The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1896-10-31
FOR SOUND MONEY.
Bishop Seymour, Of Illinois, Is Down on
Organism.

Bryanism.
The following letter from Bishop
Seymour, of Springfield, ILL.,, was given
out by C. Vey Holman at the national
democratic headquarters October %:
Springfield. ILL.,. Bishops House. Oct. 10.
1SJG.-My ancestors, for three generations
on both my fathers and mothers side.
were born In this country. and have lived
here on my native soil for over 60 years.
Il have always. since was able to ap-
preciate the value OF our political institu-
tions. felt the greatest admiration for them
as on the whole the wisest and best which
have ever been vouchsafed by a merciful
providence for the government of any ma
ton.
I'm the olden times was taught and 1
came from observation In mature years
to repose with entire confidence in the
patriotism and loyalty of my fellow citi-
zens, that they as a body would guard our
liberties as a sacred trust, placed In our
hands for the benefit not only of ourselves.
but of all mankind.
THE grand old parties of my boyhood
ana youth, known then as whig and demo-
cratic, were alike equally true to their
country's safety and honor. They were
divided on questions of policy and practical
politics. '''S'" e'"r"'"F ''"
las a clergyman abstained from voting
because my relations were such that In
qualifying myself intelligently TO cast my
ballot might, without meaning TO do so.
irrltate and antagonize many people whom
otherwise l might permanently influence
for their good. My single ballot was not
worth the sacrifice when the country. |
was confident. was safe in the hands of
either Of the great parties.
During the civil war the conditions were
changed. 1t was not the issue of the
triumph of a political party which was at
stake, II was the safety of our United
M 1 tod oil dat oil
that he could to protect his country from
ruin.
when peace came at last 1 returned to
my old way of thinking that our native
land was safe in the custody of either OF
the great political parties, now called re-
publican and democratic. and l again re-
manned away from the polls, SO that ]
have not cast n ballot, save once in a loca!
election. in over 80 years. Il
But i have lived 10 see. us believe, our
liberties at the present time put in ap-
parentiy great peril by the delusion. ii not
the madness, OF considerable number of
our people, urged on by leaders who seem
reckless OF Interior consequences, provided
they win an immediate victory. once more
l mean TO vote unuer the same constrain-
ing motives which impeiiea me 10 east a
ballot during our civil war.
Let me specify three reasons among
many which force me in conscience 10 vote
at the coming election. III the reverse order
to their importance.
Il. The issue raised by the advocates of
the free and unlimited coinage of silver at
the ratio of sixteen to one strikes at the
national homer and our commercial in
teSrIty as people, and threatens with a
prospect OF serious injury ana crlDarrass-
I..e..t All Classes oI the community, involy-
ms the suffering Of poor and rich alike.
with many there prevails an absolute
ignorance OF the nature and purpose of
money, ana hence they are easily mlslcd
" sophlsIrieS which confuse ana Dewiluer
them.
'AIuney is a medium of exchange for the
convenience or buyers and sellers. Origin !
ally men exchanged the raw materials or
oi,,e.os OF trdue uy agreement on the oc-
caslon. Next rney used gold aad silver in
their crude state, weighing them at the
ttiIe the bargain WAS made. In process OF |
time, for the convenience OF all concerned, |
NHen settled governments Iwero estab- !
lished, 1t became one OF the prcrcgativcs
OF the state 10 place its signature upon the !
coins, which formed the current money OF
the people regulating their value Dy a
hAed standard. The government did not
make the money. This Is Il function which
q government can no more do than 1t can
create a world, The value OF the coin. |
whatever be the metal, lies in It's intrinsic |
worth and is not impaired to ii by the gov
ernments stamp.
III the government puts a fictitious value
upon the coin which IL issues then 1t utters. !
in the name OF the nation. "a falsehood and l
some one in the end must be cheated, and
this hardship for the most part falls upon
the poor, because they are less able TO
protect themselves
The depreciation OF the coin OF coun-
try Is an old trick OF kings. l scarcely ex-
pected that II would be adopted as an ex- !
pedient by a great political party, or |
rather a coalition of parties, In these |
United States of America at the end of the |
nineteenth century.
The government cannot create values. |
Those who do this are the citizens of the |
country the farmers and planters and |
miners, who, with the help of God, bring |
fresh crops and stores of wealth from the |
earth, and the mechanics and artists who. |
by their labor and skill and genius, impart |
value to the raw material and give us |
splendid buildings and paintings and |
sculpture and literature and marvellous |
applications by inventions of the forces |
and resources of nature to the use of man. |
THE source of values and the Increase |
of values come from the sons of toll in all |
the departments OF labor. whether of the |
hand or brain. They come not from the |
government, they never did, they do not |
now and they never can. The government |
may issue in some form or another prom |
ises to pay, and II the people have conf |
dcnce in the stability and integrity OF their |
government then such promissory notes |
or tokens will be received at par or even |
above par. but those notes or tokens are |
not money, they are simply promises to |
pay money. To be respected the money |
must be back of them and the value of such |
promises Will be measured by the degree |
of faith which is reposed In the ability OF |
the government to redeem them. 1t Is a |
mathematical certainty that there can be |
but one standard of value in the last resort, |
as there Is but one standard of measure |
and one standard Of weight. We cannot
have two yard-sticks, one Of two feet and |
the other of three. and compel the people |
by law to employ them and sell by the two |
foot yard-stick and buy by the three.
"All such legislation must ultimately |
fail, and entail grievous suffering upon the |
nation which allows itself to become the |
prey OF such immoral teaching and prac-
tice. This is not therefore a mere question |
of policy, II is an issue which involves |
morals, 1t strikes at our national honor, |
It Is n challenge which sharply inquiries |
Shall our country tell a falsehood or stand |
by the truth?
81 do not mean that anyone in particular
who advocates the double standard is re- |