The Green Forest tribune., 1896-10-08
Ex-af1iNlS zs2 F2F.ELfS.
States His Reasons FOR Opposing the
Chicago Pl4sFor2s.

ter, in which he urges al true demo-
crats to join in defeating the candidates
who stand on the uu-aem6cratic plat
form adopted at Chicago.
l regard the pending presidential
election as presenting th4 most danger
Gus crisis that this country has ever en-
countered. 1t does not, in my Judgment,
involve any political controversy nor
any question Of the supremacy OF party,
FOR such consideration are lost sight Of
in the far greater gravity OF the gitua-
ton The real issue is one uPon which
all patriotic men and all who are in
terested in the prosperity and welfare
of the country should find themselves
upon one side and opposed TO common
enemy. The attack that we have to
resist is not upon the policy but upon
the life Of the nation, for they would
take its life who destroy the means by
which it lives-tl1e business of many
thousands and the industry Of millions.
On these we are all, whether rich or
poor, high or low, alike dependent.
Those who are independently rich are
very few in proportion to the 70,000,C00
of American people, the vast majority
of whom gain their living by some form
o. other Of useful employment. That
there should be prosperity in some Of
these employments and not in others, or
among one class of people and not
among others, is impossible, for they all
rest upon o common foundation and are
affected by the same considerations.
Business is generic term and COM
prehends all lawful industries. When
il is stimulated all profit; when it is de-
pressed, all suffer. No part OF the body
can escape the effect CT general paraly-
sis or fail to get the benefit OF general
good health. When business fourishes,
the laborer is in demand; when it de-
clines. he stands idle IN the market
place.
Business of whatever sort in a coun-
try like ours, rich in resources, full of
energy and vitality, with all harvests
everywhere ready for the sickle, rests
chiefly upon two factors-public conf
dence ard sound and stable currency.
When either is-and much more when
10th are impaired or even graveEy
preston cones, labor declines, and the
wolf approaches many a door Without
confidence there can be no credit, no
enterprise. Capital is boarded, sent
abroad or lies idle, and all industries
diminish or cease, ard the surest way
the world has ever seen TO destroy con-
4idcnce is to debase the currency and to
make it uncertain from day to day how
much a dollar is worth and how much
It is going to count for in the near fu-
ture---to take away, as is now proposed.
cne-half its value to begin with and to
set the other half to fuett1ating TO an
indefinite extent. with the rising and
the setting of the sun and the approach
OF every storm.
There is, therefora in my judgment,
10 nan more criminal or who is worse
public enemy than he who engages in
Ct countenances That Infamous and de-
structive attempt because the less
1ran has. or the less he earns, the more
necessary it is to h1n that the value of
that little should he maintained and
made sure, and that the few dollars IN
his pocket should be as gcod dollars as
there are. As we'll might the stecrage
passengrars in vessel in mi3ocea1,
weary OF their privations, be inc'tcd by
sorne mischief maker TO scuttie tae ship
ia order to drown the inmates of the
more luxurious cabins, urc onscious that
they themselves must be equally the vic
tins cf the common calamity.
The party is already hopelessly dis
! j
rot follrsv both its divisions at the game
time, however desirable it might be,
since thy are moving IN opposite direc-
1ions. en- the one side are the oidti7ne
.honored principles OF the party, uader
which al! its great traditions have been
generated, AID which ail It's illustrous
leaders have advocated. Chief and fore
most. among these principles always in
times past has been the maintenance of
sound and honest money. OF dollars that
are dollars. OF rational stamp upon
them that does not lie.
On the same side are it's mcst trusted
present statesmen and leaders. and q
very large proportion st the last OF it's
better and nest Instructed element.
Which way shall we GO th@n, since we
cannot go both ways? With its sta1es-
men or with It's camp followers? With
its principles or with It's organization
stampeded and graded BY its enemies?
IN which direction lies the future of the
T.arty if II is TO have any future? And
who arc they who will control It here
after, S'w.leli this tyranny shall hs over
rast?' Let TO man he afra il to be Fisht
On th.s quess On. FOX ii IS the right that
viii triumph in the end. whether it re-
EarInS the lsai>IN cr las..nvs u