Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-06-11
Elements Combined in the Free Silver Cru.

tnere are men OF fecOS-
nized intelligence and integrity who
are honestly championing free silver,
but their number is conspicuous by
reason of it's smallness, and not one of
them, hat we can recall, but is re-
garded, by those best acquainted with
him. as a theorist, a crank or person
addicted to the riding of hobbies to
extremes.
On the other hand who go to make
up the faction as a whole? It's main
support rests upon the mass of unin-
formed. those whose experience with
the principles which govern the finan-
cial and business world is so limited
as to be unreliable, those who are dis
satisfied with their Indifferent SUCCESS
and are extremely DESTROYS of attrib-
uting it to something for which they
themselves cannot be held account
able. There cannot. be the slightest
doubt of this assertion, it seems to us,
for these fiat theories rage in times of
depression when men are catching at
straws to save themselvesSh from
financial difficulties. and are in such a
desperate mood that they feelFwilling
to try anything 'on the ground that
matters cannot be much worse with
them whatever happens and perhaps,
in some indefinable, un~accountable
way legislation may be had which will
produce a whirligig in conditions
whereby they may come out on top to
the surprise of themselves and their
neighbors. AS business strengthens
this faction weakens.
But this mass of individuals does not
originate the schemes. 1t is' simply
made up of tools in the hands of the
political sharper and quack. Just as
soon as those millionaires, whose
money is largely invested in silver
mining property and out of which they
were minting one so long as the
SONcI HltitHl. VI tuc oIltcu otdlcS
would give them a gold dollar for
fifty cents worth of silver, saw that
their speculations were threatened
they inaugurated a crusade for free
silver. The enormous profit to be
obtained should they succeed war
ranted the lavish expenditure of
to spread their false and PERM
cious doctrines. Immense quantities
of literature were distributed through
out the country among the people
where it would be naturally supposed
to nave the most effect. Men of great
ability were hired to write this class
of stuff, which reads much like a
patent medicine advertisement, is full
of catch phrases and appeals to preju-
dice. full of statements utterly false
and conclusions, which are plausible
but will not bear the scrutiny of those
able to scrutinize carefully and accu-
rately. Unfortunately most Of the
readers of this matter are unable to
do this.
The INSCRIPTIONS management OF
the crusade did not stop there. Every
influence was exerted. every source
possible was corrupted. Members Of
the United States Senate were led to
make unwarranted use of their posi-
ton, regardless of the incalculable in
jury that might be done. The fact
that the credit of the country was i'm
periled was taken advantage of. All
sense Of public duty, of loyalty to the
nation. Of public spirit was dulled.
The individual who stabs another for
a fewdetiars in booty never made use
OF the wicked p~retense that the end
Justifies the means, more unhes-
ltatingly than those free sill
yer senator's. Representatives of
the meagre population of the mining
states of Idaho. Colorado, Utah md
Montana a in effect, THE country
pe ID. but we wilp carry our own
selfish ends.' That the population of