The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-11-07
srop THE AGITATION.
Tho Country, Now Want, R-t-wnrnlnu


TO SIR. lirran
Louisville Courier Journal tphm.): In
the paHt four years the silver agitation
has coat this country billions of dollars.
II has, In a measure, paralyzed business,
wrecked the fortunes Of many. and been
prolific OF bankruptcies.
There never was any cause or excuse
for Il. In effect. II was proposition to
increase the wealth OF few million.
aIrc mine owners at tho expense OF the
wagc.earncrs. whose pay It proposed to
reduce.
Many OF the men who maintained this
propaganda were undoubtedly bought,
or ~ they would state It. employed by
the silver mIno owners 70 work IN n
sentiment TO the effect that Il the coun-
try would only place itself under the
contrnl OF the silver barons. they would
take care that everybody else should be
prosperous and happy, 1t was a gIgan-
tic imposture. Its success was predict
ed on the theory that the American peo-
pie were mostly fools and would believe
anything that was told them with sum
clct confidence, Iteration and strength
OF lungs. II was assumed that In u
campaign OF sound and fury against
reason and honesty. the latter would
have no show whatever.
Undoubtedly thousands OF men who
were not In the least deludcd by the
free silver madness, who In their hearts
preferred the reign OF law TO anarchy.
who had no interest In reputation, al
lowed themselves 10 be drawn into this
movement because they thought meanly
OF the American people. and believed
that the rhetoric OF Bryan. the anarchy
or Altgeld, and the universal cuSScdness
OF Tlllman would prove winning factors
and secure Office for those who got on
the band-wagon In time. When cool
thinkers tolu them that this was mad
ness. they turned TO tn. attorneys who
had the retalners OF the silver mine
owners in their pockets. and were as
sured by them in substance. that every
man who had retained his reasoning
faculties was n hireling Of Wall street,
and had betrayed the cause OF the peo-
pie. Intelligent people. Of course. knew
that this was basely false. but not n few
OF them thought 1t would serve Its pur-
pose until after the election, 70 they
mounted the reputation band-wagon
and rode bllndly over the percIpIce.
1t Is not surprising TO learn that Mr..
Bryan and other silver attorneys pro-
pose to renew the agitation. But will
they find sympathetic audience? Are
the men who have listened TO these false
promises Of returning prosperity In case
the currency Is degraded willing to be
deluded again? Do they still think that
the American people are a. heart in IA
vor OF republication? Surely the mass OF
them must know better than that by this
time. Surely the most OF them do not
desire TO court another overthrow. Most
OF all. the great laboring and business
masses are not disposed to see business
further paralyzed. We wish 10 go to
work now. and relieve the losses which
this gigantic delusIon has brought upon
the country. W. desire peace. The
country wanta rest from agitation, and
work for the idle. The supreme court
OF American politics has passed on the
Issues. Now. the people want chance
10 work and make some money. The
man who seeks TO renew the proposition
to deliver the country TO the mine own
ers Ia public enemy. But. seek as he
may. the people will no longer need
him. They will refuse TO be "agltated"
by powerless ngitatnrs.