The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-08-27
He BEGINS WITH SILVER.
Says the Very Mention of It is q Men
ace to the Nation.


The letter itself is as follows:
John d. Thurston and others. mem
bers of the notification committee of
the Republican national convention:
Gentlemen: In pursuance Of the
promise made to your committee when
notified of my nomination as the Re-
publican candidate for president, I beg
to submit this formal acceptance of
that high honor and to consider in de-
tail the questions at issue in the pend
ing campaign. Perhaps this might be
considered unnecessary in view Of my
remarks on that occasion and those I
have made to delegations that have
visited me since the st. Louis conven-
ton, but in view of the momentous i'm
portance of the proper settlement of
the issues presented on our future pros
perfty and standing as a nation, and
considering only the welfare and hap
piness of our people, I could not be
content to omit again calling attention
TO the questions which in my opinion
vitality affect our strength and position
among the governments of the world
and our morality. integrity and patriot
ism as citizens Of that Republic, which
for q century past has been the best
hope of the world and the inspiration
Of mankind We must not now prove
false to our own high standards in gov
eminent. nor unmindful of the noble
example and wise precepts Of the
fathers, or Of the confidence and trust
which our conduct in the past has al
ways inspired.
For the first time since 1868, If ever
before. there is presented to the Amerf-
can people this year a clear and direct
issue as to our monetary system, Of
vast Importance in its effects, and upon
the right settlement OF which rests
largely the financial honor and pros
perity of the country. It is proposed
by one wing of the Democratic party
and its allies, the Peoples and Silver
parties. to inaugurate the free and I'M
limited coinage of silver by Independent
action on the part of the United States
at g ratio OF 16 ounces Of silver to one
ounce of gold
The mere declaration Of this purpose
is a menace to our financial and indus
trial interests and has already created
universal alarm. It involves great
peril to the credit and business Of the
country, a peril so grave that cOnserva-
tive men everywhere are breaking away
from their old party associates and
uniting with other patriotic citizens in
emphatic protest against the platform
of the Democratic national convention
as an assault upon the faith and honor
Of the government and the welfare of
the people. we nave nao rev QueS-
lions in the lifetime of the Republic
more serious than the one which is
thus presented.
The character OF the money which
shall measure our values and exchang-
es and settle our balances with one an
other. and with the nations of the
world, is of such primary Importance
and so far reaching in its consequences
as to call for the most painstaking
Investigation and in the end. a sober
and unprejudiced judgment at the
polls.
We must not be misled by phrases.
nor deluded by false theories. Free
silver would not mean that silver dol
lars were to be freely had without cost
or labor. It would mean the free use
Of the minis Of the United States for
the few who are owners of silver bull
lion, but would make silver coin no
freer to the many who are engaged in
other enterprises. It would not make
labor easier, the hours of labor shorter
nor the pay better. It would not make
farming less laborious or more profit
able TE would not start q factory or