesting a strain
of uneasiness which did not abate through
out his address. His reputed oratorical and
communicative powers seemed to nave de-
serted him and by sheer force he managed
to while away an hour and a half. Many
present having heard of his splendid repu-
tation as an excellent and pleasing orator
and logical debater were sadly disappointed
His speech was disconnected and rambling.
He failed to point out q single advantage TO
be gained by the adoption of free coinage
at the ratio of 16 to /, while, on the other
hand. he did not logically show wherein
honest money had or would infict injury
upon the masses of the people. Even his
inyectiye charges against President Cleye-
land and Secretary Carlisle were ridiculously
weak. owing both to the utter fallacy OF the
charges as well as the ludicrous sarcasm IN
which he referred to them. He bitterly at
tackled the Associated Press for perversion
of the truth but absolutely failed to substan-
tate his accusations. In referring to the
| Louisville Democratic convention he made
| contradictory statements. He said Carlisle
had succeeded in manipulating the conven-
ton for sound money, and afterwards made
the remark that the Associated Press report
of the convention was a fabrication, because
the convention had, in fact turned the cold
shoulder to Cleveland and Carlisle. lie
made several other contradictory statements.
The speakers attack upon the Democrat
ic press of West Virginia was an outrage
upon the States intelligence. He accused
the country newspapers of being under the
influence of Wall Street and said they re-
ceiyed their currency editorials, that is,
sound money arguments, direct from Wal
Street aud what he saw fit to term gold bugs
and were paid for their publication. A
man making such serious assertion should
know whereof he speaks and not attempt to
NAV upon the credulity of his auditors IN
any such mischevious manner. On the oth'
ct hand lrv was entirely silent as to where
the silver and free coinage editorials come
from. He possibly thought to leave the i'm
p~ressian that the s%ilverite has all the brains
and writes his own editorials. The people
of Harrison county have not arrived at the
point where wheels predominant in the head
and itmight be we'll for Mr.. Lucas to OBJ
serve this fact.
His statement hat this country produces
| fifteen times as much silver as gold does not
bear bead. Official statistics show that
from 1873 to 1894 the value of gold produc-
ed in this country amounted to S744, 100000
and that of silver, 1913, $685. 900. 1t will
be observed by comparing these figures that
the value of the silver production exceeds
the gold production but slightly. If he
meant to c%onfine his statement to the sense
of bulk rOther than value he is correct, but
in the absence of any explanation upon this
point his remarks were misleading.
Evidently Lucas effort was a counting oil
dissatisfied Republicans, by frequent quota
tions from Republican statesmen, and he
| also tried to win Democratic approval by
bare references to a few Democratic states
men. He said Jefferson ADVOCATED certain
things but was careful not to read any oil
Jefferson's utterances.
The meeting failed to create any enthusi-
asm. On the contrary it seems to have
dampened the ardor of those inclined to
free coinage. 1t was, as it were, the last
weak rally in a hopeless cause, and sounded
the death knell to a needless agitation.