Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1896-04-24
AN OPEN LETTER.
To The Democrats of X entucIsy Who Favor
BimeuaIlism.

BimetaIlism.
The Democrats, of Kentucky, who
are in favor of bimetallism and op-
posed to the single gold standard, are
earnestly urged to turn out to their
precinct meetings or county mass
conventions, and see that none but
bimetallists are sent as delegates to
the State Convention.
Last year, a failure on the part of
Democrats, in the rural precincts,
to turn out and take part in the con-
ventions, resulted in the State Con-
vention, at Louisville, misrepresent-
ing the real sentiment of the Demo
cracy OF the State. The convention
was largely made up of Federal Office
holders, who were instructed to secure
an endorsement of the administration
at all hazards; and cliques, around
county court houses, that are domi-
mated by designing politicians or the
moneyed interest, and draw their DO.
iltlcal information from the Louisville
press, that has grossly betrayed and
misrepresented the party.
If the farmers and other laboring
men, in the remote districts from the
court houses, will turn out and take
part in the conventions, Kentucky
will stand true to the traditions and
history of the Democratic party, and
declare for bimetallism. All Demo.
Gratis, who favor bimetallism, are
urged to give one day to their party
and their country, and attend the
conventions. Organize in every pre-
cinct throughout the State bimetdl-
lie clubs and work for the cause
without ceasing. If this is not done
Federal officeholders and county seat
politicians will again control the State
Convention, the party will be COM
mitted to the gold standard and the
State will be hopelessly lost to the
Republicans.
| would remind all true Democrats,
that in urging this action, there is no
deviation suggested, from the princi-
pies and history of the party. From
1873 to this day the Democratic party
has been uniformly pledged to restore
bimetallism to the country, and in
every Congress, from 1874 to 1896, a
majority of Democrats, in both the
House and the Senate, have invaria-
bly, voted for the free coinage of silver
at l6 to l, except in one instance. Up
to January lst,, 1895, little over a
year ago, no Democrat ever declared
for the single gold standard, and no
platform of Democracy has ever advo-
Gated it.
Those Democrats who are depart
ing from the teachings of their party
and its history, and are advocating
this strange and new doctrine, will
destroy all hopes of Democratic SUI
premacy in the nation, if they are al
lowed to lead. They are the men who
defeated the Democratic State ticket,
last year, by open revolt against a
ticket of their own selection; and who
prevented the election of Senator
Blackburn by their shameless treach-
cry. If anything more was needed to
warn Democrats against the single
gold standard, it is found in the prac-
tical operation, in the last two years,
of this vicious system. 1t has i'm
posed upon the PEOPLE bonded in
debtedness of $2620OO,0O0; has
brought about an era of business pros
tration and stagnation, never before
equaled in the history of the Republic.
II has wiped out all profits from the
farmer and the wage Garner and
spread universal distress throughout
the land. In the two years past the
value of all properties in the South
and West, according to the Assessors
have shrunk over S600,OO0,OOO,
while the money centres of New York
and Massachusetts show large in
creased valuation.
] again urge all Democrats, who ia
7or bimetallism to turn out to the
and ask the newspapers,
of Kentucky, favorable to this cause,
% publish this call.
II. A SoMMERs,
Chairman State Bimetallic Com.
KY, April q, 1896.