Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1896-09-11
HOW SHALLIVOTE?
Letter to Young Men.

people this fall, are not partisan meas
ures, but basic principles Bimetallism
and Monometalism are not the slogans
of the great parties. Both parties advo-
cate gold and silver as money; but one
advocates honest bimetallism the other
dishonest bimetallism. Money is the
international medium of exchange. "The
Democratic platform has declared III
favor of the instant reputation OF al
fury! For republic TO live, its citizens
must be intelligent moral, busy and
satisfied. Moreover a proper combina-
ton of strong Federal authority, with
local independence must be maintained.
Some proposals of the democratic plat
form, threaten the strength and stabili-
ty of our National government. 1t de-
clares that the Federal authority must
violence, even when rullianism of the
worst European tendencies, amounts to
insurrection, and PARALLELS, as at Chicago
recently, the industry and commerce Of
the Nation. 1t would revolutionize the
highest legal body of our land, the SUI
preme Court, and bring the administra-
ton of law under the caprices of popular
the obligations which are created by the
existence of such an international medi-
UNI" The democratic proposal may be
sincere, but is nevertheless unrighteous.
A falsehood by legislation is rs bad as
an outright lie The republican plat
form proposes, on the other hand, the
full and square payment of every debt
in money, which shall be good and Of t'H
r,tIte all orer the rorid. 1t champions also
an understanding among the nations,
which shall lead to the common coinage
of gold and silver, at fair and fixed
ratio so that one dollar shall be worth
rs much as another. What is the diff
ference, then, between the two parties
on the money question: THE republ-
cans put the National honor and good
faith tIS and the coinage Of silver sec
ond. The democrats and their allies,
put coinage of silver first. and orcri1ok
the question of financial integrity alto
gether.'
There are other differences worth
mentioning, the working out of which
are so important, that they may decide,
as political economists of high repute
believe, whether or not American Re
publicanism will survice the 10th cen
election. 1t would throttle civil service
reform, by kicking agains, the life terms
of capable officials, trained to their
work. Do these declarations point to-
wards national stability. or towards
disorder and anarchy: The advocates
of these principles claim they are sincere;
but good intentions do not sactify evil
counsel and pernicious doctrine Sin
cere fanatics work more evil than hyp-
ocrites An attack upon public order
and security must be resisted, no matter
how pious and well meaning its advo-
Gates!
But how about the spirit of the demo-
Gratis and their allies in this campaign:
Is it sober, serious and reverent: Does
it inspire confidence and respect
Read of the bcdlam at the Chicago con-
vention Recall that the men who are
acknowledged as the brainy and con-
sentative leaders OF the democratic
party, could not have, and would not ii
they could, voice in that meeting
l, ,ol, 4
great organization, but IA wild and fren--
zied pandemonium. This in itself may
be IA trifie; but ii speaks of the confusion
of reckless and unbalanced minds. 1T
is the unconscious confession of men
who are insensible to reverence, and
therefore unfit for power.
1t would be to no purpose to say that
Mr. Bryan is not a man Of personal
purity and piety. But is he fit to guide
the destinies of this magnificent nation?
He has consented to stand on platform
which is the embodiment Of unwisdom,
rashness and disorder. No man can
deny that among his closest allies and
supporters, men who will be III his cabi-
net, and hold high positions of sacred
trust, are foolish and reckless men, the
followers of the widest social and polit
ical theories, unworthy Of the confidence
of the friends of law and order On the
other hand is Major Mckinley, man of
unblemished life, hard student, an
absolutely trustworthy soldier, sound
business lawyer, and a CONSCIENTIOUS
servant of the people \ look at his
face bespeaks solidity of reason and
craftsmanship. 1t is Il pledge for the
trusty and capable men he will gather
around him. 1t is suggestive that near
ly every member of the present demo
cratic cabinet will vote for him.
Bryan stands for party whose home
policy has piled up our national debt, at
the rate of tens of thousands of dollars
daily. whose forpi on uO1ipv il the 1augb-