The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-10-08

chord. The triumph of the silver cause
would mean moral decay, the financial
ruin and the political dishonor Of the
American people 1t would put a prem
jun upon the spandthrlft's folly, by
discrediting the thrift and frugality Of
the honest creditor, whose saw
ings would be divided by payment in
deprecated money. 1t would stop
credit, upon which all business must be
done. and with business stopped, in
dustry would be idle and commerce
would be ruined. One depreciation of
the currency making debt paying easy.
would tempt demagogues to advocate
a still further depreciation. and there
by ride into favor on the wave.
Bryan would have his successors,
until politics would put a premium up
on the most extravagant political clap
trap. The honest man in politics, who
promised no other way to wealth than
the old fashioned one of saving indus
try and foresight. would be banished
for the shyster with the most roseate
promises. Here in Kansas. in dealins
with POpulism, We have had an illus
tration in q small way of the threat
ened danger that faces the nation in a
large way.
What I mean by moral decay and
Since the Ropulstic craze came to KAN
sas, q certain class of men have ceased
TO worry very much about their ac-
cumulating debts. They hope the gov
eminent VIII help them out They have
become blunted in their nice sense OF
honor they don't care Who is wrCnged,
so their accounts are righted- The
small savers Of the east have become
alarmed at the menace of Populism
and the dishoest laws they have at
tempted to put in force. and as a re-
suit the current rate Of interest has
gone zap . per cent since the state first
developed Populist tendencies This
placi4s the business men of Kansas at
q disadvantage i'm all their ITans,l ctlOnS.
it crIpples industry in Kansas just that
mu,4h, and the poor man " no has to
borrow money is the first sufferer and
the last
And q class of politicians has sprung
up which is disgracing the state. These
men promise all sorts Of panaceas for
the relief of those in debt They have
made borrowers believe that the man
whose money they have borrowed is
dishonesty and they have made it diff
ficult for a man who breaches business
integrity and personal endeavor as a
cure for current ills to stand before GER
tain kinds of Kansas audiences
THE Kansas experiment with dishOn-
or has been a calamity to the state;
what would the same experiment cost
the natiOn2
The debts that we have contracted
as a nation and as individuals have
been contracted on a gold standard
They must be paid upon that standard
At no time in the history Of this gener-
alton now living has there until this
year. been any serious talk of paying
debts in d deprecated currency. That
which would help the poorest farmer in
Kansas would benefit me. Yet see
nothing in the free coinage of silver
under Bryan except catastrophe to eve
~ acre of land in the country
The election of Mckinley as presi-
dent will give us a statesman known,
tried and true4 and the election Of Nor
rin as governor Of Kansas means that
Kansas viii stand for honesty of pur-
pose. 1t is pertinent to ask, under what
political party has this country best
prospered- The Republican party in
vItes criticism of its record
These things are written in the
spirit Of fairness to all know that
many Of our friends have been deceived
by the sophistry Of place hunters, and
vet I believe that the honesty and good
sense and political wisdom of Ameri-
cans viii prevail To go with the hon
est winning side in this great contest
Will be worth millions OF dollars to
Kansas This election means more to
Kansas than it means to any other
community in the nation. Here and
now. she viii choose the company she
Will keep. the class she viii be put in
I have faith in Kansas. and I feel that
she will not be mistaken again.
CALVIN HOOD