The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-24
e.WHERE ARE WE AT.,,
A. II. Case Expresses His Views on
Democracy and Finance.
70 Eaitor Topeka SAC journal:

To Editor Topeka State Journal:
David B. Hill and Grover Cleveland
say: I'VE are Democrats. Vim. Nc
Kinley and John Sherman say: I'VE
are Republicans" and upon the vital
question in this campaign they are for
and are fighting for the same thing.
Patrick Henry said he was an Ameri-
can and George Washington and the
continental congress sided with him
and stood squarely upon this declara-
ton during their lives. To be an Amer
lean then, as now, meant loyalty to
American institutions, American in
terests, American homes, American
policies and American laws, and firm
adherence to an American financial
system, wholly her own.
And in pursuance of this declaration
OF principles a financial system was es-
tabhShed and promulgated, making
the silver dollar a unit of value of less
than 16 to 1, under which system this
country prospeTed for 81 years, and
grew from nothing, either in men,
money or prosperity to be the richest,
strongest and most prosperous country
upon the globe.
Now, forsooth, the Cleveland Demo-
Gratis and Mckinley Republicans want
US to repudiate the policy of our faith
erS and adopt the policy of that gov
eminent which they successfully fought
and which they unanimously condemn
ed. And Why2
The United states incurred certain
obligations and issued its bonds and
were offered in the open market for
sale with the condition incorporated
therein by the act of congress that they
were to be paid in coin. Those who pur-
chased these securities were bound to
take notice and knew these conditions
of payment at the time of their pur-
chase. They knew that the payment
IN coin was the coin OF the constitution
gold and silver. Upon these terms
the contract was made and upon no
other terms or conditions whatever.
Now the followers of the gold men,
Cleveland, Hill, Mckinley and Sherman
and of the st. Louis cabal, want the
United States to amend the contract,
and where it says coin insert gold, as
the payment intended in the securities
so held by the purchasers. And that
is not enough, but they want all ObH-
cations of the government heretofore
and hereafter made, and all individual
contracts to be paid in gold. And that
is not enough; they want the people to
say by their votes that the word coin
in our constitution which our fathers,
the courts and congress have con-
strued to mean both gold and silver, is
now to he understood to not include
silver but only gold They want US to
go still farther, and by our votes for
Mckinley and their platform. declare
that silver is not money. but is a COM
modify, to be classed with brass, cop
per and the baser metals.
Art. vi,SeC. ? of the constitution says:
This constitution and the laws of the
United States which shall be made in
preme law of the land.
Art. i, sec. 8: The congress shall
have power to coin money and regulate
the value thereof, and of foreign coins
anything but gold and silver coin a
tender in payment of debts.
The act of congress declaring that
the debt shall be paid in coin is the
supreme law, and cannot be changed
as to those debts contracted under it.
These constitutional provisions cannot
be changed or amended by congress,
the vote of the people or by any party
platform, or all combined. This law of
congress and the constitution has been
trOdden under foot by both the Harri-
son and Cleveland administrations at
the behest of the gold element of this
country, and coin, by them, construed
only gold. They have, in strict viO-
lation of the constitution and the oath
which they took, made silver a com
modify, something which does not lie
in the power of the American congress
to do No sane public man has ever
disputed that the coin named in
the constitution included silver. It
has remained for the St. Louis cabal
to say for the first time in the history
of this country, by any party, that
silver shall no longer be classed as
money metal
They tell US that silver must not be
regulated by congress as to value, or
coined at any ratio. They tell US that
the United States has no option, but
the option is with the holders of our
securities, as to the kind of coin they
shall receive. They tell US that the
United States is not competent to man
age her own affairs. They tell US that
when England gives her consent, we
may then adopt silver as a money
metal, at the price and ratio to be fixed
by her They tell US that the consti-
tuition, article 1, section 8, must be con-
strued and made to read, THE con-
gress shall have power to coin money,
but the value of silver money shall be
regulated by England" This doctrine
of these Hessians of finance is I'm
American and opposed to every interest
of this country. BY it we become a
mere dependent of Great Britain. By it
we put the control of every branch Of
our domestic affairs in the control Of
that nation, which has been known from
| ancient times as the ''rObber nation. -
BY it we lose our independence and be
come the financial ally of a nation that
would despOiI US of the right of self
government and the right to regulate
the price of the bread that we eat the
clothes that we wear and the minerals
which we produce.
Are the voters of this country pre-
pared to allow and permit Great Brit
! ain to regulate our finances and the
! price of our commodities?
Those in favor of England will vote
/ for a gold standard; those opposed will
| vote for the coin of the American con-
| stitution. A. H. CASE.
Mineral Water.
The finest in the west. Come and try it
J. W. PHILLIPS. SIP W. Eighth Ave