The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-03-06
FROM GOVERNOR WAITE.
s'The Grand Old Man" Writes an Inn
portnnt and Suggestive Letter.
Why We Should Adhere to silver

"The Grand Old Man" Writes an I'M
portnnt and Suggestive Letter.
Why We Should Adhere to Silver
as Money.
Friend Donnelly: The attempt to create
O silver party received another backset at
the meeting of the Peoples Party Press AS
ISOLATION on the end, at Kansas City, but
1t will bob up serenely" again all the
same. The fact is, our people do not realize
the political situation in the silver states.
Because the Democrats and Republicans of
the Rocky mountain states are blatant for
silver they are supposed to favor the free
coinage of silver But really they do not
They are each and all partisans first and
for silver second. The Democrats of Colo
RADIO, who put up no Cleveland ticket in 1877
and voted for Weaver and Field, voted then
as Democrats, not as Populists, and for
the purpose of bringing the Populists over
to the Democratic party.
The hostility of the Colorado Democrats
to me is absolutely terrific. because l stood
by the platform upon which l had been
elected, and would neither sell out or be
driven from it. The Republicans, like the
Democrats, make silver subsidiary to par
tisan considerations. Neither party will
have the free coinage of silver except
through it's own partisan success. You and
l know that the free coinage of silver at 16
to through either of the old parties is alb
surd, and such men as Teller and Wolcott
or Bryan and Thomas, who pretend to be
in favor of silver and yet adhere to their
respective political parties, are simply liars
and hypocrites-and are opposed to silver.
The leading bankers of this state do not
hesitate to declare openly for the single gold
standard. With the millionaire element it
is 1.-The people be damned but the poll
ticians do not yet openly train under that
banner, although that is really "where they
are at"
There are two propositions which to me
seem indisputable:
l. This nation cannot exist another Is
years under the present financial policy
and preserve freedom, saying nothing about
prosperity.
2. 1t is extremely improbable that in the
next decade and half the people can
control the legislation of congress to legal
lie the free coinage of silver.
There is no possibility that within the
next 10 years the mode of electing sena tors
will be changed, and therefore it is as
certain as fate that majority of that body
will continue to be composed of corporation
attorneys and agents of Wall street. The
free coinage of silver at 16 to is a part of
the Omaha platform, and is necessary
part of the financial plank. 1 am not a
believer in the foolish doctrine that either
gold silver is money of ultimate redemp-
ton The idea that the holder of the green
back may demand of the United States
treasurer redemption of that form of the
government Indebtedness in either gold or
silver is contrary to the law under which
the issue of greenbacks was authorized
and contrary to the decision of the United
States court in the legal tender cases l
am not a believer in the doctrine that both
gold and silver should be demonetized and
the greenbacks supply their place. Gold
and silver products of our own country
and have a commercial value all over the
world. vast majority of all kindred,
tribes and people are willing to exchange
their products for what called the
precious metals" 1t seems to me, there
FORE unwise to strike so much of our own
property out of existence; and, again, silver
is part of our platform, and l uphold the
platform and everything in the line of it's
principles.
How can we re-establish the free coinage
of silver? I despair Of its enactment by
congress- but l do not think we are with
out a remedy. l believe that the clause of
the United States constitution authorizing
the states to make gold and silver coins
legal tender for the payment of debts af-
fords the only practical remedy.
l am aware that many Populists disagree
with me. The Democrats and Republicans
of Colorado, who profess to be in favor of
silver. but are not, oppose this idea but
they have never opposed it with any argu-
ment. save the everlasting and all-sufficient
one that 1t is insane and craZy-a very
strong argument, but slightly pathological.
/ observe you have a forum in the col
umns of the Representative. You would
confer a favor if l could be allowed to dis
cuss this question over my own signature
and inviting criticism. The fact that Sc
cession was claimed to be q state right,
anu that secession was overthrown. has.
perhaps made the idea of state rights I'M
popular, but no prejudice ought to or can
aHect the abstract or practical right of
the people to avail themselves of all their
rights, state and national under the consti-
tuition.
l know that you WELD trenchant pen,
and l surmiSe do not favor the state right
plan l advocate. l should be pleased to
nave you comment, for then 1 should find
"at one fell swoop" all that could well be
arrayed in opposition. Please advise me as
soon as may be convenient Yours truly.
DAVID ID. WAITE
Denver, Feb. 90.
Nothing would give us greater pleasure
than to have Gov. Waite discuss the prop
osition he refers to; and l know our read
ers would be glad to read the discussion.
me question is novel and grave one and
the Representative favors the widest DOS
sible consideration of all such matters.-'
Ed. Rep.)