The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1896-03-07

the Tree coinage men control at Sedalia
and have the honest courage of their
convictions, | presume they will COM
mission delegates to the Chicago con-
v%entiOn TO express their convictions in
the construction of a platform and the
nomination of candidates. Is it wise
to select men TO represent you who
are avowedly opposed to the cause YOU
wish promoted. | am told we can in
struct them. Certainly; but if you
should send al agent on some important
private business, would You select a
man who had your interests at heart,
or would you select a man opposed
to you, and rely on Instructions? If
such men went to Chicago and Obeyed
Instructions, both in the spirit and
letter, they would either s~tultIfy them
selves or be mere ciphers on the
delegation.
But you know they would not be
ciphers. They might allow their votes
to be cast under the unit rule, but they
would in every other way strive to
defeat the very end their votes would
tend to advance. Why do gold stand
ard men want to go rs delegated? Is
it to promote the cause of silver COIN
age or to obstruct it? The question
answers itself. The Missouri domoc-
racy has taken Its position on tins
coinage question. We must press reso-
lutely forward if we mean to achieve
practical results. 1t is worse than
chlld's play to beat tom-toms and do
all we lave in the preliminary strug-
giles if we are TO strike our flag now
when we are come to the real battle.
A step backward is to invite If not to
insure defeat. Talk of reading people
out of the party is nonsense. Nobody
is read out, unless a man choose TO
say he is read out because he is not
simply to elect delegates to the
Nationl Convention who are in accord
with the party sentiment, and who
will strive, as a matter of conviction,
to execute the will of those they rep
resent. If the gold men are In con-
troll at Sedalia 1 will throw up my
hands, and, SO far as 1 am concerned,
give them what they are entitled to-a
clear field. If the gold men are in
control at Chicago they will adopt a
gold platform and indorse Mr.. Cleve-
lands policy. That Is as certain as
fate. L am in favor of preventing
that, if possible; but it cannot be pre-
vented by sending Cleveland men to
represent silver constituencies in the
convention.
Thus [ state my own views frankly.
The hour demands that all of us should
speak with the utmost candor, aud
without evasion l state my own views,
rrhfnh BnAuu nrn annOprrnd IN hu
many others. Some of our silver coin
age friends have expressed themselves
in favor of allowing the districts to
select their W delegates, without
reference to their views on the coinage
question, and then to instruct the dele
cation to vote as a unit for free com
age. | am, as you say, personally
opposed to that; but if q majority of
the convention favors that view, ! a
only acquiesce. Whatever your views
may be on this phase of the question, |
still urge you just as earnestly to orgen-
ize our forces so hat the free coinage
men may have the power and oppor-
tunity to do whatever they deem for
the best when the convention assem-
bles at Sedalia. The friends of the
single gold standard are actively
organizing, and we must be vigilant
and active if we expect to win. Take
nothing for granted. Lay out for
yourself a work to do, and do it. AS
already stated, l have no more reason
to work than you. L am not a candi-
date for any official or political promo
ton. l want nothing for myself or
any other individual. But my dearest
rights are at stake, as are yours, and l
mean to do my utmost for the cause of
true democracy and good government,
although in doing this L subject mysefs
to all kinds of misrepresentation and
aspersions. Respectfully,
Wa I CrnNn