Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-08-21
LETTER FROM IOWA.


EDIToRs AGITAToR: l thought I would
drop you few lines as to the situation here in
this Republican stronghold. In the first place,
| can tell you the Bryan kite is flying high,
with Republicans, Democrats and Populists all
hanging on, and gathering numbers every day,
and by election day, it will fly out of old Iowa
with good round majority for the man who is
for Amortization Americans. In the second
place, the goldites are becoming frightened. In
our county seat-Mt. Pleasant-the city officers
have shut down on talking politics, as it is
bad, you know! They arrested man down
there because he used his American tongue too
much Ito suit them), but before they landed
him in the ''jug," they thought perhaps they
might be little too hasty so they turned him
loose. Now this free CD American is likely
to jog their memory little about American
freedom.
1t is hard to tell where this crazy free-siver
question will stop. This county of Henry has
a Republican majority of about 8oo One of
our Republican papers admitted last week that
it would be close run this year. The people
are beginning to think that there is something
vastly wrong besides "lack of confidence"
when sells for IS cents; oats, 8 to 10 cents;
wheat, As cents; rye, go cents, and so on.
The Republicans tell us that if Mckinley is
elected we will have high times again. If we
remember rightly, there wasn't great sur
plus of confidence in Harrison's administration.
If there was, where was it at?
l ain glad that American common sense is
coming to the front once more, it did in the
days of Washington and Lincoln. The days
of the bloody shirt and the blind baggage tariff
are no more; but instead of that, it is the story
of the ragged shirt and America for Americans.
This is a campaign of education. On one
side of the question is, Silver-shal it, as
product of America be backed by the govern
ment, the same as gold is, which is asoa product
of America? On the other side, the question
is, Shall our gold alone be the standard of
value, thereby forever destroying the value of
an American product?
Would it be fair deal to all classes for this
government to pat gold on the back and say to
it, You good boy; you are very scarce
article, therefore come up higher? and to silver
say, 1t is true you was our constitutional money;
you was good enough for Washington and Jack
son; you paid our debts in the years gone by at
100 cents on the dollar, but to-day you are only
worth So cents on the dolar-you are debased,
dishonest-we don't want you-GEr OUT?
The Republican party, in 1892, pointed us
to England a country of poverty and low
wages, and told us that we, as Americans, new
er should do as England would like for us to
do. Now, they get on their high heels and
shout to us about the prosperous times in that
gold-standard country. Our dear Republican
brothers should remember that they cannot fool
Americans very much longer. This is great
issue-one of more Importance than has been
before the American people for many years. 1t
is question that strikes all interests all over
this nation more than chattel slavery ever did.
Every man should consider before election day
whether he is for the interest of all Americans,
or for the eastern money-lenders and England.
If every voter throws his party prejudice to the
winds, he will be enabled to settle the question
of life or death to this land that has always
boasted of freedom. So hurrah for BRYAN and
American independence!
Winfield, Iowa. GEO. c. NEWTON.