Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-10-08
SewalI's Letter Of Acceptance.

nominees of political parties, especially
| of party which thinks it is big enough
to support two vice presidential candi-
dates, with respectful consideration;
also when any one of those several
nominees addresses the public to dis
cuss his utterance with gravity rather
than with outlaws Accordingly it may
be Well to assume that Hon. Arthur
Sewall's letter of acceptance is worthy
of serious consideration and argument
Mr.. Sewall's first thought is of the
credit. which he thinks is due him, for
taking his stand on the side of free sill
Yer. We would not interrupt whatever
of satisfaction he may derive there
from but would leave him alone with
his pride-and Watson. Also when
Mr.. Sewall announces that he and
those. who with him are assaulting the
Entertainments, have rescued the
Democratic party from those. who.
under the influence of the money power,
have controlled and debased it," it is
best to leave him to the tender mercies
of those debased Democrats, who for
long years were respected and admired
by the party of jefferson and Jack
son, and who today hold to the cur
rency views of Jefferson and Jackson
in opposition to the views of Sewall,
Bryan, Tillman, Altgeld, the silver
trust and Treasurer st. John. Further
more the broad minded and long suf-
fering charity with which Mr. Sewall
speaks of those who doSnot believe in
free silver in these words, human sell
fishness makes these deaf to all ap-
peals," must be it's own reward and
the victims must find relief in the
thought that Candidate Sewall didn't
call it inhuman selfishness
But when Mr.. Sewall says that none
deny, save those whose interest it is
to do so, whose profits would diminish
as prosperity returns to those on whose
distress they thrive" it is but proper
to say that he is stating what is not
only not susceptible of proof, but which
is generally known to be untrue. The
hest excuse that charity can make for
him is lamentable ignorance on his
part. The same excuse will also have
| to do duty for his statement, in effect
re-
not capital and are not as much inter
ested in the best money in the world"
as are the other ten per cent. More
over When he tiptoes up in the beati-
tudes of climax and places as the kew
stone of his fabrication this delphic
utterance How also can YOU increase
labors purchasing power but by in
creasing the price of labors products?"
it seems well to pause a moment for
breath.
Those who take Mr.. Sewall seriously
may wish that he had specified those
who thrive on distress, for they are not
generally known. but Judging from the
past Mr.. Sewall will carefully avoid do
ing SO, and the rest of humanity will
have to goabout under the cloud of sus
picion that they are those who thrive
on the distress of other people. But
Mr.. Sewall has asked question and
should receive an answer, though it
would appear from his manner that ne
didn't expect one. He wants to know
how else labor's purchasing power can
be increased but by increasing the price
OF labor's products. In the first place
we would appeal from Sewall the poli-
tician to Sewall the business man and
) ask him If in his latter role he does MT
believe that the prices Of products NJ
, labor can be raised so high as to re.
duce the demand for those products
How will he explain the fact that dur-
ing the high prices of 1867 but s4s
pounds Of cotton per capita were con.
sumed in this country and that while
wages were increased the amount of
cotton consumed was also incra. Gin,
until in 1892 the amount consumed T.,
this country was 24.Os pounds ner =. nj;