Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-06-27

| attempt to make the Bnited States
minis the dumping ground for theil
bullion at about twice it's actual
value. There has been no movement
In this country for years that has been
more carefully organized, or more per-
sistently pushed than has this crusade
| of the free silver barons. Not only
has it maintained at Washington the
most powerful lobby every known ia
the national capital, but it has had
and still has literary bureau OF
amazing activity. The printed matter
sent out by this bureau must have
amounted to thousands of tons. For
the past six years there has scarcely
been a mail that has not brought the
journal some favor from this source
free coinage of silver at the ratio of
l6 to !. AS we are not interested in
any silver mines we have thus far
failed to enthuse over the glittering
generalities of the silver barons. wait
ing. like eXpectant jackals, for an
opportunity to fatten off the national
treasury, at the expense of the public
credit
No, no, let the money of the Aneri-
can people. like their country, be the
best in the whole world
1t must be said, however. that what
most under Democratic rule, has not
been so much the character of the
currency as an opportunity to earn it,.
This is the main question at issue
in the present campaign, ard the
voters of the country will not be
diverted from it by specious cries from
|.ethersquarters.
There are two supreme facts that
must not be lost sight of. viz: First
Under Republican rule. the country
enjoyed an, era of uneXampled pros
perity. Labor was better employed
in the history of the republic. Not
only We're the expenses of the govern
ment met from it's receipts. but a very
handsome reduction was made in the
national debt.
Second, Under Democratic rule the
country has suffered an era of bust
ness paralysis. Labor has been largely
unemployed, and where work could BIZ
secured az au.it was at reduced wages.
The income of the government has not
been sufficient to meet its current ex
penses, and the national debt has been
increased, as shown by the official
records, 1929. 745, 1872.
The people are not troubling them
selves so much about the currency as
they are about the hard times The
first thing they desire to bring back
again is the happy era of Republican
prosperity. This accomplished, they
have no doubt but what the currency
matter will be settled. and settled
properly.
No, Democratic friends, you will
pound your drums and blow your
horns. and beat the bush in. vain, in
your endeavors to distract the atten-
ton of the people from the rotten
record Of the Democratic party, in its
administration of our national affairs
during the past four years. They are
not to be stampeded by side issues
this year. They have grown heartily
sick of Democratic incompetehcy and
imbecility, and have determined upon
a change Nothing can swerye them
from this purpose. The - Democratic
party, in it's mad desperation and
utter lack of principle. may, and prob
ably will take up with the free silver
heresy; but the great masses of the
American people are not to be de-
ceived by it. They perceive that the
paramount issue of this campaign will
be the demand for a return to the
protective tariff under which this
country enjoyed an era of prosperity
and progress unrivalled iir-the history
of he world ~ gsss