Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1896-07-11
HONEST MONEY WILL WIN.
An Able Western Democrat Explains How
the Silver Sentiment Has Grown, How the
Convention Will Act, and Predicts the Con-

CHICAGO, July THE excitement which
anaracterizes both convention and the
events which lead up to it must necessarily
eXaggerate the extent OF the sweep OF any
new agitation.
This is peculiarly the case in the present
demand for free coinage of silver.
More county and state conventions have
been captured through the activity of zeal
Gus and skillful politicians than because of
any merit in the cause they championed.
Undoubtedly many of the advocates of free
coinage have acted in perfect good faith, but
they are in the minority. They have not
caused the present furore.
This is machine made.
There is some democratic sentiment for
free coinage of silver, much of it wholly for
convention purposes. But the Republican
sentiment which would cause the voting of
the democratic free-silver ticket is wanting.
1t is not to be found upon investigation.
The number of Republicans who are prom
Using to vote for free-silver democrat, sink
into insignifcance when compared with the
number of democratics who openly state they
will either withhold aid from their party
candidates or labor actively against them.
The more cordial the relations established
with the Populists the more intense becomes
the opposition from those who detest Popu-
listic vagaries and distrust Populistic leaders.
Convention DEGREES cannot change this
fact.
The silver machine is wholly political,
truth which each hour here makes more and
more manifest. Those in the management
will employ, when the Chicago convention
adjonrns, all the methods employed by prac-
teal politicians. They will then do more
than make the air resonant with the theory
of l6 to l..
There will be studied attempt to get
away from the historical facts and the bust
ness experience ofpeople when the question
is discussed, and to substitute thereof. as ar
gument, prejudice, discomfort and distress.
The people might, by such suggestions, be
blinded for four weeks, but they cannot be
for four months.
The American people read, study, think on
every question vital to their welfare, and no
instance is recorded where they have not
through such course of conduct ultimately
reached right conclusion upon every vital
question, and acted upon it.
The best and most far-reaching in their
influence of the newspapers and periodicals
of the country are strenuous in their opposi-
ton to free coinage. So, too, are the ablest
and most thoughtful of our public men.
1t is entirely opposed by the country's bust
ness interests, irrespective of section and
class. Against such a combination, earnestly
enlisted, cheap and flash oratory must be un-
availing, and groundless passion and prejudice
will give way.
John Stuart Mill once said sThe voters of
the United States have several times, in deal
ing with financial questions, apparently been
about to do the wrong thing, but always at
the critical time the great common sense of
the people has asserted itself and the wrong
thing has been put down and the right thing
made to prevail
Happily for the country, There is yet much
reserve common sense in the nation, and
when coupled with honesty, it must obtain
against every monetary heresy, whether it
presents itself in the form of proposition
to have either paper silver fiatsm.
The advocates of free coinage of silver will
al tl..sl
ants are more easily manipulated than are the
suffrages of the voters on election day.
JAMES l. HcKELs
Comptroller of the United States Currency.