People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1896-06-04

during the single year from 1893 10
1894 it decreased upwards OF twenty
four millions.
Upon whom has this loss fallen, Mr..
Cleveland? Certainly not upon her
cities, which have grown enormously.
Not upon her manufacturing inter
ests, for they have increased 10 the
city Of Chicago alone two hundred
and ninety-seven millions during the
past decade, while Il per cent, of the
families who reside in Chicago have
no homes.
1t is the same old tale 10 New Eng.
land and the Middle States. II has
fallen upon the great toiling masses
who make their living by the sweat Of
their faces-the farmer and the
laoOrer.
Ia no part Of the world is agricul-
ture prosgering except in silver using
countries. These are prospecting
phenOmenally>and at the expense of
the farmers Of gold-using countries.
These are not theories, Mr.. Cleye-
land, still less are they predictions,
but stern, unrelenting facts-stupend.
GUS facts that might well startle into
remorseful reflection fiddling Nero,
if not reckless bOnd-issuing Presi-
dent
Mr.. Cleveland, while you and your
allies are so prolific Of predictions
III there is a single argument in favor
of the gold standard which is not bas-
ed upon predictions and predictions,
not one of which has ever yet been
fulfilled, it has so far escaped my Oh.
servatiOn), has it ever occurred to you
to cast your prophetic vision far
enough in the future to predict what
the result will be if this state Of
things continue until Japan and
ether Silyer-using countries shall
have supplanted both our farmers and
manufacturers in the markets Of the
world as they have already rapidly
begun?
Not a single selfish prophecy of a
Sherman or Carlisle was ever as well
founded as the prediction that in
this event, our masses who labor,
whether in factory or on farm, will
become so impoverished that our pub
lie schools, our colleges and our
churches will be decimated from
sheer poverty and consequent in
ability TO attend.
Are not free institutions, nay, even
civilization itself, at stake.
Your excuse, Mr.. Cleveland(fOr you
and your class ale as prolific Of ex-
cuses as you are of predictions, for
laying upon the property of the
people these heavy mortgages in the
shape Of bonds, instead Of restoring
silver to its cOrruptly lost monetary
functions is, l know, that Wall street
insists upon raiding the Treasury.
But your excuse has by yourself been
proven sham. For during your first
administration, when you still indulg-
ed hopes of future preferment and
therefore felt sense Of responsibility
to the people whose favor you court
ed, your Secretary Of the Treasury
very successfully and very summarily
stopped this same sort of raid by
threatening to obey the law and pay
out silver instead Of gold to these
raiders OF New York and London. 1t
could be done in ten minutes again,
but now that you no longer hope for
future office and have possibly, If not
probably, become part owner in these
same mortgages with which You so
ruthlessly burden the people, who
have hoDored and trusted you, you
turn upon your party, to whom you
are so much indebted, and threaten
10 break it up, as in Kentucky and
Nebraska, unless the people tamely
submit to your hallOwed schemes.
May not, Mr.. Cleveland, suggest
that you pause and ponder results,
lest your name; together with that
of John Sherman who resigned Fed
eral Judgeship to escape impeach-
ment for corruption 10 office, all 90
down in one common grave OF in
fanny?
1t is favorable part Of the schemes
Of yourself and allies to avoid a dis
cussion of financial questions, as
usual among intelligent men, upon
history and experience, but boldly TO
predict all sorts Of calamities the bet
ter to hide the ealamities that already
exist a d TO denOunce those who are
guided 10 their reasoning by the ex'
perience Of the past as ''cranks, y
'knayes." etc. With a lofty, super
cilliOus self importance, too, born Of
the impudence Of unholy wealth, the