The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-04-23

Gnank you Tor, your letter. In my
limited knowledge of this subject l am
able only to see, and to an extent ap-
preciate, the very evil effects being
eXerted by the so called free silver in
terests OF. this country, and | hardly
think this Is appreciated IN the great
centres.
AS you are reasonably aware, I am
travelling a good deal, and meet and
see people from all classes and places.
and the a of the b8netul idea has
almost reached an epidemic condition.
and unless fully answered in kind,
both great political parties will be
obliged, IN response to popular de-
mand, to either incorporate a substan-
TALLY free silver plank in their plat
form, or else a ~disgraceful straddle.
No doubt you have seen a little book,
published in Chicago, called Coins
School of Finance" The first book has
reached an edition of over 100 900. and
recently another book of the same kind,
issued from the same mill, has been
issued. They are attractively written,
and to the novice in finance are q con
vincing argument. They pretend to
quote eminent financiers Of Chicago
and elsewhere, a {. for instance, Lyman
J.. Gage, Joseph Medill and others, as
injecting objections, ~embodying their
most formidable arguments, and then
proceed to answer them effectively and
to complete silence. Now, this little
book, | find from news dealers, is sold
ten to one of any other. 1t is sold and
read on trains to q disgusting extent.
1t is a most entertaining little volume
and I e it being read IN trains, in
depots; discussed in local lVceums, ETC..
everywhere.
tits sweeping yer this country, and,
IN my opinion, should be answered by
some 4 who fully understands the
subject That answe Ell should be writ
ten with an equally facile pen. I under
stand this little book has been pur-
chased in large NUMBERS by silver PEG
pie and distributed gratuitously. l do
not know this, but [ do know that it
was on the market here and sold i'm
mensely. 1t seems to me the banking
interests should take the requisite
steps to publish a reply in equally at
tractive form and put it on the market
at the lowest price as, perhaps, IN an
t1dote reply to CONS School of
Finance" etc.
To show the effect of this little book,
a rather intelligent country banker
called on me recently with the book
and asked ma if l could answer it, say
ing he was nearly convinced there was
hope in the policy suggested, and this
against his will; said it was read ana
then talked in his country, and was
making votes more rapidly than any
thing he had ever known. / referred
him to our bankers here. He SAID later
he had talked with some, who passed
it yer lightly and did not reply.
My Judgment, from the present out
look, is that the eastern conservatives
of both parties are likely to unite and
possibly re nominate Mr.. Cleveland,
who will carry the East and South, no
doubt; the East on his able, honest CON
servatism, and the South, because they
could I'VE vote other than the Demo
cratic ticket; thus insuring a vote
which would elect; and the West will
undoubtedly support the POpulists or
free silverites, unless there is a great
change. IF this is not dor g, I feel the
election will be thrown in the House,
as the result of three tickets being in
the field, in which case the balance of
power would be with the free silver in
terest. I believe if a vote were taken
today on the naked question OF a Is
to-1 silver platform, Nebraska would
giveit a majority of SO, 1000, or near it.
These suggestions are for what infor-
nation you may be able to CLEAN from
and of Importance.
Yours truly,
j. r. BUCHANAN.