The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-10-08
AN OPEN LETTER.
Il. +. Ranncy. an Old Texan, Writes or
the Political Situation.

Fort Worth. Tex. Oct. 1.-(Special)-
4 prominent business man of this city,
Il democrat, recently received an exceed
ingly interesting letter upon the political
issues of the day from Mr.. Il. +. Ranney.
for forty years Il resident of Texas. but
temporarily living at Meriden. Conn.
Col. Ranney settled in Jefferson. Texas.
before the war and was one of the lead
ing merchants of that section. About
1870 he removed to Mckinney and was
the principal promoter and owner of the
large flour and oil mills and also one of
the largest land owners of Collin county
But few men have been more promi-
nenty and closely identified with the
business interests of Texas than Col.
Ranney. In his banking enterprises he
was associated with such well known
men as Hon. I. u. Ncwsom of Mckin-
ney and the late Frank Daugherty of
Gainesville. Having acquired Il COM
petencc. Mr.. Ranney spends Il part of
each year with his relatives in Con
necticut. where he also has large business
interests. He is Il man of rare ability.
has never dabbled in politics. studies all
the great questions of the day from Il
business and humanitarian standpoint,
and number of his old democratic
friends in this city who have read the
following letter regard it as n re-
markedly clear statement of the issues
OF the present campaign.
AIeriden, Conn, Sept s. 1896.
Dear Friend-Yours of the 2nd inst.
was duly received. That wave If demo-
cratic prosperity which struck the coun-
try in November. 1892. has not vet spent
its force and will not for some line to
come. especially in Texas. which is al
ways last to feel the hard times. md also
the last to recover. and | will here say
tbpt tho country a trnnl and
prosperous Il condition as it over has
been when in the hands of the free trade
democracy. On March 1. 1893, Mr.
Cleveland and his party took possession
of the most prosperous country and the
richest treasury in the worlG. but. with
all its vast resources. under the wither-
ing and deadly blight of his 'ln-Amcr-
sustaining and on the road to bank
ruptcy. They have given the country
Il backSet from which it will take a
decade to recover. The present is the
fifth time since this government was or
ganized that free trade or low tariff has
been tried. and the result has always
been the same. 1t is very poor states
own people when all the money it needs
can he had by taxing foreigners and
making them pay for the privileges of
doing business in this country. You
ask me how | think the election will go
and also my opinion with regard To
financial affairs. The present ,ampaign
as view it, will have but little of poll
ties in it. the great issue is going to be
honesty against dishonesty. Dcmoc-
| racy (so-called. anarchy. socialism. COM
munism. populism and all other ele-
mentS of discord combined have chol-
lenged the honor and credit of the
government to mortal combat. and
one of the other must go down.
Which shall it be? That ques-
ton will be answered nj the polls
next November, and | have too much
confidence in the intelligence and integ-
rity of the American people to believe
that the former will gain the victory,
| but fully realize that if all of the
| free silver vote is concentrated on Mr..
| Bryan the friends of honest money will
| have something to do to prevent it.
Should the free coinage of silver he
| adopted at the present ratio. this coun-
| try would soon sink To the level of Mex
| leo. The election in Vermont last week
indicates very clearly what New Eng
land will do in November, and | think
| New York, New Jersey. MARYLAND. Del
aware and West Virginia are safe for
Mckinley. and could Texas give him
her electoral vote it would be worth
many millions of dollars to the state as
people would then go there with their
enterprise and their capital and develope
its vast resources. Ex-Governor Waller
of this state, who is one of tho most
prominent democrats in New England
said a few days ago that he hoped Me
Kinley would be elected by such an
overwhelming majority that there would
be no political significance in it. and |
want to see free trade and free silver
buried so deep in November that neither
will ever he heard of again. -Four years
ago the people wanted free trade in or
der to bring prices down; now they want
free silver i'll order to put prices up.
Each would prove equally destructive TO
the best interests 80 'hc country. How