Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1895-04-11
Mckinley on Free Silver.

Governor Mckinley is among the prom
inent candidates for the Republican
nomination for President next year.
and as a matter of course any opin-
ions he expresses on political questions
attract wide attention. He has lately been
travelling in the Southern States, where ne
was heartily welcomed by men OF all
shades of political belief, and where he was
accorded numerous public receptions. 1t
seems that some of the Southern politicians
tried during his journey to convert him to
their way of thinking in regard to the
coinage of silver;. but it is gratifying to
note that their efforts have not been sue
cessful.
A correspondent Of the New York Sun
asserts that when the distinguished Gov
ernor of Ohio was in Georgia he was urged
by prominent men of both parties to de-
clare in favor of free silver to capture
delegates from the South, and to win per-
hsps the electoral votes of Two or three
Southern States if he should be nominated.
But the correspondent says that at Thom-
ssyille the visitor from Ohio said euphat-
ically: '1f the Republican party declares
for free silver, shall decline the nomina-
ton and get out of the party" Mr.. NC
Kinley has since disclaimed the last hall
dozen words thus attributed to him. de
said nothing about getting out ofthe party.
But he confirms the rest of the sentence,
and says decisiyely that he will not accept
a nomination on a platform declaring for
the free coinage of silver.
This declaration is frank and manly,
and it is entirely characteristic OF Gov
ernor Mckinley. He has strong convic-
tions concerning the danger of reducing
the currency of the country to silver
basis, and he sees-as every man OF SOUND
business sense must see-that the free
coinage of the deprecated metal can have
no other effect He has the courage OF his
convictions, and he doesn't propose to
leave the people in doubt concerning his
position on this question. The American
people have an innate respect and admir-
alton for frankness, honesty and courage;
and we believe that Governor McKinley's
decisive declaration will increase the gen.
eral public confidence in his fitness tor the
Presidency. 1t is refreshing to find
prominent candidate for that office who
has the manly courage to say what ne
thinks on this point at time when many
politicians either have no definite ideas on
the subject or are evidently afraid to avow
them.
Governor McKinley's position shows no
antagooism to the doctrine of the Republi-
can party-the use of both gold and silver so
far as the purchasing and debt-paying
power OF coins of both kinds can be kept
on an equality. He is bimetallist,as most
Republicans are; but he recognizes the
fact that bimetallism cannot be maintain
ed if the miners of silver bullion are to be
allowed to take their product to the mints
and have it freely stamped into legal ten
der "dollars" worth less than half dollar
when measured by the standard of the
world. 1t is the free silver cranks and
dupes who would break down bimetallism,
drive gold out of circulation and inaict
on the producers, the farmers, the work
ingmen and every business interest of the
country all the evils OF debased currency.
Governor Mckinley does not belong to the
crowd. He stands for sound money. as
the Republican party does. He has the
courage to stand by bis political faith,
and for this reason among others he would
make an excellent Republican candidate
for President.