The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-08-27
he SENDS HIS LETTER ADRIF
continued from first page.

strangely au variance With every require
ment of sound finance; but the declara-
tions show the spirit AID purpose of those
who by combined action are contending
for the control of the Government. Not
satisfied with the debasement of our coin
which would inevitably follow the free
coinage of silver at 16 to 1, they would
still further degrade our currency and
threaten the public honor by the unlim-
tied issue of an irredeemable paper cur
rcncy. A graver menace to our financial
standing and credit could hardly be con-
ceived and every patriotic citizen should
be aroused to promptly meet and effect
ually defeat it.
cit is a cause for painful regret and
solicitude that an effort is being made by
those high in the counsels of the allied
parties to divide the people of this coun-
try into classes and create distinctions
among us, which, in fact, do not exist and
are repugnant to our form of government
These appeals to passion and prejudice
are beneath the spirit and intelligence of
free people, and should be met with
stern rebuke by those they are sought to
influence, and believe they will be.
Another issue of supreme Importance
is that of protection. The peril of free
silver is a menace to be feared; we are al
ready experiencing the effect of partial
other corrected. The Republican party
is welded to the doctrine of protection
and was never more earnest in it's support
and advocacy than now. If argument
were needed to strengthen it's devotion to
the American system, or increase the hold
of that system upon the party and people,
ii is found in the lesson and experience
of the past three years. Men realize in
their own daily lives what before was to
many of them only report, history or ira
dition. They have had trial of both
systems and know what each has done for
them.
Washington, in his farewell address,
September II, 1906, hundred years ago,
said; AS a very important source of
strength and security, cherish public
credit. One method of preserving it is to
use 1t as sparingly as possible; avoiding
the accumulation of debt, not only by
stunning occasions of expense, but by
vigorous eXertions in time of peace to dis
charge the debts, which unavoidable
wars may have occasoned, not ungener-
ously throwing upon posterity the bur,
den which we ourselves ought TO bear
TO facilitate the enforcement of the
maXims which he announced, he declared:
1T is essential that you should practically
bear in mind that towards the payment
VI oOpbo ehSiC Dc ItNeUut. UndU 10
have revenue there must be taxes: that no
taxes can be devised which are not more
or less inconvenient or unpleasant; that
the intrinsic embarrassment inseparable
from the selection of the proper objects
(Which is always a choice of difficulties
ought to be adhesive motive for a candid
construction of the conduct of the Gov
eminent in making it; and for a spirit of
acquiescence in the measures for obtain
ing revenue which the public exigencies
may at any time dictate
animated by like sentiments the peo-
pie of the country must now face the con-
ditions which beset them. 'The public
exigencies' demand prompt protective
legislation which will avoid the accumu-
lation of further debt by providing ade-
quate revenues for the expenses of the
Government. This is manifestly the re-
quirement of duty. If elected President
of the United States it will be my aim to
vigorously promote this object and give
ample encouragement to the occupa-
tions of the American people, which, above
all else, is so imperatively demanded at
this juncture of our national affairs"
Continuing Mr.. Mckinley quotes from
President Harrison's last message to
Congress in 1892, reviewing the condition
and resources of the country, showing
prosperity in all branches of trade and
commerce. The message of President
Cleveland addressed to the Fifty-third
Congress calling attention to ''the exist
ence..of an alarming and extraordinary
business situation" is then quoted and
continuing Major Mckinley says
"What startling and sudden change
within the short period of eight months,
from December, 1892, to August, 1898.
What had occurred? A change of admin
istration? All branches of the Govern
ment had been entrusted to the Demo-
cratic larty. which was committed against
the protective policy that had prevailed
uninterruptedly for more than thirty-two
years and brought unexampled prosperity
to the country and firmly pledged to it's
complete overthrow and the substitution
of tariff for revenue only. The change
having been decreed by the elections in
November its effects were at once antici-
pated and felt. We cannot close our ewes
to these altered conditions, nor would it
be wise to exclude from contemplation
ard investigation the causes which pro-
duCed them.
1t Is mere pretence to attribute the
hard times to the fact that all our cur
rency is on a gold basis. Good meney
never made times hard. Those who assert
that our present industrial and financial
depression is the result of the gold stand
ard have not read American history
Alright or been careful students of the
events of recent years. We never had
greater prosperity i'll this country, in
every field of employment and industry,
than in the busy years from 1880 to 1892,
during all of which time this country
was on a gold basis and employed more
gold money in its fiscal and business oper.
atoms than ever before. We had, too, n
protective tariff under which ample reve-
nues were collected for the Government
and an accommodating surplus, which was