Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-09-03
M'KINLEY's VIEWS.
Republican Nominee Transmits His
Formal Letter Of Acceptance.
Protection of Primary Importanee-Hc
Fakes Strong Grounds Against the Free
Coinage of SiIver-Republican Tenets
Reviewed and Defended.

great questions of the campaign-pro-
lection, honest money and reciprocity.
About one-third of the letter is devoted
to a consideration of the free silver
question. He announces that he is I'M
alterably opposed to any such policy.
He attempts to show that the repub
licau position in the pending CAMPAIGN
is no new departure" but that its
proposition to maintain gold and sill
yer coin at parity has been the I'M
broken policy of the republican party
since 1878. He says that the farmers
and laborers would suffer most by the
adoption of free silver
The silver question. in his Judgment,
is not the only issue affecting our
money in the pending contest. He
considers the declaration of the demo
cratic and peoples parties for I'M
limited, irredeemable paper money, as
the most serious menace to our fnan-
cial standing and credit that could be
conceived, and appeals to patriotic cit
liens to promptly meet and defeat it
He condemns as lin the highest degree
reprehensible'' all efforts to array class
against class, ''the classes against the
masses, section against section. labor
against capital, the poor against the
rich," or interest against interest. He
considers protection as an issue of SUI
preme importance and observes that
while 1.-The peril of free silver is a
menace to be feared,.we are already
experiencing the effect of partial free
trade" The one he would avert; the
other correct.
He recommends the immediate re-
stora ton by congress of the reciprocity
sections of the tariff law of 1890, with
such amendments, if any, as time and
experience sanction as wise and proper.
The underlying principle of this legis-
lation, he declares, should be strictly
observed. This, he explains, is to
afford new markets for our surplus
agricultural and manufactured prod
ucts without loss to the American
laborer of a single days work that he
might otherwise procure.
He discusses foreign immigration
briefly but forcibly. He commends
legislation that will prevent the COM
ing here of all who make war upon
our institutions, or profit by public
disquiet and turmoil He favors liberal
pensions for the soldiers and sailors.
Concerning free coinage he says:
For the first time since 1858. if before,
there is presented to the American people this
year a clear and direct issue to monetary
system, of vast Importance in its effect. aud
upon the right settlement of which rests large
~ the financial honor and prosperity of the
country. 1t is proposed by one wing of the
democratic party and its allies, the peoples
and silver parties. to inaugurate the free and
unlimited coinage of silver by independent ac-
tion on the part OF the United States, at a ratio
of sixteen ounces of silver to one ounce of
gold.
The mere declaration of this purpase is q
menace to financial and industrial inter-
ests, and has already created universal alarm.
1t involves great peril to the credit and bust
ness of the country, peril SO grave that con-
sentative men everywhere are breaking away
from their old party associations and uniting
with other patriotic citizens in emphatic pro-
test against the platform OF the democratic
national convention as an assault upon the
faith and honor of the government and the
welfare of the people. We have had few QueS-
tions in the life time of the republic more seri-
Gus than the one which is thus presented.
1t 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 engaged in other
enterprises. It would not make labor easier,
the hours OF labor shorter or pay better. It
would not make farming less laborouS Or more
profitable. 1t would not start a factory. nor
make demand for an additional days labor.
1t would create occupations. 1t
would add nothing to the comfort of the
masses, the capital of the people or the wealth
of the nation 1t seeks to introduce a new
measure of value, but would add value to
the thing measured. 1t would not conserve
values On the contrary. it would derange all
existing values. 1t would not restore business
confidence but its direct effect would be to de-
stroy the little which yet remains
The meaning of the coinage plank adopted
at Chicago is that anyone may take quantity
of silver bullion now worth So cents. to the
minis of the United States, have it coined at
the expense of the government and receive for
il a silver dollar, which shall be legal tender
for the payment of all debts, public and pri-
waite. The owner of the silver bullion would
get the silver dollar It would belong to him
and to nobody else. Other people would get it
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 required to receive 1t as
full dollar in the payment of debts The
government would get nothing from the trans
action. 1t would bear the expense of coming
the silver and the community would suffer loss
by its
BimetalliSm cannot be secured by independ-
ent action our part Il cannot be obtained
by opening our minis to the unlimited coinage
of silver of the world at ratio of 10 ounces of
silver to one ounce of gold. when the CONNER
ciai ratio is more than 30 ounces of silver to
one ounce of gold. Mexico and China have
tried the experiment Mexico has free coin |
age OF silver and gold at ratio slightly in ex-
cess of 1861 ounces OF silver to one ounce
of gold. and while her minis are freely |
not a single dollar in gold bullion is |
driven out of circulation in these countries |
sill haS n lone Int in