Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1895-07-27
Lrt us Have the Free Coinage
SILVER.

from Mr.. T. NJ. Scott in which he at
| tempts to criticise an article by me
respectfully calling on candidates for
the Legislature to avOw their posi-
tion on the great question of the free
coinage of silver. IN respect to this
matter there seems to be but two
points; one of them as to whether
there is large majority of the Dem
ocratic people of Accomac in favor of
free coinage, and the other as to
making the call mentioned.
AS to whether large majority Of
the Democratic people of Accomac
are in favor of free coinage, Mr.. S.,
says he does not believe there is such
majority. eff so,' says he, when,
where and how have they manifested
that opinion? Certainly not by any
public discussion of the question, or
any resolutions to that effect"
] In answer, will say that we have
had very full public discussion of the
question of free coinage. Hon. Baker
P. Lee, when q candidate for the
| Legislature, ably and fully discussed
it, strongly in favor of free coinage.
His remarks were received with ap-
plause by the people, and as further
manifestation of their opinion they
gave him large vote at the election.
l will further say, that the Hon.
w. A. Jones, being strongly in favor
of the free coinage oil silver, has
frequently given us able and earnest
discussions of the question, and the
opinions of the people were mani
tested by the hearty demonstrations
of applause with which his argu-
ments in behalf of free coinage were
greeted. In the late Congress he
supported tie free and unlimited
coinage of silver, with distinguished
ability, and amidst the adverse in
nuences which surrounded him, man
fully stood up for the interests of the
people against the destructive war
fare then waged upon silver. After
that he was earnestly supported by
the Democrats of Accomac for nomi-
nation as u candidate, and what is
more, this free silver representative
was elected by an extraordinary
majority From the circumstances l
have mentioned, it is hoped Mr..
Scott will perceive the unmistakable
manifestations of the opinion of Il
large majority of the Democratic
people of Accomac in opposition to
the evils of single gold standard
and in favor of the free coinage of
silver with all the blessings certain
to flow from it.
The foregoing would seem to be
amply sufficient to justify my con-
clusion as to the opinion of the Dem
ocrats of Accomac, but as he asserts
that there has been no discussion
nor resolutions on the subject, l beg
leave to inform him that a few years
ago a large public meeting OF the
Democratic party of Accomac was
held at the court house, when reso.
luton was offered returning cordial
thanks to Hon. John w. Daniel for
his support, in the Senate of the o.
S., of the free coinage of silver, and
that resolution was then and there
adopted. So there is resolution
'manifestingn the opinion of the
Democratic people of Accomac in
favor of the free coinage OF silver.
All which. l hope, will be more or
less satisfactory to MIR. Scott.
In regard to the propriety OF call
ing on candidates for the Leglsla-
ture to avow their sentiments on this
great question, Mr.. Scott says, II
entirely agree and as he so fully
sanctions my action l dismiss the
subject.
MIR. Scott branches off into long
TRADE of denunciation against silver
money, the sum and substance OF his
argument being that silver dollar is
not a dollar, but is only fifty cents.
Although the coinage of silver dollars
has, contrary to justice and the inter
ests and rights of the people, been
prohibited, there are, as we know,
vet remaining among us silver dollars
| heretofore coined, and these dollars
he actually tells us are worth only
l.ffty cents apiece. According to this
ssonstrous doctrine if you owe man
3nundred dollars and hand over to
.Siim hundred silver dollars, he
ought to give you credit for only fifty.
He asserts that silver dollar is worth
only fifty cents, but, let me ask him
if he will take 80 cents for one OF his
silver dollars? Will he take Is cents?
Will he take q cent less than 1OQ
cents? To all of which L answer. L
am sure he will not. If so, then why
assert that it is worth only so cents,
when in his own estimation it is in
fact worth fully 100. Let me remind
him that an indispensable quality in
a preacher is to be consistent, and II
he expects his doctrine to be believed
in and followed he must practice
what he breaches
There is q remark of Mr.. Scott's
which, in behalf of great number of
people, am not willing to pass with
out notice, and that is his insinuation
that the friends of silver money who
are urging the free and unlimited
coinage of silver are advocating "a
lie;n in regard to which l will say
that it cannot be expected that such
an imputation will be remembered
with any other sentiment than that
of merited condemnation.
Mr.. Scott insists that we must sus-
tain the administration. An admin
istration that has gone down under
the indignant Interpretation of the
Democratic people OF this country.
After the destructive warfare upon
silver made by the administration,
the first general election was held
last November. The administration
was on trial and its course on this
question reviewed. 1t was not sus-
tanned. 1t suffered a defeat from
which it can never rally. This crush
ing overthrow is not to be considered
as an endorsement of Republican
principles, but as rebuke to the
administration and its followers for
their indifference to the wants and
welfare of the people. And now after
it has received its downfall by refusal
of the Democrats to uphold it, it will
not do to tell Democratic people to
stand by an administration which on
the great leading question before the
country, is in close alliance with the
leaders of the Republican party.
Mr.. Scott holds up to us the silver