Evening star., 1896-10-24
SECRETARY FRANCIS LETTER.
The Two Results of the Free Coinage
OF Silver at 16 to 1.
Sis to $3.50.

OF Silver at 16 to 1.
Secretary Francis OF the anterior Depai
ment in replying to an invitation 10 HiaNe
campaign speeches in Missouri. and In ex-
pressing regret over his inability to COM
ply, writes In part as follows:
This is a time. however, when no man
csn afford to remain silent The survival
of the democratic party is threatened. The
welfare of the country is impcriled; the
perpetuity of the republic Is at stake
.'I believe the sober second thought OF
the people will condemn and repudiate
those who are trying to array classes
against each other and inc.te the dscontent-
ed to viola tions Of obligations, II not to law
lessness And l deny that those or US VINO
raise a voice against the revered name OIL
democracy being used for ends 30 pase
have departed from the faith or nave
weakened in devotion to the great prlnci-
pies of government by the people
IF the organization calling itself the
regular democracy be successful az the
coming election, commercial disaster, fhan-
c:al misery, social discomfort, national dis
honor would ensue. and the party RESPONSE
BILE for such conditions would be cursed Dy
an outraged people for a generation 10
come Shall Mr.. Bryan pass judgment on
our democracy? On what hath he fed that
he should presume to formulate tests OF
our party fealty?
Free silver coinage at the ratio OF 10 to
must inevitably be followed by one of two
results-either Reputation of honest obli-
cations, public and private, or the enact
ment of such a law as would make l6
ounces Of silver the commercial equivalent
OF one ounce of gold throughout the world.
/ think the latter is impossible.
History and our own recent experience
demonstrate that law cannot make value.
Feeling so, and preferring to be honest,
we cannot be expected to support Mr..
Bryan OF the platform upon which he
stands.
But the platform has many other OBJ
jectionable features. 1t advocates fiat
money; 1t declares against the right OF pri-
vale contract; 1t attacks the purity and in
dependence of the Supreme Court: it viz
tually condemns democratic President
fer suppressing lawlessress. for enforcing
federal statutes and protecting government
and private property. as welfs as human
life, at time and in a state when and
where the local authorities were unwilling
or powerless to do SO, Notwithstanding 4
House of Representatives and a democratic
Senate. to say nothing of an almost unani-
nous public opinion, had approved and ap-
plauded such a course.
1T denies the right of the federal govern
ment to enforce federal statutes without
the consent Of the executive Of the state in
which they are violated: 1t indorSeS. yea.
1t champions, notification, which Jackson
denounced and stamped out many years
ago. That convention. led by Tiilman and
Altgeld and their associates, refused to
commend the patriotism honesty, economy
and fidelity of Grover Cleveland. the only
President our party has been able to elect
and inaugurate in thirt;-six years.
1T pains me. deeply to differ with many
good men OF Missouri who have been my
personal and political friends and cowork-
ers. 1 do not question their sincerity, and
am sure they will accord me the same hon
esty of conviction.
II shall surely be at home to cast my
R>, Du1,,. Tvsv 1,l<
and regret l cannot leave here in time to
make several speeches in Missouri"