Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-02-14
Bolton, Texas, Oct. 10, 1895.

Messrs. ]. R. Walker, J. M. Cramer, G.
w. Cole, and others, Sparta:
Gentlemen: l have the honor to &C
knowledge the receipt of your letter of
the 18th inst, in which you request me
to express my views upon certain ques-
tions therein contained touching the
present political situation in our coun-
try. While am not now, and as you
are all aware never have been politi-
clan (having never held political office
in my life), and therefore my reply will
only be the expression Of a private cit
izen, yet always take enough interest
in the affairs of my country to endeav-
or to inform myself upon all current
political questions so as to be able to
vote intelligently, and as have no con-
cealment to make of my endeavor to
answer your questions candidly, and
whether satisfactory to others or not,
1t will be at least satisfactory to myself,
and the utterances l shall make will
represent no one but myself.
In answer to your first question, I
have to say that am bimetallist. l
am neither gold or silver mono
metallist. I favor the money of the
constitution, the money of our fathers,
gold and silver. But If we are to have
only one metallic currency, favor sill
yer, because it is the money of the peo-
pie, is most suited to the ordinary trans
actions of the great body Of the people,
and therefore most usual and conven-
lent, is more stable and and less sub
ject to dangerous fluctuations than gold.
I am in favor Of the continuance of its
coinage at the old American ratio of 16
of silver to 1 of gold, as about that
ratio it maintained itself as the prin-
cipal medium of exchange of the world
for more than 300 years prior to the
great crime of its demonetizatioN, as
the most accurate statistics will show.
Besides, it is questionable II there is
hardly gold enough in the world to
sufficiently float the commerce of the
United States unaided and alone.
am also in favor Of our country is
suing a national paper currency direct
ly to supplement our stock of gold and
silver. l am opposed to national bank
issue of paper currency by authority Of
government l want the bondholders,
banks and bankers to go out of the gov
eminent business and l want our gov
eminent to go out of the banking and
bond-issuing business, as If had the
space it could be easily demonstrated
that the people of this nation are an
nually robbed of many millions of dol
lars.
Yes, am In favor Of our nation estab-
fishing the ratio of 16 of silver to Of
gold and maintaining it without refer
ence to what Great Britain cor the bal
ance of mankind" may think or say or
do to the contrary Notwithstanding. To
coin, to establish, to fix and regulate its
currency is one of the highest and most
sacred arts Of national sovereignty. To
surrender that right to a foreign power
either directly or indirectly is the most
pusillanimous and disgraceful of all
national acts. am proud to say that the
United States it a nation-the wealth
lest and most powerful in existence,
the census shows-with twice the popu-
letion and greater wealth than Great
Britain, and our people rank with the
most intelligent, active and progressive
On earth, Their renascent energies are