The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-09-03
M'K|NLEY'S LETTER.
One Of the Brightest, Brainest
Documents
Ever Presented to the American
People.
The Moses That Will Lead the
People

People
Out of the Land of Misery and Want, Into the
Bright Valleys Of Happiness and Pros
perity.
CANTON, O., Aug. 27.-John NJ.
Thurston and Other Members Of the
Notification Committee Of the Republi-
can National Convention-Gentleme
In pursuance OF the promise made to
your committee when notified Of my
nomination as the Republican candi-
date for President, beg to submit this
formal acceptance Of that high honor
and to consider in detail the questions
at issue In the pending campaign.
!. Perhaps this might be considered un-
necessary In view Of my remarks on
that occasion and those have made to
delegations that have visited me since
the st. Louis Convention. but In view Of
the momentous Importance Of the prop
er settlement Of the issues presented on
our future prosperity and standing as
q nation, and considering only the well
fare and happiness Of our people, I
could not be content TO omit again call
ing attention to the questions which, In
my opinion, vitality affect our strength
and position among the governments
Of the world, and our morality, integri-
ty and patriotism as citizens Of that Re
public 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 stand
ards In government, nor unmindful Of
the noble example and wise precepts of
our fathers, or Of the confidence and
trust which our conduct in the past has
always inspired.
TILE FREE COINAGE OF SILVER
bFor the first time since 1868, IL ever
before. there Ii presented to the Amer
lean 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
PSA4ly oA l4S SOQALIy. L. Is RKOpOSCu ny
/. one wing Of the Democratic party and
it's allies, the Peoples and Silver par
ties, to inaugurate the free and unlim-
ited coinage of silver by Independent
action on the part Of the United States
at q ratio of sixteen ounces of silver to
one ounce Of gold. The mere declara-
tion Of this purpose Is a menace to our
financial and industrial interests. and
has already created universal alarm.
1t involves great peril to the credit
q ~ &61n 1fr~ry ,apsf1
grave that conservative men every
where are breaking away from their
old party associations 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 peo-
pie. We have had few questions in the
lifetime Of the Republic more serious
than the one which Is thus presented.
NO BENEFIT TO LABOR.
The character Of the money which
shall measure our values and exchanges
and settle our balances with one anoth-
er and with the nations Of the world Is
of such primary Importance and so far
reaching in its consequences as to call
Tor the most painStaking investigation,
and in the end a sober and unprejudiced
judgment at the polls. We must not be
misled by phrases. nor de.uded by false
theories. Free silver would not mean
that silver dollars were to be freely had
without cost OF labor. It would mean
the free use Of the mints Of the United
States for the few who are owners OF
silver bullion. but would make silver
coin no freer to the many who are en-
gagged In other enterprises. It would
not make labor easier, the hours of la
Dor shorter or the pay better. It would
more profitable. It would not start
factory nor make a demand for an ad-
ditional days labor. It would create no
new occupations. It would add nothing
to the comfort Of the masses. the capt.
tai Of the people or the wealth Of the
nation. It seeks to introduce a new
measure Of value, but would add no
value to the thing measured. It would
not conserve values. On the contrary,
1t would derange all existing values. It
would not restore business confidence,
but Its direct effect would be to destroy
the little which yet remains.
WHAT IT MEANS.
The meaning of the coinage plank
adopted at Chicago Is that any one
may take quantity of silver bullion
now worth So cents to the mints of the
United States, have it coined at the ex-
tor 1t a silver dollar which shall be legal
tender for the payment of all debts,
public and private. The owner of The
bullion would get the silver dollar. 1t
belongs to him and nobody else. Other
people would get 1t only by their labor,
the products Of their land or something
Of value. The bullion owner, on the
basis Of present values, would receive
the silver dollar for So cents worth of
silver, and other people would be re-
quired to receive 1t as a full dollar in
the payment Of debts. The Govern
ment would get nothing from the trans
action. It would bear the expense of
coming the silver. and the Community
would suffer loss by tts use.