The herald., 1896-10-18
able distribution of all burdens of gov

ernmenI.
We are not intimidated by false accus-
ations or vile vituperation. If we are
anarchists, let me assure you that his
| tory teaches as plainly as 1t does any
| fact that all such are the legitimate
| offspring of tyrants and despots. II
| there is comfort to be derived from a
| choice make your selection.
AS repudiationists, we are held to an
| swer, if at all, to a class whose record
| will not bear honest Investigation. VINO
| Is claiming that we are repud1at1onlsts!
And to what indebtedness does the Ques-
| toner refer?
The controversy over the character of
| the government, existing and to exist,
was concluded most disastrously to the
| debt-paying people in the act or 1863.
| True, in that adjustment of the case,
| the CHARACTER of the debt due from the
government to the holder of the obliga-
| ton was changed from debt payable
| in the money paid the government by
| it's creditors to debt payable in coin
| or a money greatly more valuable.
| I believe that it is safe to say that
I every unprejudiced and fair-minded
man in the government believed then,
| and certainly since, that every principle
| of fair dealing was violated in that in
equitable transaction. In view of sub
i seuuent events, it has proved an element
| of fraud to the people scarcely less start
| ling than the destruction of half the
constitutional money of the country.
By that credit Strengthening act Of
| 1869 the congress of the United States de-
| liberately increased the value of the
| bonded debt of this government at least
one thousand million of dollars by
changing the existing contract to pay
| from one which permitted the govern
| ment to pay its debts in the current
| funds of the country to a debt payable
| in coin, then, as now, at high premium
| This arrangement Is irrevocable. The
! entire bonded debt is exceedingly well
protected by this patriotic act of our
Republican congress. Acquired inter-
ests have become vested, and even the
Bryan anarchists" and repudiationists
do ont seek to disturb what has been so
long and amicably adjusted. We do pro-
pose, however. to shut down the bono
machine at Washington.
Major Mckinley says: Shut down the
silver mines and mints and open the fac
tories" We propose to open all the
factories but one-the bond factory
and open al the mints. too. This l sup
pose, makes us repudiationists. why
Because we propose to give you coin for
your bonds, and if I were the secretary
of the treasury the debtors option under
the law would be fully exercised after
the 4th day of March, 1897:
We do not propoe to give the bond
syndicates another change of contract
| whereby their claims aga nst the people
of this government will again be dou-
bled in value, nor permit the destruc-
ton of silver as standard legal tender
coin of this government, leaving only
gold at 100 cents premium, to pay the
coin debts of this nation. Don't call us
repudiationists for this act of human
ity; we are only trying to save some
ching from the wreck of the peoples
prosperity. You had better, with CRATE
full hearts, acknowledge your obliga-
ton to a patient, long suffering people
| 1ax n1 ha nnt
of treason and disloyalty to both the
people and the government by your
shameless attempt to demonetize one
half of the standard money Of the peo-
pie of this country.
If to restore free coinage of both gold
and silver at the ratio Of 16 to l. as it was
prior to 1873, and give back to the debtor
class of the American people the money
of the constitution, of which they were
bereft by stealth and violence, is repu-
diation then the just and upright shall
have earned a new name.
The restoration Of bimetallism in this
country and the parity Of values be-
tween the metals as they existed prior
to 1873 is nothing more nor less than the
expressed will and wish of every voter
in the United States having an organ
lied party, at least every published plat
form declares for bimetallism.
If both the parties are honest there
is no difference between them, except as
to the method to be adopted.
The st. Louis platform says bimetal-
lism, of course, but not until the lead
ing comercial nations Of Europe shall
agree to an International adjustment
The Chicago platform declares for bi.
metallism now and in the United States
for the people of the United States.
Which of these two propositions ap-
peals to the common understanding the
most favorably? Which of them car
ries with it that candor and frankness
that enlists the confidence Of the honest
investigator?
The platform of the Republican party
adopted at the st.. Louis convention
was not the unstudied off-hand dash OF
O ward politician 1t was the expression
of the best thought of a well chosen
combination of political advisors, whose
minds had been directed to a grand OBJ
jective purpose. They acted advisedly
in what they did. They knew full well
the great resources of this, the greatest
agricultural and manufacturing nation
on the earth.
They knew the population and our
rate of increase. They were advised
fully of our ability to utilize and alb
sorb money in the widening of our COM
mercial relations with the nations OF
the world. They were advised as to the
amount and character of the indebted
ness Of the nation. They professed ut
most familiarity with the amount OF
money in circulation among the peo-
pie, and knew from well prepared and
official statistics, the product as well
as the export use Of silver in this coun-
try.
With these facts to guide them, can
! any intelligent reading American voter
satisfy himself that the proposition
embodied in the Republican platform
adopted at st. Louis, viz, That the
people of the United States, owning by
right two-thirds Of the entire product
of silver bullion of the world, with 75.-
100000. of enterprising people are un.
able within themselves, to establish ani
maintain a bimetallic standard of goit
and silver at the ratio Of 16 to l, without
the concurrence of the leading com.
mercial nations of Europe, was made
in good conscience or honesty of pur.
pose?
If not so made, then what was the
purpose in view? Was it fact that the
party managers had lost faith in the
stereotyped pledges Of the part,
for the past sixteen years, that they
were in favor of the reconciliation o.
silver absolutely and without condition
The people here believed that oft repeat.
story, and had worked along that line
a strong, determined working force has
been marshaled in congress, and an,
kind of help will now insure the ac.
complishment of that end
Is it a fact, that the Republican party
| now cOmDelled to take a new tacIs