Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-09-03


safety and honor by the United States. acting
apart from other governments.
The ex-governor then goes on to say:
The silver question is not the only issue af-
fecting our money in the pending contest. Not
content with urging the free coinage Of silver,
its strongest champions demand that our pa
per money shall be issued directly by the gov
eminent of the United States. The St Louis
peoples party declarations that our national
money shall be issued by the general govern
ment only. without the Intervention of banks
of issue, be full legal tender for the payment
of all debts public and private, and be distrib-
uted direct to the people and through lawful
disbursements of the government"
Thus in addition to the free coinage of the
worlds silver asked to enter upon an
era of unlimited irredeemable paper currency.
The question which was fought out from 1865
to 1873 is thus to be reopened with all its cheap
money experiments of every conceivable form
foisted upon us. This indicates most
startling reactionary policy strangely at
variance with every requirement OF
sound finance: but the declara-
ton shows the spirit and purpose
of those who by combined action are contend
ing for the control of the government Not
satisfied with the debasement of our coin.
which inevitably follows the free coinage OF
silver at sixteen to one, they would still fur
ther degrade our currency and threaten the
public honor by the unlimited issue OF ire
deemabie paper currency. A graver menace
to our financial standing and credit could
hardly be conceived and every patriotic citizen
should be aroused to promptly meet and effec-
tually defeat it
Concerning protection, Maj. McKin-
ley says:
An issue of supreme Importance is that OF
protection. The peril of free silver is men
co be feared: we are already experiencing
the effect of partial free trade The one must
be averted, the other corrected. The repub-
lican party is welded to the doctrine of pro-
lection, and was never more earnest in its sup
port and advocacy than now. If argument
were needed to strengthen its devotion to 1.-The
American SYSTEM " or increase the hold OF that
system upon the party and people, it is found
In the lesson and experience of the past three
years. Men realize in their own daily lives
what before was to many of them only report
history or tradition. They have had trial of
both systems and know what each has done
for them.
1t is a pretense to attribute the hard
times to the fact that all our currency Is on
gold basis Those who assert that our present
Industrial and financial depression is the re-
suit of the gold standard, have not read Amer
lean history Alright, or been careful students
of the events of recent years. We never had
greater prosperity in this country. in every
field of employment and industry, than in the
busy years from 1880 to 1892, during all OF which
time this country was gold basis and en-
ployed more gold money in its fiscal and bust
ness operations than ever before. We had,
too, protective tariff under which ample rev.
enues were collected for the government and
accommodating surplus which was constantly
applied to the payment of the public debt Let
us hold fast to that which we know is good.
1t is not money we want: what we want is to
put the money we already have to work.
When money is employed men are employed.
Both have always been steadily and remuner-
atively engaged during all the years of pro-
tective tariff legislation. When those who
have money lack confidence in the stability of
values and investments, they will not part
with their money. Business is stagnated-the
life blood of trade is checked and congested.
No ,t,lin f311
which would revolutionize all statutes, or an
act which entails deficiency in the public
revenues We cannot inspire confidence by
advocating reputation or practicing dishon
eSty- We cannot restore confidence, either to
the treasury or to the people. without a change
in our present tariff legislation.
Maj. Mckinley then writes about
reciprocity as follows:
Another declaration of the republican plat
form that has my most cordial support is that
which favOrS reciprocity. The splendid results
OF the reciprocity arrangements that were
made under the tariff law of 1890 are striking
and suggestive. The brief period they were in
force. in most cases only three years, not
long enough to thoroughly test their great
value, but sufficient was shown by the trial to
conclusively demonstrate the Importance and
the wisdom of their adoption.
After citing statistics of our trade
with other coun tries, the major passes
on to foreign immigration and says:
am in hearty sympathy with the present
legislation restraining foreign immigration
and favor such extension of the laws as will
secure the United States from invasion by the
debaSed and criminal classes of the old world.
Concerning our veterans, he says:
The soldiers and sailors of the union should
neither be neglected nor forgotten. The gov
eminent which they served so well must not
make their lives or condition harder by treat
ing them Supplicants for relief in old age or |
distress, nor regard with diSdain or contempt |
the earnest interest connrade naturally
manifeStS in the welfare of another. Doubt
less there have been pension abuses and |
frauds in the numerous claims allowed by the
government. but the policy governing the |
administration of the pension bureau must
always be fair and liberal No deserving
applicant should ever suffer because of a |
soldiers and sailors gave the government the
best they had. They freely offered health, |
strength, limb and life to save the country in |
the time Of its greatest peril and the govern
Inent must honor them in their need as in their |
service with the respect and gratitude due to
brave. noble and Self-sacrifcing men. who are |
justly entitled to generous aid in their increas-
ing necessities.
Maj. Mckinley then declares that he |
is in favor of the upbuilding of our |
merchant marine and thoroughly and |
honestly enforcing our civil service |
laws. He then goes on:
rations in the platform which 1 cannot here
discuss. I must content myself with saying |
that they have my approval If. as republic |
ans. we have lately addressed our attention