The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1896-05-22
The Condition of Public Affairs.

Extracts from letter by Senator
Kyle of South Dakota to his home
paper:
Knowing your deep interest in
the welfare of the Peoples party, |
beg leave to say few words
through your columns to the voters
of our state and especially to mem
bers of our own party.
The reform movement in the
United States is gaining ground
more rapidly than even it's warmest
frieuds could have hoped for year
ago. Never before have the peo-
pie of the East been so thoroughly
aroused or the moneyed power so
anxious as they are at present.
Thousands of business men are COM
ing to realize that the depreciation
of their property is the result of a
rising standard of value and are
enlisting under the banner of free
silver. / could mention in this list
some of the most prominent finan-
ciers of the East. Scores Of large
manufacturers are declaring for free
silver, inasmuch as they know that
no tariff law, even at Mckinley
rates, will enable them to compete
with Japan and other eastern
nations, who, in addition to cheap
labor, are upon silver basis and
thus have one hundred per cent
advantage of us. The gold standard
men have smelled the battle from
afar-that the reform elements may
Join issues at st. Louis. They have
discarded democracy which has sus
tanned them so well, only because
it can render no more service and
have turned, full of hope, to the
Republican party to sustain them
in this last great struggle of the
American people. The money
power is at last arrayed against
the masses of the people in a we'll
defined conflict, and the Republican
party has become the chosen tool of
monopolies, trusts and corporpora-
lions, and reformers, notably silver
men, who expect to realize through
this party, returning prosperity
and deliverance from the terrible
expressions to which agriculture
has been subject, are very short
sighted and have failed to compre-
bend the Unsuitable greed of pluto
Gratis.
There are but two parties to- day
those who believe in the dear
dollar and an approaching standard
Of gold, and those who wish a
restoration of the standard of our
fathers, according to which our
transactions have been made for
many generations. People must
array themselves on one side or the
other, and do it soon, or there are
serious times in store for us as a
nation.
Only a short time since received
a letter from western farmer, a
level headed, conservative Amer
lean citizen, who, after recounting
his woes, said that he was through
and was "now ready to shoulder
his gum"
A prominent Republican mem
Der of Congress recently recounted
to me the condition of western agri-
culture and the outlook for our
farmers, and wound up with the
expression, "There is something
rotten in Denmark, and the peo-
pie know it,"
The chairman of the House Com
mittee on Labor, a wealthy, con-
sentative gentleman of high char
acter, stated to me few days ago,
in serious conversation, that "if
matters were allowed to 60 as they
are now our republic would not
stand twenty-five years longer"
Scores of thoughtful men in all
parties believe the same. In the
face of this can we longer debate
with ourselves as regards duty?
Who is PrOfited by American Silver.
The English purchasers of silver