Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1896-09-03
M'KINLEY'S LETTER
Accepting the Nomination For Presi-
dent of the United States.
Canton. O, Aug. &c, lssA

Members of the NotinCatlon Commit.
tee OF the Republican NationAl Con-
ventlon.
Centismeu-In pursuance OF the prom
Use made to your committee when not-
fed OF my nomination as the Republican
candidate for president beg to submit
this formal acceptance of that high
honor and to consider in detali qu-s-
tons at issue in the pending campaign
Perhaps this might Dc considered IN
necessary In view OF my remarks on that
occasion and those / have made to dele
cations that have VISITED me since ina
ST. Louis convention. but in view OF me
Hsamsntous Importance OF the proper
settlement OF the issues presented on
our future prosperity and standing as
q nation. and considering only the wei
fare and happiness OF our people, could
not be content to omit again Gaming at
tenton to the questions when ~ my
opinion vitality AFFECT our strength and
position among the governments OK the
world and our morality. Integrity ana
patriotism as citisene OF that republic
khioh for q century past has been the
best hope of the world and the iEspira-
ton OF mankind We must not now
prove false to our own high standards
in government nor unmindfut OF tha
noble example and wise precepts OK the
fathers or OF the contdencs and trust
Nhich our conduct in the past has Al
ways inspired.
For the first time since 1858, X ever be-
fore theirs 10 presented to the American
people this year q clear and direct issue
as To 0ur monetary stem OF vast I'M
portancs IN its effects. and upon the
right settlement OF which rests largely
the financial honor and prosperity OF the
country. II 10 proposed BY one wing OF
the Democratic party. and It's auiea. the
Peoples and silver parties. to inauCurate
ths free and unlimited coinage OF silver
BY Independent action on part OF the
United States at ratio OF IL ounces OF
silver to \ ounce of gold This mere
declaration u this purpose II a msnacs
To oaS financial and ind ustriAl interests,
and has already created universal alarm
1t involves great peril TO the credit and
business Of the country. peril SO grave
that conservative men everywhere are
breaking away from their old party as
associations and uniting with other pa
triotic citizens in emphatic protest
ag atRst the platform Of the Democratic
national convention as an ssSa ult upon
the faith and honor Of the government
and the welfare OF the people. We have
had few questions in the lifetime OF the
republic more serious than the one hich
Is thus presented.
The character OF the money which
shall measure our values and exchange
and settle our balances with one an
other. and with the nation. OF the world
Is OF such primary Importance. and So
call for the most pa!nstakir8 iuyast!ga-
ton. and. in the end. sober and unpre-
JUDGED Judgment at the polls. We must
not be misled by phrases nor deluded by
false theory. Free silver would not
mean that silver dollars were TO be freely
had without cost or labor. II woulI
mean the fres uss OF the minis of thu
United States for the few " no are owners
of silver bullion, but would make silver
coin no fresr to the many who are en-
gagged in other enterprises. 1t would
not make labor easier. the hours Of labor
shorter. or the pay better II would not
make farming less labortous or more
profitable. 1t would not start q factory
u make q demand for an additional
days labor. 1t would create no new
occupations 1t would add nothing to the
| comfort Of the masses the capital Of the
people or the wealth Of tho nation. 1t
| seeks to Introduce q new measure OF
value but would add no value to the
thing measured. 1t would not conserve
values On the contrary. II would de-
range all existing values. IT would not
restore business cinfidspca, but It's direct
| effect would be to destroy the little which
! yea romans,
What N Means
The meaning Of the coinage plank
| adopted at Chicago Is that anyone may
taxa quantity OF silver bullion, now
worth 50 cents TO the minis OF the United
| States have IL coined at the expense OF
| the government. and receive for II a sill
yer dollar. which shall be legal tender
for the payment of all debts. public and
| private. The owner of the silver bullion
| would get the silver dollar. II would
| belong 70 him and to nobody else Other
people would get II only by their labor.
the products Of their lands. or something
| Of value The bullion owner on the
basis of present values, would receive
the silver dollar for SO cents' worth OF
silver. and other people would be re-
| CURED to receive 1t as a full dollar in
| the payments Of debts. The government
| would get nothing from the transaction
1t would bear the expense of coming the
| silver and the community would suffer
| loss by its use.
We have coined since 1878 more than
400, 900 900 silver dollars. which are main
tanned BY the government st parity
| With gold, and are q full legal tender for
| tie payment OF all debts. public and
private. How are the silver dollars now
In use different from those which would
| be in use under free coinage. They ara
| to be of the same weight and hneness
they are 70 bear the stamp OF the gov
| eminent Why would they not be of the
same value: / answer: The silver dol
| lars now in use were coined on account
| OF the government, and not for private
| account or gain. and the goverrm emit has
solemnly agreed TO keep them as good
| as the best dollars we have The gov
| ernment bought the silver bullion a It's
| market value and coined Il into silver
| dollars. Having exclusive control Of the
mintage. II only coins what II can hold
| at a parity with gold. The profit repre-
senting the difference between the com
mercial value of the silver bullion and
the face value OF the silver dollar, goes
| to the government for the benefit Of the
| people. The government bought the sill
| Yer bullion contained in the silver dol
| lar at very much less than its coinage
value. 1t paid it OUT to its creditors. and
| put 1t in circulation for the people
at its face falue of 100 cents, or a full dol
lar. 1t required the people TO accept 1t
as a legal tender. and is thus morally
| bound TO mai2tatn II at a parity with
gold. which was then. as now, the recog-
| nized standard with us and the most en-
lightened nations Of the world, The gov