The Van Buren press., 1895-06-15
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Beth Xefals.

ference in Dee MOFnes. Iowa. pre-
sided over By Anus steekei. the
following patriotic letter vas read
from Judge Henry c. Caldwell.
Of the United States circuit court
Of appeals
"DKAR SIg:-I am in receipt of
your letter inviting me TO
address a non-partisan silver
meeting in your cits. There is
an unwit.en Law which forbids
judges from discussing political
issues on the public platform.
In defereree TO this law am con-
strained to decline your invitation.
but, while do not feel at liberty
to engage in the discussion Of this
question On the fostruEs. | am free
to exercise the rights that every
other citizen enjoys, Of expressing
my views on the subject. |
would have very little respect for
intelligence or the patriotism Of a
judge who wonld declare that be
had no opinion on a public ques-
ton or snch vital importance TO
the veal or woe Of this country. !
have no hesitation, therefore, in
saying that / am In favor OF the
immediate and unconditional
coinage of gold and silver at the
ratio Of 16 to ], 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was not surreptitiousIy repealed,
one thing is certain, the question
Of its repeal was never made an
issue in the politics of this country,
and the voice Of the people was
never taken upon it at the polls,
or in any other manner. No party
or faction ever demanded its re-
peal, and the people and many
Senators and Representatives in
Congress at the time of its repeal
were ignorant of the fact that it
had been repealed until long after
the passage Of the repeating act.
The question now is, will the
people ratify that repeal, or
restore to the statute book the
law so repealed without their
sanction VIII the people
approve an act whereby one-haif
Of the metallic currency-one-half
of the money of redemption of the
country-was practically stricken
out OF existence That act
necessarily appreciated the value
Of the metal that 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 augmented, aud it,
debt.paying power was not at al
increased.
1.-THE people of this country
want neither 5O-cent dollars nor 9
2OO-cent dollar, but the 100-cen1
dollar of their fathers, which
| without their knowledge or con
sent, was taken from them by the
act Of 1873. 1t is vain to expect
England to voluntarily consent tG
the international arrangement fol
the free coinage of silver, wher
by doing so the cost to her Of oul
wheat and our silver would there
by be doubled.
"We give protection to our Goa
mines and many industries, but al
the dictation Of England, and fol
her profit, We seal up our silver
mines and utterly destroy the
most valuable industry within the
bounds of the republic. Our
mountains contain enough of the
precious metals to make us the
richest nation on earth. If the
seal OH these mountains was
broken, and silver restored to the
rank it enjoyed from the founda.
ton of the republic, up to the
year 1875, 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 sclf-defense to recognize silver.
SO long as we proclaim to the
world that it is our purpose to
adhere to a single gold standard
until England agrees to abandon
1t the free coinage Of silver at any
ratio will never come. Supplica.
ton will never be in vain. She
will spurn our supplication with
that arrogance and insolence that
such cowardly and pusilIanimous
action on our part deserves
What will move England il
courageous and aggressive action
and not cowardly supplications
The issue is sharply defined
Those who do not wish the free
and unconditional coinage of both
gold aud silver at the ratio of II
to ] 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. | have the great
est respect for President Cleve
land, because he is one of the
few great party leaders in this
country today who has the
courage aud honesty to boldly