The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-04-25
In a Blistering Letter by Gov
ernOr Altgeld.
OF OFFICE
Aliases His Intelligence and De-
strOys His Honesty.
Cleveland Shown Up as a Thor
OughgOing Scamp.

public today the governor replies 70 the
address on the money question which
the secretary recently delivered at the
Auditorium in Chicago. Governor Alt
geld's letter is as follows;
"A teacher should be willing to an
swer questions. At the close of Mr.
Carlisles speech a number Of gentle
men arose and asked for further infor-
nation. but he turned his back and
slipped off the stage, and by direction
of his managers the questioners were
hustled out by policemen. He could
have made himself very interesting on
a number of points which he persistent
~ ignored. In 1873 when discussing the
money question in congress he express
ed his convictions in the following Ian
II shall not enter into an examination
or the causes which have combined to
deprec1ate the relative value of silver.
and TO appreciate the value of gold.
since 1850, put / am one OF those who
believe that they are transient and
temporary in their nature and that
When they have passed away, or have
Deen removed by the separate or united
actions of the nations most deeply in
UeresUed in the subject, the old ratio of
actual and relative value vii be re-eS-
taDlished on a frmer foundation than
ever 1 know that the worlds stock of
precious metals is none too large, and
see no reason to apprehend that it will
ever become So Mankind VIII be for
UunaIes indeed, if the annual prOduc-
ton Of gold and silver coin shall keep
pace with the annual increase Of pOpu-
IatiOn, commerce and industry.
according to my view of the subject
the conspiracy which seems to have
been formed here and in Europe to de-
stroy by legislation and otherwise from
rhree-SeVenths to One-half the metallic
money Of the world is the most gigan-
tie crime of this or any other age
The contamination of such a scheme
would ultimately entail more misery
upon the human race than all the wars
pestilence and famine that ever occur
red in the history of the world The b.
sOluIe and instantaneous destruction Of
half the movable property of the
World, including horses, ships, railroads
and all other appliances for CARVING
on commerce While fit would be felt
more sensibly at the moment. would
NOT produce anything like the prolonged
ulslIesS ana REORGANIZATION Of society
lnal must inevitably result from the
permanent humiliation of one-half of
the metallic money of the world.
4 zSl 1. JOHN g. CARLISLE
1t viii be seen that this language is
clear and emphatic. and has none of
the SOphistry and pettifOgginsr q i077t If
that are found in his Chicae5 sTes9I,
His awful predictions made in 1873
came to pass. He not only saw his
own prophecy fulfilled, but he saw the
misery of his country become av1o,7
greater than he had predicted Ein1
ing that his views had been correct ne
continued to hold them until he en-
tered MI Cleveland's cabinet, when in
some mysterious manner there was a
change of heart, but for some reason
ne seems unwilling to talk about if
mere are two other members of the
caDlnet HoNe Smith of Georgia and
Fde rDert OF Alabama. who like Carlisle
nad made their voices heard for near
ly a life time in demanding the rasto,.
allon oI SILVER and in denOuncing the
10 ia ~ I7s
and strange to saw when these no
men entered CleVeland's cabinet tba11
underwent q change of heart and like
CafHSe they avoid talking about if
When Saul of Tarsus saw a great liobf
ana changed his views he was anxiO7ls
TO tell all the world about it: but these
three statesmen seem to be ashamed to
discuss the manner of their conversion
Why did not Carlisle throw a iitf1e
light on this question:
All Of these men now denounce
those people who are opposed to the
Slilsle SOlQ standard as being Sound
rels and 1unatfcs Yet they are orT1r
following the doctrines which Carlisle
ana company preached. Are we then
TO infer that Mr.. Carlisle and his two
Gaplnel ASSOCIATES were scOundrels and
lunatlcs until they got to be old men.
and that then the tinsel Of q "a bfna+
pOSl1lon not only made them honest
put gave them brains? If not then
how are We to know which end of their
career was honest, intelligent and pat
rlotic2 For in the absence of any ev-
plalaIlOn some of us might think that
they were honest and patriotic vg7ev9
in the vigor of their manhood tha1-
were standing by WrOnged peOpIe ana
that It IS the latter end OF their career
lhap IS destitute of honesty, intelf-
gence or patriotism. Carlisle should
have told US"
Continuing Mr.. Altgeld SAYS.
MT Carlisle should have explained
why lI was that In every country where
silver was stricken down 1t was done
by the arbitrary act Of the government
and that neither commerce nor bust
ness nad anything to do with it.
1t is a fundamental law recogniza5
by an gold standard dnanciers, except
recent converts, that when the volume
of money in the world is reduced. the
se-llng price of property and coumod-
tiles goes down accordingly. therefore
wlplng out by law of nearly half the
money OF the world had to reduce the
selling price of commodities prOprotfor,-
ately- And inasmuch as the debts were
not reduced, does not Mr. Carlisle
tnlnk even now just as he did in 1873
that q great crime was committed
against the entire debtor class and
against the producing class bv bring
ing about condition of affairs by law
which compelled the debtor the pro
Queer and the labOrer to sell twice as
much property, or labor. as were for
merry necessary to get the same
amount of money!
AS there cannot be a general rise in
prices "ALHo1t an increase IN the vol
uIne Of money must not the paralysis
and stagnation continue in the world
until the volume of money is again re-
stored to what it was before silver was
stricken down"
Speaking Of the bond deal Mr.. Alt
geld says:
"A year ago Mr. Cleveland sent for
his former law partner and close friend
and through him Cleveland and Car
Isle together made a. secret contract
with another friend who was a former
client Of Cleveland, by which that
friend and his associate spectators