The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-09-04
THREE BIG ISSUES
Big with Veal or Woe for the
United States.
MONEY, PROTECTION, RECIPROCITY
These Are the Ones Major Mckinley
Declares To Be Paramount in His
Letter of Acceptance.
SILVER ISSUE FIRST DISCUSSED.

ArSument being Inat free SILVER
Means Silver ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Re-
publican Position Stated - Protection,
Open Mills Instead of MINIS, Held To
BE the Remedy for the Ills That Az
| nict the Country--what He Says of the
Reciprocity and Other Planks in the
| Platform.
Canton, O., Aug 27.-Major McKinley's
letter of acceptance was issued yesterday.
1t is as follows:
Hon. John M. Thurston and Others,
members of TIE notification COMMITTEES Of
the Republican national conventions:
Gentlemen: In pursuance Of the prom
Use made to your committee when notified
of my nomination as the Republican can
didate 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 BIO considered unnecessary in view
of my remarks on that occasion and those
I have made to delegations that have Wis.,
tied me since the st. Louis convention,
but in view Of the momentous Importance
OF the proper settlement of the issues pre-
sented on our future prosperity and
standing as nation, and considering only
the welfare and happiness of our people,
could not be content to omit again call
ing 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 a century past has been the best
hope of the world and the inspiration of
mankind. We must not now prove false
to our own high standards in government,
nor unmindful of the noble example and
wise precepts of the fathers, or of the con-
idence and trust which our conductin tho
past has always inspired.
The Free Coinage of Silver.
For the first time since 1868, If ever before,
there is presented to the American people
this year clear and direct issue as to our
monetary system, OF vast Importance in
its effects, and upon tho right settlement
of which rests largely the financial honor
and prosperity Of the country. 1t is pro-
posed by one wing of the Democra tic
party and its allies, the Peoples and Sill
yer parties, to inaugurate the free and I'M
limited coinage of silver by independent
action on the part of the United States at a
ratio 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 conserva-
l.
from their old party associations and
| uniting with other patriotic citizens In
emphatic protest against the platform of
the Democratic national convention as an
assault upon the faith and honor of the
government and tho welfare of the people.
| We have had few questions in the lifetime
of the republic moro serious than the one
| which is thus presented.
| Character of Money Important.
The character of the money which shall
measure our values and exchanges and
settle our balances with one another 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 investigation, and in the end
sober and unprecedented Judgment Mt 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 of labor. 1t
would mean the free use of the minis 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. 1t would not
make farming less laborious, or more
profitable. Itwould not start factory or
make demand for an additional days
labor. 1t would create no new occupa-
tons. 1t would add nothing to the COM
fort of the masses, the capital of the peo-
pie or the wealth of the nation. 1t seeks
to introduce a new measure of value, but
would add no value to the thing meas
ured. 1t would not conserve values. On
the contrary, 1t would derange all exist
ing values. 1t would not restore business
confidence, but its direct effect would be
to destroy the little which yet remains.
Meaning of the Coinage Plank.
The meaning of the coinage plank
adopted at Chicago is that any one may
take q quantity of silver bullion now
worth 90 cents to the minis of the United
States, have It coined at the expense OF the
government and receive for il q silver dol
|
payment of all debts, public and private.
The owner of the silver bullion would get
the silver dollar. 1t would belong to him
and to nobody else. Other people would
get 1t only by their labor, the products of
their land, or something of value The
bullion owner on the basis of present val
ues would receive the silver dollar for 30
cents worth of silver and other people
would be required to receive 1t as full
dollar in the payment of debts. The gov
eminent would get nothing from the
transaction. 1t would bear the expense
Of coming the silver and the community
would suffer loss by its use.
We have coined since 1873 more than
400, 100000 of silver dollars, which are
maintained by the government at parity
with gold, and are full legal tender for
the payment fall debts, public and private.
How are the silver dollars now in use diff
ferent from those which would be in use
under free coinagep They are to be of the
same weight and flneness; they are to bear
the same stamp of the government.
Why tho Value Would BE Different.
Why would they not be of the same