Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1896-09-16
Ex-MlNISTER PHELPS

Therefore Cannot Indorse the Doctrines
of the Populists-The Free Silver Agita.
ton Is q Menace to the Business Life OF
the Nation-A Disturbed Currency Makes
Prosperity Impossible.
Hon. Edward ]. Phelps, ex-minister
to England, has written the following
letter, in which he urges all true Demo
Gratis to join in defeating the candidates
who stand on the un-Democratic plat
form adopted at Chicago:
Iregard the pending presidential cleo
ton as presenting the most dangerous
| crisis that this country has ever enooun-
tered. 1t does not, in my Judgment, in
volve any political controversy nor any
question of the supremacy of party, for
such considerations are lost sight of in
| the far greater gravity Of the situation.
| The real issue is one upon which all
patriotic men and all who are interested
in the prosperity and welfare of the
country should find themselves upon
one side and opposed to common en-
envy. 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-the 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 pro-
portion to the 70, 900, 900 of American
people, the vast majority Of whom gain
their living by some form or other Of
useful employment. That there should
be prosperity in some of these employ
ments and not in others, or among one
class of people and not among others, is
impossible, for they all rest upon a
common foundation and are affected by
the same considerations. Business" is
a generic term and comprehends all
lawful industries. When it is stimulat-
ed, all profit; when it is depressed, all
suffer. No part of the body can escape
the effect of general paralysis or fail
to get the benefit of general good
health. When business fourishes, the
laborer is in demand; when it declines,
he stands idle in the market place.
Business of whatever sort in 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-publ1c conf
dence and a sound and stable currency.
When either is-and much more when
both are-impaired or even gravely
threatened, business suffers, general de-
preston comes, labor declines, and the |
wolf approaches many door. Without |
confidence there can be no credit, no |
enterprise. Capital is boarded, sent
abroad or lies idle, and all industries
diminish or cease, and the surest way
The world has ever seen to destroy conf
1ence is to debase the currency and to
make it unce1fRin from day to day how
much dollar is worth and how much
It is going to count for in the near fu-
5ure-to take away, as is now proposed,
one-half its value to begin with and to
let the other half to fuctuating to an
Indefinite extent, with the rising and
he setting of the sun and the approach
II every storm.
There is, therefore, in my Judgment,
10 man more criminal or who is worse
'ublic enemy than he who engages in
r countenances that infamous and de-
tructive attempt, because the less a
nan has, or the less he earns, the more
ecessary it is to him that the value OF
hat little should be maintained and
made sure, and that the few dollars in
is pocket should be as good dollars as
here are. As we'll might the steerage
assengers in a vessel i'll midocean,
7eary of their privations, be melted by
ome mischie maker to scuttle Il q. ship
1 order to drown the inmates of the
lore luxurious cabins, unconscious that
hey themselves must be equally the vic
ms of the common calamity.
The party is already hopelessly dis Y
1pted on the issue presented. We can
OF follow both it's divisions at the same
me, however desirable it might be, 9
nee they are moving in opposite direc- {
ons. On the one side are the old time
onored principles of the party, under
hitch all its great traditions have been
enerated, and which all its illustrious
,aders have advocated. Chief and fore .
lost among these principles always in
mes past has been the maintenance OF
ound and honest money, of dollars that
re dollars, of national stamp upon
lem that does not lie.
On the same side are it's most trusted
resent statesmen and leaders, and
cry large proportion at the least of it's
etter and most instructed element
Which way shall we go, then, since we
annot go both ways? With it's states
len or with it's camp followers? With
IS principles or with it's organization
and graded by its enemies?
4 which direction lies the future OF the
arty if it is to have any future? And t
tho are they who will control it here 0
fter, when this tyranny shall be over
ast?" Let no man be afraid to be right ?
n this question, for it is the right that n
ill triumph i'll the end, whether it re-
orms the party or destroys it. f