Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1896-09-03
From McKinley's Letter


lican National Committee: Gentle
men-In pursuance of the promise
made to your committee when notified
of my nomination as the republican
candidate for president, beg to submit
this formal acceptance of that high
honor. and TO consider in detail the
questions ut issue in the pending cam
rairn. Perhaps this might be con
sidered unnecessary, in view of my re-
marks on that occasion, ami those
have made to delegations that have
visited me since the st. Louis conven-
ton. but in view of tn" mOmen tous
importance of the proper settlement of
the issue presented on our future pros
perity and standing as a nation, and
considering only the welfare and hap
pipess of our people, could not he
content to omit again calling attention
to the questions which, in my opinion,
vitality affect our strength aud position
among the governments of the world
and our morality, integrity and patri-
OVlSIll us tllILtyS VI t:iuN Itt'ttplN
which for IL century past has been the
best hope of the world and the n~pira-
ton of mankind. We must not now
prove false to our own high standards
in government, nor unmindful of the
noble example and wise precepts of the
fathers, or of the confidence and trust
which our conduct III the past always
inspired.
For the first time since 1865, if ever
before, there is presented to the Amer
lean people this year clear and direct
issue as to our monetary system, of
vast importance in ITS effects, and upon
the right settlement of which rests
largely the financial honor and pros
perity of the country. 1t is proposed
by one wing of the democratic party
and its allies the peoples and silver
partie to. inaugurate the free and un-
limited coinage of silver 10y independ-
ent action of the United States at Il
ratio of l6 ounces of silver to one
ounce of:gold. The mere decl aration
OF this purpose is menace to our fl
nanc,al' and industrial interests and
has already created universal alarm.
1t involves great peril to the credita d
business of the country, peril so grave
that conservative men everywhere are
breaking away from their old party
associations aud un iting with other
patriotic !citizens in emphatic protests
against.th platforms the. democratic
national convention as an assault upon
the faith and honor of the government
and the welfare of the people. We
have had few questions in the lifetime
of the republic more serious than the
one which is thus presented.
The character of the money which
shall measure our values and exchanges
and settle cur. balances with one an.
other andl with the nations of the
world, is of such primary importance,
and so far reaching in its consequences
as to Fall for the most painstaking in
vestigatlOn and in the end sober and
unprejudiced judgment at the polls
We must not he msled 10y phrases. nor
deluded by false theories. Free silver
would not mean that silver dollars
were to he freely had without cost of
labor. 1t would mean the free use of
the mints of the United States for the
few who are owners O1 silver bullion,
hut would make silver coin no freer to
the many who are engaged in other
enterprises. 1t would hot make labo.
easier, the hours of ! labor shorter, or
the pay better. 1t would not start a
factory nor make demand for an adj
ditional days labor. 1t would create
no new occupations. 1t would add
nothing to the comfort of the masses,
the capitalTof the people or the. wealth
OF the nation. 1t seeks to introduce a
new measure of value, but would add
no. value to the thing measured. 1t
would conserve values. On the con-
trary, 1t would derange all existing
values. 1t would not restore business
confidence, but its direct effect would
be to destroy the little which remains
The meaning of the coinage plank
adopted at Chicago is thai any one
may take a..quantity OF silver bullion
now worth So cents. to the minis of the
L nited. States, have, it. coined at the
expense of the government, and receive
for it silver..dollar which shall be le-
gal tender..for: the payment of all debts
public and private. The owner of the
bullion. would..get the silver dollar. 1t
belongs to him and nobody else. Other
people would get it only by their labor,
the products of their. land or some
thing of value. The bullion owners on
The. basis of present values would IRE
ceive the silver dollar for 5S cents
worth ofsllver, and other people would
I've rpOuirA1 n racair. il ~ "A full dollar