The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-10-11
VANCE SAW IT CLEARLY.
Use of Silver as Well as Gold Best for
1the People

tSt u SolIftT DIS wen as NOlu BEST IOT
1the People.
On July IS, 1898, Senator Vance wrote
a letter to r. W. Elliott. secretary of
the Mecklenburg county Farmers ALI
ance, in which some sound views on the
silver question are given. In this letter
he says: s'Now the preservation of sill
yer as a part of our currency is one
of the most vital of the issues which
our people have been called upon to de-
eide for half century. The enemies
of silver money have displayed a won
derful sagacity in their tactics.
Though scattered throughout the civil
lied world they have obeyed single
voice from headquarters in London.
From New York the word
comes down the line to all American
capital and the response is immediate.
What is known as the Sherman law is
the only legislation on our statute
books which binds rs to the use of
silver, and the cry is raised for its re-
peal under various pretenses, all equal
ly false. The banks, stock brokers,
bondh02ders, etc, all clamor for its re-
peal. Many years ago after
as thorough and impartial exanina-
ton of the question as / was capable
of making, / came to the absolute con-
clusion that the use of silver as we'll
as gold, on equal terms as the basis of
our currency, was best for the welfare
of the people of the United States. =
But let things go as they may it
shall be my earnest endeavor to do my
duty in maintaining the cause Of the
people by preserving the character of
their money and increasing its abund-
ance"
Upon the appearance of this letter
the Charlotte Observer made some re-
marks rejecting upon the stand the
Senator had taken, arguing he was
differing from his party in not favor
ing the repeal of the Sherman law. In
answer to this charge Senator Vance
wrote a letter to the editor, dated July
81, 1898, from which we make the fol-
lowing extracts:
''The Chicago platform demands the
repeal of the Sherman law, as cow
ardly makshift, an obstruction to the
free coinage of silver. The obvious
meaning of this is, If that law was out
of the way we could have free coinage.
That is one of the things / propose to
put III place OF The IoneTHldu raw, anu i
propose to vote against its repeal I'M
| less that be doEe. y The pledges
of platform are joint and not separa-
Bile on the subject of silver money"
The letter also closes thus: ''Be
not deceived; evil communications cor
rupt good politics as well as good
manners. The professed friend of sill
yer money who will favor the uncondi-
| tional repeal of the Sherman law,
| trusting to the justice of capital or the
! chapter of accidents to get favorable
! legislation thereafter is either a tria-
tor or a fool. 4 = / am squarely on
the Democratic platform; | want all
the pledges kept, those which favor the
people as we'll as those desired by the
/ bankers and brokers. If a refusal to
serve them first without some guaran-
ty that he people shall participate also,
/ puts me out of the Democratic party
you will, my dear sir, if you live few
months longer, see the greater part Oh
! that party deliberately walk out of it
self, leaving nothing behind but a
smell of birthstone and Wall street"
The beloved Vance was then, as al
ways, for the people, and saw the dan
ger threatening the country, which
VIM. Jennings Bryan is to-day trying
to avert.-"A" in Augusta Chronicle.