, 1896-10-09
SOPHISTICATED FANATICIsM.

Denver, Colo. Oct.1.-(Special Cor
respondence Chicago Inter-Ocean.)--
| have been simply amazed at the out
rageous ~perversion of figures and facts
which is here resorted to in order to
stir up the people against those who
gress described. One of the most glar-
ing and offensive is a circular or car
toon of a dog, which is made to repre-
sent a map Of the United States, the
tail end being the New England states.
Among other pure fabrications on this
delectable sheet, which should make
every mau who has put his honest saw
ings into the building Of Colorado
burn with Indignation, is the following:
Amount Of mortgage debt
on farms...... ....... 6,019 $40 1856
This statement was sent broadcast
by the chamber of commerce of Den
yer. ] found it also in other public of
fees in which clerks paid by the state
and city were disseminating a state
ment which the man who got 1t up
knows to be a barefaced lie. In this
case, and it is only a sample of many
which have observed during my
stay in Denver. the total mortgage in.
debtedness of the United States, as re-
turned by the eleventh census, Is used
and called ''motgage debt on farms"
From the above total over 50. SOC. 000, 900
should be deducted, being the debt on
city lots. Then from the remaining
50, 200, 600, 900 the debt on acres should
come. the mortgage on acres other than
farms. which leaves the actual mort
gage Indebtedness of the United States
on farms worked by the owners at a
trine over 81, 200, 900, 900, not ove So
900, 900. 900, as stated by the free silver
people of Denver.
1t must also be remembered that over
half the farms of the United States
owned and worked by the occupants
were returned free from debt.
The value Of farms, exclusive of live
stock, in 1890, exceeded $13. O00, 900, 900.
Thus the mortgage debt Is less than 10
per cent; about s per cent, in fact.
To thoroughly realize the short
sighted fanaticism, the ~falsehood, the
dishonesty. the r~ecklessness, and the
utter disregard Of history and expert
ence which forms the basis Of the free
silver agitation, one should visit the
storm center" OF the silver movement.
If the methods here employed. and the
villainous falsehoods here manufac-
tured, would not convince a man, even
though somewhat favorable to silver,
that relief will never come from this
source, he must be past all redemption.
People whose stock in trade is deliber-
ate falsehood. and the misquoting Of
official figures with intent to deceive,
cannot escape under the protecting
aegis of honest difference, nor even OF
misguided enthusiasm. A much uglier
name must be used.
Real friends of the silver will
please keep away from Denver until
after the election. To visit the city
which proposes TO manage the finan-
ces of the United States (when Bryan is
elected) under existing conditions. is
not calculated to strengthen ones
views on the efficacy Of free silver, nor
to impress one with the disinterested-
ness of those advocating it. There may
be, and probably are, even here. honest
advocates OF the cause, but for the mo-
ment the opposition holds the fort; that
is. judging from the literature sent out.
ROBERT P. PORTER.
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