The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-10-02
MAYOR PINGREE'S LETTER.
Declares for Protection and Reel
procity. The Country Needs
Them.


At the Grand Rapids convention after hi
nomination for governor, I'll. s. Pingree an
nounced that he would write formal lette
of acceptance. Here 1t is:
To the voters of the State of Michigan:
At the time accepted the nomination 70
governor at Grand Rapids, stated that
would give an expression to my views upol
some of the questions involved in the pres
ent campaign.
The unusual interest manifested by voter
of all shades of political opinions and tn,
honest differences even among those whit
are republicans, make it proper that should
clearly define my position on matters of ma
tional interest, although they are. in meas
ure, distinct from local and state issues.
ry of the republic when each one should be
more willing to say to his neighbor, "Come
and let us reason together" What party
policy will best subserve the greatest good
of the greatest number? What party prin.
ciples will most surely restore confidence,
open up the channels of trade, set in motion
the wheels of industry, and give employ
ment to idle hands? Each Individual must
answer these questions in his own mind
without prejudice or personal interest, aud
after thorough conviction record his answer
in the only way that is known in this coun.
try for recording it.
The question is not what is best for the
east or the west, for the north or the south,
but for the republic. Not what is best for
today or tomorrow, or next year, but for the
years that are to come.
The republican platform adopted at st.
Louis pledges the party to the time honored
principle of protection. No other platform
does. This has always been a fundamental
republican principle. To abandon it would
be to commit this nation to the present poll
cy of the democratic party, which policy,
believe, has been largely Instrumental in
bringing us to our present condition. Can
we consent to such abandonment? l, as a
business man, cannot.
The republican platform pledges the par
ty to the principle of reciprocity which was
inaugurated under the wise leadership of
our greatest modern statesmen. No other
platform does. Are we ready to forsake that
principle? L, for one, am not.
1t is source of regret to me that these
questions, which, In my judgment, are so
vital to the interests of the American people
are so little discussed in the present cam
paign.
do not believe that the free trade party
of this country should be continued longer
lowed to dodge its responsibility for the
present distressed condition of the people.
There is no property in this country that
does not represent the concentrated labor of
the American people. ANY policy which
seeks to depreclate the value of labor de-
stroys in the same degree the value of prop
erty, and every policy which seeks to de-
preciate the value of property destroys in the
same degree the value of labor. Property
and labor are children of one flesh and
blood. A policy that diminishes the con-
Stunning power destroys values. All laws
should be made with view of harmonizing
their differences and equalizing their values
and when employment is given to every idle
hand there will be no surplus of farm prod
ucts. Consuming power is increased in the
proportion that men are employed and re-
ceive liberal compensation for their labor.
The republican party has always stood for
both gold and silver as the standard money
of our country. This policy has been
taught us so long that we cannot, without
serious disturbance, now easily abandon 1t
for either gold or silver recommendation.
In 1888 the party platform declared that
the Republican party is In favor of the use
of both gold and silver as money. and con-
dennis the policy of the democratic admins
traton in its efforts to demonetize silver"
In 1892 it declared in favor of both gold
and silver as standard money. This year at
st. Louis it emphatically reaffirmed its ad-
herence to that policy, and declared in favor
Vi LILO pIcoCub CAiotin6 oeouuuhus hos
standard is best defined by the law itself,
now upon the statute books of the United
States. 1t reads as follows:
"And 1t is hereby declared to be the poll
cy of the United States to continue the use
of both gold and silver as standard money,
and to coin both gold and silver into money
of equal, intrinsic and interchangeable val
ue, such equality to be secured through inter
national agreement, or by such safeguards
OF legislation as will insure the maintenance
Of the parity in value of the coins of the two
metals, and the equal power of every dollar
at all times sin the markets, and the pay
ment of debts"
"And it is hereby further declared that