The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-09-03

tivatsd grain neldsf 1y what speeies Of
have cities apCunS up like
mAEto3 AoW has capital been obtained
to build such magnificent lines Of railway?
Upon inquiry you viii dna that the re-
publican party, which your columns now
50 severely condemn, IL deserving of the
credit for thiS progress. Through their
granting land to the landless,
tens OF thousands Of happy, prosperous
families occupy what in 1873 was wilder
ness. The protection Of republican legis-
lation by fostering the lead mines, the
coal mines. the lumber industry, the hop
the wool industry, the daxseed~
industry, the barley industry, and every
other industry Of your state, has made 1t
possible for such unprecedented develop
meut.
In 1873 not one brick OF the now beauti-
full city OF Spokane had been laid. Where
your courthouse stands today, the yelp-
ing of the coyote might be heard almost
any night In the year. Yet, in less than
20 years, which intervened between the
demonetization of silver and Cleveland's
election, Tour city attained its magnih-
cent proportions, although fire, with its
bosom of destruction, had once swept it
into nothingness.
In the fall of 1892, at the time to which
city, but all over your state. was held
at high values; the farmer who desired
to change his place of residence could find
ready buyer for his property at reason
able prices; the resident of your city who
wished to remove could dispose of his prop
erty. But November, 1892, arrived. The
news was flashed from one part of the con-
dnent to the other that the democratic
party had triumphed; that Grover Cleye-
land was elected. With bated breath,
thoughtful men and women, in every
state Of the Union. began toztalk of the
probable consequences. Values Of all
classes of property at once began to de-
cline. until now, after a little over three
years of democratic administration, real
estate in your city, and everywhere in
the price it was when Cleveland was
elected. Is 1t because the silver mines.
or the mines In the vicinity of your state.
especially your city, are less prosperous?
The contrary Is the case, as you well
know. Have we less silver In circulation,
or have we had during Cleveland's admin
istration, than before, or have we less
money of any kind? The monthly reports
of the treasury show the reverse to be
the case.
Then please explain to me why, as a
friend of the free coinage of silver. I
should cast my vote for the representative
Of party whose touch Is as fatal to
the business interests of this nation as is
the simeon of the African desert to hu-
man life. Explain to me how the demon
citation of silver in 1873 brought the panic
of 1893. Explain to me how 1t happened
that the progress and development Of this
nation during the years between 1873 and
the election of Grover Cleveland were
greater than ever before in its history.
In answering my questions, please do
not deal in vagaries or idle assertions.
What say to you concerning the progress
ufo 10 nd &1s, ha
challenged. History Is said to repeat
itself, and there are those of us still living
who remember a time when ambitious
men, men desirous of holding positions in
the United States senate and house of
representatives., men desirous of control
ing the public patronage of this ma ton, ar
rayed one section against another, by
the use of such opprobrium as "vile Yam
kee," ''black abolitionist," and other cpl
thets, succeeded in securing the secession
Of 1s of the sisterhood Of states from the
Union. In their efforts to fix slavery as
q permanent institution, and to establish
themselves as as Southern aristocracy"
they delHged this nation with fraternal
blood. sacrificed the lives of over MIL
lion of the noblest and bravest fathers.
not under which flag they fell. the re-
sponsibility Of their lost lives rests with
those whose ambitions brought on that
fearful struggle.
We are confronted with a similar effort
today. A certain class Of politicians are
busy arraying one section of the country
against another, the West and the South
against the East How much Of their
olamor Ia due to their ambition Is SUBJ
ject for thoughtful men and women to
consider. As has been shown, the most
prosperous and progressive times this
nation has ever known have occurred since
silver was demonetzed. Ask yourself,
"Did this clamor for the remonetization
Of silver, which is arraying father against
son, neighborhood against neighborhood,
section against section, originally come
from the people, or the politician. Did
it not originate with the ambitions Of the
would-be senators Of the state of Ne
vada?" Is it not true that when the Com
stock began no longer to yield its divi-
dends the property Of Virginia City, In
consequence, began to deteriorate in value;
that then, and not till then, was the Arst
clamor raised for the reconciliation of
silver? When there was a eperiod Of de-
preston in Colorado, the politicians Of that
state took up the cry, and as Montana,
Idaho, and Washington In turn were ad-
mitted, each having silver mines, they
Joined with their neighboring states in
the interest Of free coinage, hoping there
by to at least benefit their own constitu-
ents.
Is 1t not true that when the democrats
came into power they assailed every in
dustry of the West? Is 1t not true that
Mr.. Bryan was member of the ways and
means committee Of the house which re-
ported favorably the so-called Wilson bill
Is 1t not true that when the bill was re-
ported lead was placed upon the free list
and almost every other product of your
state and the state of Idaho2 Is 1t moi
true that Mr.. Bryan made forcible
speech in favor Of free lead, free wool
free everything which we have7 Is II
not true that we owe 1t to the republicans
in the senate that we secured the three
fourths of cent protection which lead
now enjoys?
Then. If these facts be true, please ex.
plain to your readers how we may hope
Tor revival of our Industries and an
advance in the prices of what we pro.
duce by the election of Mr.. Bryan al
president. w. J. MCCONNELL,
Governor OF Idaho