The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-10-28
a QUESTION ANS WERED.

We have received the following let
ter:
Editor Representative
Ayr, N. D., Oct. 1896.
l write you this to let you know
what kind Of reading matter is being
sent through this part of the country.
Enclosed you will find a card headed
Free Silver and Mortgages" and a
pamphlet headed "Silver Arguments
Simply Answered. The pamphlet
teaches US that there were only 8.0O0,-
600 silver dollars coined in the o. S.
prior to 1873, and that there had been
423, 900, OC0 silver dollars coined since.
They would have us believe that silver
makes hard times.
Wouldn't it be a good thing to ask
them about those greenbacks they
burnt up that helped out the 8 mill
ions of silver.
The card is trying to scare us out Of
voting for silver by telling us that
they will take our homes and property
on mortgages. II we all GO. on the
town say vote her straight, just the
live on our labor as long as we can on
slavery and bighted hopes. Yours etc..
d. L. RAND.
With the above letter came some
OF the documents referred to, full of
speciOus arguments.
The point they make as to silver Is
a mere trick The silver mines OF
this country were not discovered, or
opened. prior to the civil war; and we
did not coin silver because we did not
have silver to coin. The scarcity was
so great that Congress was obliged to
make the silver coins of Mexico, and
Spain, and the Spanish American col
onies generally, legal tender for all
debts, public and private. The state
men that 423 200, COO dollars have been
coined since 1873 is totally false. The
aggregate of silver coinage may have
reached that sum, but it consisted
nearly altogether of halves and quar-
| tiers and dimes and three-cent pieces;
and they were not legal tender for
more than $500 in any one payment.
AS to the threats to foreclose on
mortgages referred to by our CORE
spondent, we have already explained
| that the money is of no value to the
money-lenders unless it is loaned out
| and drawing interest. The most ter
rible calamity that could happen to
| the usurers would be to see the people
so prosperous that nobody wanted
their money. They would then have
| to go to farming themselves, instead
Of living upon the industry of other
men.
| As to the threat that they will claim
the payment of their mortgages in
gold, it is sufficient to say that it Mr.
Bryan is elected, and they commence
the work of foreclosure at once, (and
we dom think there is the slightest
possibility of anything Of the kind,
the farmers would have year In
which to redeem, and Mr.. Bryan
would, as President, call an extra SEES
sion of Congress, in the beginning Of
March, and Congress would repeal al
laws which permit any discrimination
between the different kinds Of lega
tender money Of the country, and il
necessary, increase the mum Der Of
judges of the Supreme Court, so as te
obtain decisions in the interest Of the
people and not of the usurers.
Our friends must not be alarmed
The American people own this coun-
try and are going to run it; and those
who don't like it can leave it.
The only way the country can be de
stroyed Is by the voters voting for pol
icies, under just such threats, that art
l..
people.
Stand by Bryan. Trust in God ant
keep your powder dry.