Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-07-16
EDITOR DEMocRAT;

f. ~ l.. r.
xTV$% rick, of Denver,
4 O. Wcf Col, ought to open
1 ~ ssA the eyes of those
AxsSnyArS Americans, an
especially of Kansas, who believe
in the sincerity of those who are con-
stantly harping on the international
bimetallism." The letter exposes the
methods that have been used to es
tablish the single gold standard, and
makes perfectly plain the fact that Mr..
Cleveland and gold standard republi-
cans, for some reason that the public
at large can only guess at, are opposed
to the restoration of silver in any
shape, whether by the independent
action of this country or by the united
action of Europe The letter is as fol-
lows:
% Chester Place London, June II, '96
Dear Mr. HIerTick: Thank you for your letter
and for your book, which shall read with inter
est. You Il the states have arrived that
reucy crisis where every intelligent student mas
been inevitably advancing. ] affirm with strong
conviction that the way would have been prepared
tement of this great difficulty had 1t not been for
the attitude of just msn-youE president. Nj.
Cleveland is paying the penalty for the obstinate
determination be has evinced throughout to thrust
your country into not merely the gold standard,
hut the straightest gold monometallism
Those of who have been ardent workers here
for the in International 6imetaliis-a have found
selves a. ail times crossed and defeated by Mr.
Ceyeand's actions aad II. Cleveand's ernissarses
tie sent NiF. Atkinson over mere o. a soeciai mis-
tioa try and persuade fhose the present cab:-
net-sueh Mr. Cnapi and Mr.. BaIfour-
that they .cranks''-Jhat the concurrent Legal
tender of the two metals impraeticable. Mr
Bafour's difficulties within Lord Salisbury's cab
met were in any case very great: they were made
infinitely greater by the ridiCnle poured upon the
whole project of currency reform by Mr.. Cleveland
Mr.. j. Sterling Morton, Mr.. Hoke Smith and 9TH
ers. The speeches and absurd letters of these gen
tleInen were six months ago to be found in many
of our daily papers
So impossible had become the position fand in
this connection know of what I writing) of
those members of government who were
pledged to currency reform, because of the attitude
of the government at Washington, that last year
~e for the time gave up the struggle.
rejoice then in the revolt of the democratic
party. and I venture say, also, that should that
party be successful in eecting free coinage pres-
dent and congress- that then, before Mr.. Cleveland
goes out of the White house. an international ar
rangement will have been secured. The Roths-
childs here-the wealthest investors in every cap
stal in Europe could not afford to sit still and
your country ego it alone" Europe will respond
TO your spirited initiative: if the United States
pledges itself to immediate free coinage, emphat-
ically believe that NJ Meiine, on behalf of France,
viii offer free mintage, we here pledged to re-
open the Indian mints, while the delegates to the
recent conference at Brussels which I attended,
gave every encouragement to hope that Ger
many, Australia and Russia would in the event of
free coinage in the United States and France agree
20 purchase large quantity of silver and equally
to swell their legal tender money. To purchase it,
may add, if they get hold of the metal all.
Believe me, with much regard, yours very faith
fully, MoREroN FREwEN.
Hon. G. G. Merrick, Denver. Colo.
Readers of the DEMOCRAT need not
doubt the accuracy of the statements
made in the Frewen letter. The man
who wrote it is one of the most prom
inent and active writer's on economics
in the known world, and was one of
the representatives to the recent Bel
gian monetary conference from Great
Britain. He has contributed to the
literature of the subject many of the
arguments that now have world
wide acceptance. He is man of the
highest character, and would scorn to
resort to the shallow tlick of making a
sensational statement merely for the
purpose of attracting attention. What
ever statement he makes needs no
higher voucher than his own signature.
More than this. his letter, while it
throws valuable light on the situation.
simply confirms the suspicious of
American bimetallists who have been
watching Mr.. Cleveland's course with
that of other gold standard men. both
democrats and republicans, with some
concern, but even they did not think
that these golditss would be willing to
destroy the prosperity Of the people in
an effort to place this country perma-