The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-07-22
now THE COUNTRY We us

- ~.
New York Sun: The Atlanta ConstitA1f =
printed on Saturday last "A letter wrin n
by the Hon. Hoke Smith five years ago
To the Hon. W. l.. Peek both OF Georria.
in which Hoke declared himself squarely
and without qualification for the free coin
age of silver. Incidentally he mentioned
his yearning for a graded income tax aud
Tor certain pet measures Of populism. but
the main article OF Hoke's political faith
In ls90 was free coinage. Notice IN pass
ing the curious. although not particularly
important coincidence in the dates and
circumstances. Hoke Smiths adhesion to
tine cause OF free silver was written in
September. 1880, and confded TO the deli
cacy and discretion of Georgia colonel
The Hon. Hoke Smiths explanation of his
free coinage views in 1890 is that he was
giving most of his attention at that time
TO professional labors. and supposed. with
out thorough Investigation, that the A.
coinage of silver would carry the hpllJn
value Of the coined silver dollar to q = ''y
with gold Since then" he says 10
given the subject much more stuf .e
is now thoroughly convinced 81 ~
neous character of his former r.
subject.
New York Tribune: The At
talks about the loud mouth.
tators" of the south. This
is worsc-it will accomplish
pose that instead OF calm.
friends hard names. Hoke s
labor with them as Grover GO
De supposed to have wrested
Rotary OF the interior in ordc
him Of the error of his ways.
lead TO something. What
guments. anyway. employed o.
dent to bring about Hoke ~.
version
BOSTON Transcript: Secreta-,.
Smith explains that the reason
present views on the silver questio
from those which he expressed five q.
ago, in the letter which The Atlanta ~
stitution has published. IS that he kudSs
more now than he did then. The explana-
lion is satisfactory. 1t is the height of
absurdity TO shut ones eyes to new light,
for fear that one should be Inconsistent
with the darkness of an earlier experience.
IL is bourbonsm which neither learns nor
forgets.
New York Mercury: And now it's Hokc
Smith who has been brought up with a
round turn. Hoke has been swelling
about over the country claiming to have
always been a goldbug. Some pesky Geor-
CLAN. however. has sprung an old letter
of HolSe's upon the public-not so very old.
either-in which Hoke not only declared
FOR the free coinage or silver. but the free
coinage Of cotton. wheat and garden truck.
lloke 'fcsses up like a little man, though.
instead of claiming that his views have
being 'mlsnterpreted." lie now acknowl-
edges that he was not always soldbus
but accounts for the letter in question by
intimatinG that II was wriTlcn before he
became acquainted with sevelaud.
After acquaintance ana - "a that
great man he began to .thIur
and 10 gradually see IL mo-
rance % his Old ways. put
uatf0otcd for the gold Sd,
Sfrntincd states.
From The New York MorXt : fnaI.
The public was somewhat startled two or
three days since at the publication Of a
letter from the Hon. Hoke Smith. now
secretary Of the interior. written in 1880
10 Mr. Peek. of Georgia.
II now appears that in 1880 the Hon.
Hoze Smith was In the gIistle only. and
manship. lie was then of the tender age
of thirty-dve. Having been admitted TO
the bar of Georgia, at the age OK seven
teen, and devoted himself To the study OF
the law after becoming a lawyer he APP
pears 10 have made the same haste in en-
tering upon his career ia craftsmanship.
lie scratched upon the surface of his gifts
In that direction. and discovered that not
only free silver coinage was the basis OF
Of all wholesome money systems. but that
the honest farmer was entitled To deposit
imperishahle farm productS-for example.
tobacco. beans. wheat. oats. hay. etc. and
20 draw thcrefrom bright ana newly print
ell currency notes. II Is now two years
since Mr.. Smith was made secretary Of the
interior by that stern and unrelent ~
apostle of the gold standard. Grover Cs,'yr'
land. His hayseed letter did nor a..
IN his way. nor In Mr.. Cleveland q,
whether or not his opinions wer ~
~ that time We do not know
!, g.. .
has now struck a new stratum -
statesmanship. This IS entire AJ
from the first stratum, being ri
Instead Of solid silver. ~
GOLD GOES no Eu5s