St. Paul daily globe., 1896-04-26
AN OPEN LETTER ADDRESSED TO
THE SECRETARY OF THE
TREASURY.
CHICAGO SPEECH ANSWERED.
THE ILLINOIS GOVERNOR GOES
OVER THE OLD FREE SILVER
ARGUMENT.
FACTS AND FIGURES ATTACKED
MIR. AItgeld Refuses Not Only to Ac-
cept Deductions, but Official In
formation as Well.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, April 25. = Secretary
Carlisle has been answered by Gov. Altgeld
In an open letter, made public today, the gov
ernor replies to the address on the money
question which the secretary recently deliv-
cred at the Auditorium in Chicago. Gov Alt
geld's letter is as follows:
A teacher should be willing to answer ques-
tions. At the close of Mr.. Carlisle's speech, a
number of gentlemen arose and asked for
further information, but he turned his back
and slipped off the stage, and, by direction of
his managers the questioners were hustled
out by policemen. He could have made him
self very interesting number of points,
which he persistently ignored.
"In 1878 Mr.. Carlisle made a speech in con-
gress on the silver question which was marked
by none of the sophistry of his Chicago ad-
dress. He predicted ruin as the result of the
demonetization of silver. His awful predic-
tion made in 1873 came to pass. He not only
saw his own prophecy fulfilled, but he saw
the misery of his country become even greater
than he had predicted. Finding that his views
had been correct he continued to hold them
until he entered Mr.. Cleveland's cabinet
when, in some mysterious maner there was a
change of heart, but for some reason he seems
unwilling to talk about 1t. There are two
other members of the cabinet-Hoke Smith, of
Georgia, and Herbert, of Alabama-who, like
Carlisle, had made their voices heard for near
ly lifetime in demanding the restoration of
silver, and in denouncing the great conspiracy
that struck it down. Strange to say when
these two men entered Cleveland's cabinet
they underwent change of heart, and, like
Carlisle, they avoid talking about it. When
Saul of Tarsus saw great light and changed
his views, he was anxious to tell all the world
about it. But these three statesmen seem to
be ashamed to discuss the manner of their
conversion. Why did not Carlisle throw a
little light on this question?
sAll Of these men now denounce those people
who are opposed to the single gold standard
as being scoundrels and lunatics. Yet they
are only following the doctrines which Car
Isle and his company preached. Are we, then,
to infer that Mr.. Carlisle and his two cabinet
associates were scoundrels and lunatics until
they got to be old men, and that then the tin
sci Of cabinet position not only made them
honest but gave them brains? II not, then
how are we to know which end of their career
was honest, intelligent and patriotic? For in
the absence of any explanation, some of us
might think that they were honest and patri-
otic when in the vigor of their manhood they
were standing by wronged people, and that
1t is the latter end Of their career that is des-
titute of honesty intelligence or patriotism.
Carlisle should have told US.
'sIt is fundamental law, recognized by all
gold-standard fnanciers, except recent con-
verts, that when the volume Of money in the
world Is reduced the selling price Of all prop
erty and commodities goes down correspond
ingly. And, inasmuch as debts were not re-
duced, as interest was not reduced and as
taxes were not reduced, does not Mr.. Carlisle
think even now. just as he did in 1878, that a
great crime was committed when silver was
demonetfzed against the entire debtor class by
bringing about a condition of affairs by law
which compelled the debtor. the producer and
the laborer to sell twice as much property or
labor as were formerly necessary to get the
same amount of money?
sIf prices are SO reduced that 1t takes
everything the debtor can get together to
pay his fixed charges, and everything the
laborer can get together to buy a little
coarse clothing and plain food for his family,
can either the debtor or the laborer spend
much money buying other articles? And If
he cannot, then, must that not result in the
destruction Of what we once called our great