Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1895-03-23
SILVER.

them. all-important question. ihis
is rather remarkable in view OF the
fact that the Herald is a Republican
newspaper and is noted for its ability
to make itself understood upon most
subjects. If we have not fully elucidat-
edthe question tits possibly because of
the Kaleidoscope changes which
have recently occurred in the ranks
of the alleged friends of the white
metal.
First and foremost we have the
pseudo free-coinage agitators of the
Bland or Bryan type who are friends
of silver for the sole use and benefit OF
the Democratic party-Democraey /
first; silver second. Close in their /
wake come the Populists PETER, Simp- /
son, or Sibley with divers vagaries, I
hoping to make hobby of silver on I
which to ride into power. The BIZ
Metallic League occupy about the
Prohibition party on the temperance
question. AS the Prohib would inject
only sumptuary ethics into the body /
polite, so would the followers CT
Adonijoram Jehoikam Warner silver
plate all things mundane and then
fall down and worship their handi
work after the manner of the Jews of
old who wanted new god and got a
calf
There are others, producers of sill
yer, who think silver should be re-
mopetized because they are interested
in silver; if those same parties were
owners of gold mines, they would be
goldbugs of the yellowest stripe.
Others, free traders, who, unwilling
to admit the utter failure Of their the
cries, clamor for the free coinage of
silver in the hope that it may relieve
the present terrible business depres-
sion and allow them to claim that an
improved condition Of affairs is attrib-
utable to their Quixotic search for
the markets of the world" Another
class, largely composed of Republi
cans, lose sight of the fact that Cleve-
land had two pet theories; one tariff
reform, the other the utter debase-
ment OF silver. OF course the first as
sault was against silver. In that he
made the greatest mistake of his adj
ministration. Had he allowed the
Sherman law to remain on the statute
books it would have been a conven-
lent scapegoat. 1t was obl1terated.
The panic did not cease-the oracle
was not reliable. The tariff laws were
reformed but business remained stag
nant. This last named class appar-
emily forget that the keystone Of the
arch, Protection, is removed and that
all the silver in the world cannot pro-
tect us from the pauper products of
the old world. Silver might be coin
ed in unlimited quantities but if we
had nothing to sell, with which to
to buy it, we would not be benefited
1t may as we'll be stated once and for
all that the Herald does not train with
either of the classes delineated.
There is another class who would
revise the revenue laws on the protec-
tive plan; giving protection where
needed; restore wages to what they
were before the advent of Cleveland,
enabling wage-earhers to buy the nee
essaries of life and enjoy comforts Of
which they are now deprived; afford
ing farmers market for their products
at fair prices and supplying the Gov
eminent with its much needed reve-
nues; and then say to foreign govern
ments that we intend to have free
coinage of silver and would be happy
to have you join us, but 1--WE intend, if
you do not join us to protect our own
products and silver is an American
product. That is the idea enunciated
at the last convention held in this
Congressional District and that is the
position the Herald occupies.
The situation is so clearly stated in
letter from Mr.. R. b. Armstrong, Of
Kansas, to the Washington Post, that
we append the closing paragraph. 1t
is good Republican doctrine, broad
enough to embrace the whole country
and best of all absolutely safe. After
calling attention to the result of the
recent elections in the Western States
he says;
THE Republicans of these States
stand squarely on the last national
platform for bimetallism pure and
simple. They do not advocate a gold
basis, neither would they vote for a
silver basis Altogether too much
stress is put upon this financial ques-
ton. The Western States are not
nearly SO much interested in it as they
are in the problem of finding a mar
ket for theirVast agricultural products.
They would be glad to help their
nelghbors still farther West to find a
market for their product, silver, but
naturally their first interest is a self
iSh one, and as they have been sofely
hit by the destruction of the Eastern
market for their products, the ques-
ton of how to-regain it is uppermost.
One certain, positive way of doing
that is by again putting in motion all
the wheels of manufacture throughout
the United States. This is understood
III the West as we'll as it is in the East.
Last October Ex-Governor Francis, of
Missouri, was making political speech
(Democratic) at Joplin, in that State,
when incidentally he mentioned the
name of Mckinley. No sooner had
the word escaped his lips than his au-
dience went wild with enthusiasm
taking the Governor completely off his
feet. In the Fifly-fourth Congress the
Democratic member from thatMissou-
ri district will give way to Republi-
can, who will advocate McKinlevism
and be reelected in 90. AS for Kan.
% sas, she has elected a Congressional
delegation who will doubtless do all