The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-08-14


perience of France and tho Latin union with
bimetallism does not appear here. But most of
all do we regret that we could not find space
for his exposure of tho 'horrible crime Of
1872 and the Ernest Seyd myth. We advise all
who actually believe that silver was the victim
of n stealthy decentralization act in 1873 to send
for his full speech. 1t can be had free by ap-
plying to Congressman McCleary.
The following extracts from Mr.. McCleary's
great speech will give fair idea of it, After
complimenting most highly both the speech
and the personal qualities of his friend and
colleague, and after telling the story of the
blind men of Indostan who went to "see' the
elephant. Mr.. McCleary continued as follows:
II were called upon to characterize in a
sentence the speech of my colleague should
say that it lacks COMPREHENSIVE grasp Of the
several topics considered. 1t offers superficial
view OF many things, but does not indicate
thorough study of any. We are given little
land sometimes very little) of the truth on
many points, but not enough of the truth on
any OF them to warrant one III drawing impor-
tant conclusions. To carry out tho figure of
ance of an elephant by grasping its tall to
form our conception of camel by seizing its
leg and so on through the menagerie And in
lieu OF further information OH any point we
are RECALLED by having u flower of rhetoric held
beneath our nose, under the soothing influence
OF whose fragrance we temporarily forget that
we are long on fancy and short on fact.
i shall show that the gentleman's funda-
mental positions are based on half truths,
wn1cn every one KNOWS are moro dangerous
and misleading than utter falSehoods.
Silver and Prices.
By means of chart he cndeavored to prove
three things:
1. That, beginning with 1873, there has been
an "unexampled and ruinous fall in the
prices of commodities
q That there has been during the same years
practically parallel fall in tho price of silver,
and that silver Is, therefore, an almost ideal
measure of value
g. That this s'fall in prices has been the re-
suit OF the so called decentralization" of sill
yer, and, by inference, that characterization"
of silver would "restore prices" to their for
The trouble with my colleague is one that is
common to the whole tribe OF free silver men.
The year 1873 is to them what the year of the
hegira is to the Mohammedan-it Is the point
But no legitimate inference can be drawn in
relation to these matters without examining
also the course of events before 1873 and max
ing fair comparison of the two series of facts.
The chart to which now invite the atten-
ton of tho committee Is one that drew since
the speech of my colleague was delivered. It
shows the course of average prices by. ten year
periods from 1882 to lS854 inclusive. The
table from which it was drawn was prepared
by Augustus Sauerbeck, one of the authorities
speech. Indeed in the first rehearsal of this
speech, as delivered by him In Duluth last
August, and afterward In other places, the
gentleman printed this table. But by sngu-
lar oversight he did not put 1t into chart form.
This was a very unfortunate omission, for had
my friend appreciated the great Importance Of
those figures, had he given them enough study
to become impressed with their real signif-
canoe and had he then put them into chart
form and placed the chart in juxtaposition
with the one considered by US a moment ago,
he would have saved himself and his readers
from grieyOuS error