Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1896-08-20

coinage: | refuse to he weighed in the
balance with such people.
The so-called crime" demonetiza-
ton OF silver was enacted by a repub-
lican congress In 1873. What was the
condition then of your--now state--of
Washington: You and | know that IT
Was II vast eXpanse of prairie, noun
tain and forest, but sparsely settled.
n all of its vast domain there was not
one town worthy to be called city
there was not a mile of railroad except
haps the narrow guage of DR. Baker he
Seen Wallula and Wulla Waila-and
! not certain that even that was CON
structed at that time.
Look again ut your beautiful state as
II was four years ago, when we were
entering upon the presidential CAM
paign which resulted in the election of
Grover Cleveland. What change had
taken place! Inquire what magician $
wand had touched and animated your
beautiful country, and nsk yourself, If
you will, how it was possible that SO
much could have been accomplished
during time when silver was refused
admission to the mints. BY what pro-
cess has the vast praires been settled
and turned into cultivated grain fields"
BY what species OF encouragement have
cities sprung up like magic: How has
capital been obtained to build such
magnificent line, of railway:
Upon inquiry, you Will find that the
republican party, which your columns
now so severely condemn, is deserving
of the credit for this progress. Through
their legislation, granting lands to the
landless, tens of thousands of happy.
prosperous families occupy what la
1873 was wilderness. The protection
of republican legislation by fostering
the lead mines, the coal mines, the
lumber industry, the hop industry, the
wool industry, the ilaXseed industry,
the barley industry, and every other
industry of your state, has made it pos
sible for such unpreccd ,nted develop
ment. In lS1" not one brick of the now
beautiful city of Spokane had been
laid. Where your court house stands
tOd'y the yeiping coyote might be
heard any night i'll the year. Yet, in
the less than 20 years which intervened
between the demonelization Of silver
and Cieveland's election, your city at
tanned its magnificent proportions, al
though fire with It's heSom of destruc-
ton had once swept it into nothing
ness.
In the fall of 1892, at the time TO
which | refer, not only the property in
you 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 prop
erty at reasonable prices; the resident
of your city who wished to remove
could dispose of his property. But No
vembcr 1892, arrived. The news was
flashed from one part of the continent
to the other that the democratic party
had triumphed; that Grover Cleveland
was elected. With hated breath,
thoughtful men and women in every
state of the Cnlon began to talk of the
probable consequences. Values of all
classes of property at once hegan to
| decline until now, after little over
three years of democratic administra- l.
ton, real estate in your city and every
where in your state, will not average
over one-halftne price it was when
Cleveland was elected. Is 1t because the
silver mines, or the mines in the vicin-
'ty 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 had
! daring CIevcland'- administration
| than before, or have we less money of
any Kind" The monthly renort- of the
treasury show the reverse to he the
case.
Then please explain to me why. as a
friend of the free coinage of silver,
@Ho"iu cast my No'e Tor the representa-
tive of Il party whose touch is as fatal
TO the business interests OF this nation
a L. the SIMEON of the African desert
t." human life. Explain to me how
the decentralization Of silver in ls73
brought the panic in 1898. Explain to
mo how il happened that the progress
aud tpNaIppnlpnt of hi. nation ,luri M,
the year, between 49,. and the election
of Groyer Cleveland were greater than
ever before in lis history
In answering my questions, please do
not deal in vagarieS or idle assertions,
What | say 10 YOU concerning the pro-
greSs of your state and the nation can
not be challenged. History Is said To
repeat itself, and there are those of H.