New-York tribune., 1896-08-27
NKINLEY'S LETTER.

TO create the deepest impression, even IN the
outpouring Of great conventions ana great
speeches. the thunder all round the SKY. winch
these weeks are witnessing. 1t VIII hX tne last
ing attention Of the people as one or those none
appeals to reason and patriotism which 60 lar
to make the history Of a Nation. III VIII thrlii
the hearts OF honest-money men OF every party
nc no other declaration has for many years. and
tho honest advocates of free coinage who can
resist its reasoning must indeed be beyond reach.
It's absolute courage and frankness, its powerful
array of truths. its lofty appeal to all that IS
most worthy in American character VIII WIN
for It the heartest praise from journals ana In
fuential men throughout the country VINO nave
no partisan feeling to inspire 1t. In its dignity
and thorough kindness Of tone, It's striking slin-
plicity Of statement. and its power OF reasoning,
this appeal against the revolution threatened
by "a part Of the Democrats with the Populis's
and silver men, will impress almost every one
with an even higher conception of the candlda1e
who leads the battle for the Nations honor ana
prosperity.
Taking, first the question Of free-silver coin
age Major Mckinley declares himself utterly
opposed" to that measure. because definite
issue threatening the honor of the Nation Is
raised. and the mere declaration of its purpose
I
universal alarm" He shows that free silver
does not mean free without cost or labor, Will
not make labor easier, hours shorter. pay better
farming less laboriouS o. more profifable, nor
"will it start a factory nor create demand for
~ single day's additional labor "A new meas
.ure. ii gives no new value to the thing meas
cured" but will derange all values and destroy
all confidence. The owner of bullion only can
get for ffty-three cents worth of silver the new
dollar by coinage and others can get it only by
| giving their produce or labor. The 43O millions
coined since 1873 have been coined by Govern
ment. profits going TO the peoples Treasury, ana
| issued by IL with a solemn pledge to MAINTAIN
| them at par in gold-a pledge sacredly Kept.
But who will maintain the dollar coined for pri-
vate gain? Government will have no obligation
| to do so. and no power. The result must be sim
| ply silver monometallsm. If silver could be
raised to parity with gold there would be no
| cheaper money nor easier to get, but experience
of all times and all lands proves that mainten-
ance Of such a value would be impossible.
The great argument which follows cannot be
condensed 1t is full of points which, though
not new have not been more clearly or con-
vincingy stated. with others which are prac-
| tically new TO discussion. old as the discussion
has been That bimetaism simply cannot be
| secured by one nation. was never secured save
bv concurrent action and can never be regained
otherwise. and that free coinage here would tend
10 prevent it, that the Republican party has done
all that can be done with safety and honor 10
nronote increased use Of silver. but joined in
stopping it when the danger point had been
reached that 1t Twill not consent to put the coun-
trv on silver basis" nor to 'expel gold from
our circulation" are points which will 90 far TO
convince the Judgment of honest silver men. But
il is shown that our opponents. not content with
free coinage. further demand indefinite ISSUES OF
rredeemable paper with cheap money expert
| "ments in every conceivable form. which be-
"trays their reactionary spirit and purpose. and
CONSTITUTES the gravest menace to pupiic hohor
"and prosperity.
| Nothing can be stronger, while dlghliied III
tone. than the denunciatiOn of appeals to class
prejudice. which are beneath the spirit and IN
"telligence Of a free people and should he stern
"lv rebukcd" This is not n Nation Of classes.
but of sturdy, free. independent and honorable
people despising the demagogue. and never
"captulating to dishonor' Then with great
force the words Of Webster are quoted: Il
tell him the attempt is to play off his passion
against his interest and to prevail on him in
"the name Of liberty 10 destroy all the fruits OF
| "liberty"
With singular tact. the treatment Of the Pro
tecfjve issue is opened with strong quotation
from Washington. Mr. Mckinley declares that
the most convincing arguments for Protection
are the lessons of the recent past. Men have
! tried both policcs and what both have done
for them The condition Of the country in 1872
is shown by quotation from President liar-
rison. and its disastrous condition eight months
later by a quotation from President Cleveland s
message. August s. 1893. Cold says Mr.. Nc
Kinlcy. "never made times hard and 1t Is
shown that II Is not more money that IS needed
| but 10 put more money NJ work. for when money
works men are employed. The great diihcui'y
Is traced to the tariff Of 1894, which did not re-
ceive the approval Of the President, and which
produced constant deficit 1t caused decrease
of exports and increase Of imports, the total dr-
ference averaging Sl3,000,0O0 per month against
the country. and unless the resulting outgo OF
gold IS checked and necessary revenue Is pro-
vlded, monetary safety cannot be maintained
nor prosperity recovered. The effect upon farm
ers and laborers is treated with especial force,
and the policy of reciprocity is earnestly advo-
Gated
The rest OF the letter deals In detail, and with
the same frank unreserve, with other parts OF
the Republican platform. It's closing portion rises
TO the highest tone in treating OF the assault
upon the Supreme Court and the suppression
} of rotng I'VE avoid no issue. We meet sud
den and dangerous revolutionary assaults on
claw and order with the same courage which
"has faced every emergency Government by
claw must first be assured, everything else can
"valt." The spirit Of lawlessness must be ex
"tincuishcd by the fires Of an unselfsh and lofty
"natrIotism." These and other sentences, ano
the fine appeal against efforts to revive "A sec
tonol antagonism now, happily, almost opht
Grated. close an address 10 the people when VII
ho read with admiration and pride, ana tnrii