The record-union., 1896-08-27
William MeKinley'S Letter Of
Acceptance.
Touches Upon All Important Planks
Of The Platform.
An Exhaustive Discussion Of The Financial
Question.
A Return TO Protection and Reciprocity the Only HOPE
for the Country.

CANTON (O), Aug. 2e.-Major Nc
Kinley gave his letters of acceptance to
the press associations this afternoon,
having finished his last reading and re-
vision of it at half-past u o'clock The
letter touches upon all of the important
planl1s in the Republican National plat
form, but the first half of it is devoted
to an incisive discussion of the money
question The letter is as follows:
Hon. John NJ. Thurston and others,
members of the Notification Commit
tee of the Republican National Con-
Vention-Gentlemen: In pursuance of
the promise made to your committee
when notified of my nomination as the
Republican candidate for President,
beg to submit this formal acceptance
of that high honor, and to consider in
detail questions at issue in the pending
campaign. Perhaps this might be con-
sidered unnecessary in view of my re-
marks on that occasion and those /
have made to delegations that have Wis
tied me since the st. Louis convention,
but in view of the momentous impor-
tance of the proper settlement of the
issues presented in our future prosper
ity and standing as a nation, and con-
sidering only the welfare and happiness
of our people, l could not be content to
omit again calling attention to the
questions which, in my opinion, vitality
affect our strength and position among
the Governments of the world and our
morality, integrity and patriotism as
citizens of that republic, which for
century past has been the best hope of
the world and the inspiration of man
kind. We must not now prove false to
oUr own standards in government, nor
unmihdful of the noble example and
precepts of the fathers, or of the conf
dence and trust which our conduct in
the past has always inspired.
THE FREE COINAGE OF SILVER.
For the first time since 1865. if ever
before, there is presented to the Amer
lean people this year a clear and direct
issue as to our monetary system, of vast
Importance in its effects, and upon the
night settlement of which rests largely
the financial honor and prosperity of
the country 1t is proposed by one
wing of the Democratic party and it's
allies, the Peoples and Silver parties, to
inaugurate the free and unlimited coin
age of silver by independent action on
the part of the United States at a ra ito
Of sixteen ounces of silver to one ounce
of gold. The mere declaration of this
purpose is a menace to our financial and
industrial interests, and has already
created universal alarm. 1t involves
great peril to the credit and business of
the country. a peril so grave that con-
Servative men everywhere are breaking
away from their old party associations
and uniting with other patriotic citi-
Zens in emphatic protest against the
platform of the Democratic National
Convention as an assault upon the faith
and honor of the Government and the
welfare of the people. We have had
few questions in the lifetime of the Re
public more serious than the one which
is thus presented.
NO BENEFIT TO LABOR.
The character of the money which
shall measure our values and exchanges
and settle our balances with one an
other and with the nations of the world
is of such primary Importance, and so
far-reaching in its consequences, as to
call for the most painstaking investiga-
ton, and. in the end. a sober, unpreju-
diced judgment at the polls. We must
not be misled by phrases nor deluded by
false theories. Free silver would not
mean that silver dollars were to be
freely had without cost or labor It
would mean the free use of the mints of
the United States for the few who are
owners of silver bullion, but would
make silver coin no freer to the many
who are engaged in other enterprises 1t
would not make labor easier the hours
OF labor shorter or the pay better Ii
would not make farming less laborious
or more profitable. 1t would not start
q factory or make a demand for an ad-
ditional days labor 1t would create no
new occupations. 1t would add nothing
to the comfort of the masses, the cap
ital of the people or the wealth of the
ration. 1t seeks to introduce a new
measure of value, but would add no
value to the thing measured. 1t would
not conserve values; on the contrary.
it would derange all existing values. 1t
would not restore business confidence,
but its direct effect would be to destroy
the little which remains.
WHAT IT MEANS.
"The meaning of the coinage plank
adopted at Chicago is that any one may
take a quantity of silver bullion now
worth 53 cents to the mints of The
United States, have it coined at the ex-
for it a silver dollar which shall be
legal tender for the payment of al
debts, public and private. The owner
Of the silver bullion would get the sill
yer dollar 1t would belong to him and
to nobody else. Other people would
get il only by their labor. the products
of their land, or something OF value
The bullion owner. on the basis of pres
emf values would receive the silver dol
lar for IS cents worth of silver an6
other people would be required TO re-
ceive it as a full dollar in the payment
Of debts. The Government would ge
nothing from the transaction. 1t would
bear the expense of coming the silver
and the community would suffer by ii:
use.
THE DOLLARS COMPARED.
I'VE have coined since 1878 NOR,
than 400,000,000 of silver dollars, which