The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-10-02
From the Toiling Masses.
Communicated

education. Now, let us see. /, as a
humble toiler, a citizen of the United
States, need instruction, but do not
find anything of that kind in these
aforesaid newspapers. But instead
find nothing but vile abuse ofthe DEM
ocratic candidate for the Presidency,
and not one word in answer to his
logic or his reasoning on the gold and
silver question. Is that education? Is
that giving instruction to the toiling
masses who are trying to better
their condition? Now, let US see.
We, the people, will be a little more
charitable towards our neighbors.
We want the light; we want to share it
with our fellow-mOrtals. We will try
and give some instruction. An act
was passed April End, 1892, an act pre-
pared by Alexander Hamilton, en-
dorsed by Thomas Jefferson and APP
proved and made law by the inn
mortal George Washington, that pro-
vided for the free and unlimited ccin-
age of gold and silver. This is not
fancy but fact Was George Wash
ington honest? Did he love his coun
try? Is his memory entitled to abuse?
Then the grand Alexander Hamilton
in his report recommended to Congress
in 1891 that the limit OF value should
rest on both silver and gold and gave
as bis reasons that ITO annul the use of
either of the metals as money is to
abrldge the quantity of circulating me-
dunn and is liable to all the objections,
which arise from a comparison of the
benefits of full, with the evils of a
scaut circulation"
Who says Alexander Hamilton was
not lover of his country?
Then the man whose immortal Dec
laratiOn of Independence shook the
solid earth and made Kings tremble
upon their thrones, wrote this sentence
to Hamilton in 1892: II concur with
you that the unit must stand on both
metals"
Was Thomas Jefferson one who
wished to upset the financial values of
the land he loved?
Do yon abuse his memory because
he was for silver as well as gold?
What did Andrew Jackson say,
nau who gave all of his life to his
country, and man who bore upon his
body the marks of conflict received in
her behalf A man who served these
United States as President for eight
long years, and who stamped his foot
upon vast mOnied power which aim
ed at creating a favored class, what did
he say in his farewell address? Why
this: THAT the Constitution of the
| United States nquestiOnably intended
TO secure the people circulating
medium of gold and silver? Who
questions the honesty, the integrity,
the love of country that Andrew Jack
son had?
Was Abraham Lincoln an honest
man? During his administration of
, the Presidency the law provided for
the free and unlimited coinage of gold
and silver at the ratio of Is to l. We
the people will tell these newspapers
that he was al honest mac, and did
not try to change existing circumstan-
ces as regards the circulating medium.
AS this is campaign of education
we the people want you to listen 10
what James q. Blaine said in the Sen
ate of the United States on the 9TH of
February, 1878: ~ believe The strug-
gle now going on in this and
other countries for single gold stand.
ard, would if successful, produce
wide spread disaster in this coun-
try and throughout the commercial
world. The destruction of silver as
money and the establishment of gold
as the sole unit of value must have a
ruinous effect upon all forms of prop
erty, except those investments which
yield a fixed return in money. These
would be enormously enhanced in
| yuIr n
ate ami unfair advantage over every
other species of property.
Farmers and lal orers, what do you
think of that? Was James G. Blaine
dishonest? Was he not rather pruph-
ct, a Daniel come to judgment to warn
his cOuntrymen of the dire disasters
which have overtaken them in the last
few years, since the golden throttle has
been clinched upon the throat of the
tOiliu g masses.
Now, if you new spapers want edu-
ealing, L have the proofs from the
Congressional Record and proceedings
of the Senate, that the act of 1873 de-
monetizing silver was done without the
I knowledge or approval of the Amer
ican people, that that act was crime
against the toiling masses of my coun-
tIymen, in that il produces what Jas.
G. Blaine said it would, 1.-THE enrich
ment of the few at the expense of the
many; the prostratiOn of industry and
give an undue advantage to the few
who labor not, over those who produce
the wealth of the country"
For 81 long years our country was
prosperous with gold and silver the
money of the Fathers and of the Cou-
stitution was the unit of value. Then
the farmer, the merchant and the la
boring man could sit down under his
own vine and fig tree and enjoy the re-
ward of his labor. No entangling ALI
ances with foreign nations crossed
his brain, or the idea that we must do
as foreign nations say as regards our
money matters. He had but few debts
to pay; his wife and children were we'll
fed and clothed and he was at peace
with all mankind. Now, how changed
the scene! For 70 long years, since
the crime of 1873 demonetiZing silver,
disaster has come creeping on, until
now, by the creation of a favored class,
he is in debt, his wife almost in dis
pair, his children ragged and shoeless,
and he sees as he looks down the long
vista presented to his eyes, favored
class riding rough shod over his eqNal-
ity of citizenship, and striking down
his hopes and degrading his manhood.
But, be not dismay ed, my countrymen,