The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-05-05
A WORTHLESS QUESTION
His Defense and Praise OF 2res-
ident Cleveland.
HON. A. M. wADDELL REPLIES
Shows that the People Are in Earnest
and that the Silver Question IS
Not a Question of
Ratio at All.

because OF pne nlgn clidIdCtS1 VI dsS'
author, and his position as a leading
Democrat the respectful consider
alton of the voters of that party, ana
will doubtless receive it.
The tone of the article is certainly
unexceptionable, and BELTS the pres
emit crisis in the life of the party.
1t may not be impertinent, however,
for one whose experience IN pubic
l:fe-both as to length of time ana ma
ture of service-shas been similar to
Mr.. Henderson's, to comment IN uhe
same spirit upon his article.
Concurring most heartily as l do IN
his protest against the disintegratlon
OF the party on its surrender 10 any
other political organization on account
of the silver question, | would assign
as a justification for such a course the
one great fact which he seems to have
utterly ignored or forgotten, VIZ, that
the Democratic party has always and
uninterruptedly advocated the use of
both gold and silver as money of final
payment-redempti money debt
paving legal tender money-and the
opening of the mints to the coinage of
both alike upon the same terms, and
without discrimination in favor OF or
against either, and further that under
Democratic administration the silver
dollar was the money unit, and the
ratio between the two metals was six
teen to one. These are historical facts
which cannot be disregarded, and are
essential in any discussion of the rela-
lions of the Democratic party to ques-
tions of finance and currency.
It is with perfect respect to every
body hardly ingenious in one TO claim
that he is bi-metallist when he
means by that term that gold only
should be the money of final payment,
and that silver ought to be used only
as subsidiary coin. One who so thinks
is really gold monometallist and not
a bi-metaIlist. He might just as well
say he is tri-metallist because he IA
yors the use of nickel, or copper coins
for change as well as gold and silver.
Tt would be a superfuous business
at this late day to argue to the people
of North Carolina the righteousness
and Justice, or the cons titiltional duty,
OF restoring silver to its place as stand
ard money. The sentiment ON that
subject among our people is praeti-
cally unanimous. Therefore / shall
give no space to it.
But there are passages in Mr.. Hen
derson's letter to which, as Democrat
and an American citizen ] respectfully
take serious exception.
The first one which I shall nobice is
that in which he pays q glowing trib-
ute to the President as an open and
candid man in all his views, and as
one Of whom no Southern man should
ever speak unkindly," and whom 'sev-
cry Democratic speaker win defend
again this fall'' This last expression
presents the most sanglIine view of
what the tone of public discussion by
Democrats will be this fall that have
seen. How any self-respecting Demo
ocrat, who is not gold monometallisf,
can face an intelligent audience and
defend the Presidents course, / do not
understand; and some Democrats of
that sort VIII probably be heard from
during the campaign. Such an one
cannot discuss the silver question
without eriticising the President, and
exposing his want of good faith in re-
gard to the repeal of the purchasing
clause OF the Sherman Act, and his be-
travail OF Mr.. Voorhees, and Others who.
relying on his assurances, induced
measure. That he bought some with
patronage is too notorious a fact to be
disputed, and il is equally notorious
that, although he has been the loudest
advocate of the principle of civil SER
vice reform he has been the most de-
fiant yiolator Of that principle when
ever his purposes could be served by
so doing.
He made a great pretence of unWil-
lingness to accept the nomination in
1892 until he knew what rhe platform
was. but he accepted after seeing the
platform, and it is useless to deny that
the language of the platform was un-
equivocal I'M it's assertion OF the equal
rights of silver with gold at the minis,
and that it was 50 interpreted by the
great majority. Yet we know the re-
suit.
The platform also pledged the party
TO the repeal of the ten per cent. tax
on State banks OF issue thing more
earnestly desired by the people of the
South than any other connected with
the currency. And we know the re-
suit again
The President not only did not re-
commend the fair treatment OF silver,
HuL mas Abt-CM It's AAiIINfEbbA1%S CHIEFLY
and he has not only not recommended
the repeal of the bank tax, but is un-
derstood to be bitterly opposed TO it.
Under his inspiration, in fact by his
command, the law in regard to the
payment of the obligati tons of the gov
eminent Gall of which are payable in
coin) has been directly set ait naught.
That law gives to the Secretary of the
Treasury the option Of paying those
obligations in gold or silver, but the
Secretary has disclaimed and has
transferred This right Of option to the
holder of the obligations, who, of
course, always demands gold; and the
country has been made to submit 10
the endless chain operation of the
withdrawal of gold and the issue OF
bonds to supply the deficit thus Gre
ated, until the thing has become pitt
FIJI disgrace TO the American people.
Why should any Southern man, un-
less he be am actual or expectant re-
cipient of Presidential favors, feel nm
der special obligations to the Presi-
Ian4D