Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-06-04

AOA's - -
p~erience Of France and the Latin union with
b.metallismd does not appear here. But most OF
all do we regret that we could not find space
for his exposure Of the "horrible crime Of
1872 and the Ernest Seyd myth. We advise all
who actually believe that silver was she victim
Of . stealthy demonstration act IN 1878 to send
for his full speech. 1t can be had free by APP
plying to Congressman McCleary.
The following extracts from Mr.. McC1eary's
great speech will give a fair idea of 1t. After
compiimenting most highly both the speech
and the personal qualities of his friend and
colleague. and after telling the story Of the
blind men Of Indostan who went to 'ssee'' the
elephant. Mr.. McCleary continued rs follows:
If were called upon to characterize in a
sentence the speech OF my colleague. / should
say that 1t lacks comprehensive grasp of the
several topics considered. 1t offers q superficial
view OF many things. but does not indicate
thorough study OF any. We are given q little
land sometimes very little) OF the truth ON
many points, but not enough Of the truth on
any OF them TO warrant one In drawing impor-
the poet we are asked to Judge OF the appear
form cur conception OF 4 camel by seizins its
leg and so on through the menagerie. And in
lieu OF further Information on any point we
beneath our nose. under the soothing influence
of whose fragrance we temporarily forget that
we are long on fancy and short on fact.
mental positions are based on half truths.
which every one knows are more dangerous
and miaieading than utter falsehoods.
Silver and Prices.
BY means OF q chart he enaeavored to prove
three things:
1. That beginning with 1873. there has been
an "~unexampied and ruinous fall" in the
prices 81 commodities.
2. That there has been during the same years
q practically parallel fall In the price of silver,
and that silver is. therefore. an almost ideal
measure of value.
s. That this "fall in prices has been the re.
suit OF the so called characterization" OF sill
yer, and by Inference. that demonstration"
of silver would restore prices" to their for
mer level or thereabouts.
The trouble with my colleague Is one that Is
common to the whole tribe OF free silver men.
The year 1873 Is to them what the year Of the
hegira Is TO the Moha. Imedan-it Is the point
OF time from which everything Is reckoned.
But no Legitimate Inference can be drawn In
relation to these matters without examining
also the course OF events before 1873 and max
ing q fair comparison of the two series of facts.
The chart TO which l now invite the atten-
ton OF the committee Is one that / drew since
shows the course of average prices by ten year
periods from lSlS-27 to 1864. inclusive. The
table from which it was drawn was prepared
by Augustus Sauerbeck, one Of the authorities
quoted by my friend in another part OF his
speech. indeed in the first rehearsal Of this
speech, as delivered by him in Duluth last
August, and afterward IN other places, the
gentleman printed this table. But by a singu-
lar oversight he did not put il into chart form,
This was "a very unfortunate omission, for had
my friend appreciated the great Importance Of
those figures, had he given them enough study
TO become impressed with their real signii
canoe and had he then put them into chart
form and placed the chart IN iuxtaposi.ion
with the one considered by Us n moment ago.
he would have saved himself and his readers
from grievCus error.