The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-06-03
FREE SITTER FOLLIEs.
An Interesting Discussion oil the ""es''o"
From a Practical Point Of View.

letter OF Tho - instant, emDodylng an
essay on free silver. and ! shall attempt
10 answer 10. claiming the same p4eios@-
tiv, that you assumed I'm making poii-
cal speech. under the guise Oh personal
correspondence.
What i may say will be dlspassiona'''
and, i'm truth. consistent with a nope
that you may be convinced OF the elfor
OF YOU. p0sltioul which IS both dan
sef0us and meipedient. No man could
convince noe that you are lot honest
IN your convictions in this, as In all
other causes YOU advocate. some, not
wisely, but too we'll"
You preface your remarks on the Sill
yer question by stating that you know
very little about 30. Such candor Is re-
freshins. coming from man OF your
| political faith on this subject. and 1t
/ places You az once a conspicuous advo-
cate OF fiat money.
am as ignorant (as you will admit
when / am done). so again we line up
and START oven. discussing something We
| know nothing about with as much
| probability Of conviction as is hoped for
I from discourse on infant baptism I'm
| an assembly OF Campbellites. Perpetual
| mpjon AND the art OF convincing man
against his VIII. are inventions that we
must leave 10 the undeveloped genius
| of the ages 90 come. But We can differ
| hoic-tiy and with 1000 miles and the
| Mississippi river between u.s. we may
| q * plainly with little fear OF a person
/ al encounter during the discussion
You say that the organized Democratic
! machine of Va" is for gold and that only
one State official espouses the cause Of
! silver ! clip tho following from the As
ISOLATED Press to-day.
THE sILVERITES WIN.
RICHMOND. Va. May 2.-The Demo
! cratic primaries today resulted I'M a vic
tory for the slyerites. The result gives
them control Of the Third congressional
district. practically assuring a solid sill
verite delegation from this State 10 the
National Convention"
! congratulate him FOR the influence
that official Yields over the people OF
your State in a single handed fight which
is either evident. or else the Machine
| slipped an eccentric.
You are willing 10 follow" (even unto
! Destruction the leadership Of such men
| as Daniel Gordon" 81 nj.
Now. this IS admission OF a weakness
not your own. and l am led 10 believe
that you name these men 10 show the
| array OF talent clammoring for cheap
| money with you thus justifying the false
! position you take by a confidence you
maintain ina your associates This is not
argument Man-worship IS even more
| dangerous than free silver The assur-
ance or possibility Of a blind following is
the prime cause OF the existence OF the
demagogus-they spring from A. they
fatten and thrive upon it. and this fol-
lowing accounts for the birth OF states
men to-day and for the continual agita-
ton of intricate and perpieXing Ques-
tons.
In the men who are thinking and acting
Independently rests our hope. and our
only hope. for prosperity. purity In poll
tics. and plenty IN the country.
The leaders you are following have
proven their patriotism 70 Southern in
tercsts I'm war and in peace" YOU say?
As belligeronts. their valor WAS admir-
able. 7 grant you. but their judgment as
90 the best interests Of the South was
lacking. As statesmen 7 know little 20
their credit. except annual salaries. paid
by the people. gifts OF oratory and sue
cessful careers as politicians.
And they are not different i'm these re-
spccts from their political opponents.
who do the spoutng for sound money.
They are an for personal pie for POLITE
/ cal porrico. and in considering the Ques-
ton at point. we must turn time lock
ON the politician. and put a Westing-
/ house air brake on our prejudices. II
won consent TO this condition in our dis
cus.ion. you must admit that free coin
ar. is not cxuelient simply because John
sherman. Tom Reed and Grover Cieye-
land oppose the measure.
Ordinarily. that would be 10 you con-
clre'on as to the Justice OF your position
but we are agreed 10 eject personal. fac
tioral and political feeling. and simply
IN discuss free coinage. Forget that
those men over lived. if you can. or bet
ter still imagine them dead and located
whore Dives can hold communion with
Them and discuss the money question.
We're they dead. we would both be call
q uron 10 decide our choice as 70 me
best policy. Tho present advocates might
! all die. and the issue would De the same.
so tho measure and not the lh'iNln'Ai
! advocates. pro or con, are 20 be consider
cd.
You saw YOU believe ~ 10 be Tor the best
interest Of "ourf section Of The country
10 have free coinage. but You failed 70
state inst why you think So Has Nir-
riria any silver industries awaiting de-
volopmcnt at tho expense or the general
q0vcrnmcnt2 Is there man OF your
rorsonal acquaintance with an ounce az
silvor huuio1 on hand who would be
benefited and convenienced by me ad-
doption of free coinage. Did YOU ever
see or hear Of n pound % silver bullion
I'm vour life I'm the state Of Virginia or In
arv other Southern State2 II not. then
free coinage cannot benefit "our section
I'm the way OF development OF our silver
mining industries and having no mines
10 develop the adoption Of me measure
can hardly result ia putting more money
ia direct circulation In your immediate
| ueighbOrhOOd
We have no silver 10 coin. so free coin
age does not interest u ia this way-we
need the few silver spoons We have IN
orr domestic coffee Silver Is not val
liable for money except for change. Don't
YOU ask for gold or paper money or your
banker when you draw more than zen
dollars al one time? Don't you deposit
your silver as soon as you accumulate
that amount rather than carry Il on your
person? or don't you ask the first friend
you meet TO give you at least one five
and the r.st IN silver rather than wear
| your pockets out or carrying Il home
70 leave 81 I'm your pants az the mercy
OF your dear wife and children. should
they hear il rattle IN your pockets?
Haven't you gotten many white apron
ed friend 10 charge you with mint
tulip rather than have him change q
twenty in silver loading you down with
the white metal? Don't you feel Ike
numbering a street car driver who works
of" his silver on YOU when he makes
changer
You may say that you We're never bur
dened with silver. or any other money In