Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-09-03
.EX-MINISTER PHELPS LETTER

Chicago Piatform-Its Policies are Dan
reroun to the People-It is objectionable
In Addition d, its Financial Deiusious--
Mr.. Phelps VIII Not support sound
Money Democratic Ticket, However, but
Win Vote for Mckinley.
Hon. Edward ]. Phelps, of Vermont,
ex-Minister TO England, has addressed
the following letter 10 Hon. G. G. Benet
dict The high attachments OF the writer
and the distinguished character q MS
public services will command for what ne
has to say ON the present political situation
serious attention, especially ON the part OF
his acknowledgements
Newport. X. l.. August %, lS96.-Hon.
G. G. Benedict-My Dear Sir: You are
right in surprising that under existing con-
ditions there are no ties of party and no
difference of opinion upon questions OF
mere policy that will deter me for mo-
lnent from giving my vote and my voice
as cffeetually as | can in opposition TO the
Chicago nomination and platform. cheer
fully comply with your suggestion that l
should state my view of the subject.
regard the pending Presidential cleo
ton as presenting the most dangerous
crisis that this country has ever encount-
cred. 1t does not, in my Judgment, in
yolve any political controversy nor any
question of the supremacy OF party, for
such considerations are lost sight OF IN the
| far greater gravity of the situation. The
| real issue is one upon which all patri-
otto men and all who are interested in the
prosperity and welfare of the country
| should find themselves upon one side and
opposed to common enemy.
The attack that we have to resist is not
upon the policy, but upon the life of the
| nation. For they would take its life VINO
| destroy the means, by which IT liyes-the
business of many thousands and the indus
| try of millions On these we are all,
whether rich or poor, high or low, alike
dependent. Those who are independently
rich are very few in proportion to the TO-
100000 of American people. the vast ma
jority of whom gain their living by some
form or other of useful employment. Even
the rich are dependent upon the business
of the country, for their wealth chiefly
consists in investments in its various in
dustries, and must speedily perish when
they are extinguished. That there should
be prosperity in some of these employ
ments and not in others, or among ont
class of people and not among others, is
impossible, for they all rest upon com
mon foundation and are affected by thu
same considerations.
Business is a generic term and compre
bends all lawful industries. 1t represent
an entire and indivisible system, INSOFAR
: ably linked together, and which must pros
per or languish as whole. When 1t 4
} stimulated, all profit; when it is depressed
all suffer. No part of the body can escap
5 the effect of general paralysis or fail t
get the benefit of general good health. An
: the only difference, if there is any, be
5 tween business and labor is that the on
:. is the necessary and principle employe
e of the other. When business fourishe
!, the laborer is in demand; when it decline
: he stands idle in the market place.
Business of whatever sort in a countr
y like ours, rich in resources, full of energ
and vitality, with all haryests. ever,
where, ready for the sickle, rests chiefi
: upon two factors-public confidence an
: a sound and stable currency. When eitht
= is, and much more when both are in
:, paired, or even gravely threatened, bus
\ ness suffers, general depression come
labor declines, and the wolf approacht
= many a door Without confidence thel
7 can be no credit, no enterprise; eapitai
=, boarded. sent abroad, or lies idle, and
- industries diminish or cease, and the su
- est way the world has ever seen TO destrt
!; | confidence is TO debase the currency, III
: TO make it uncertain from day to day no
!, much dollar is worth, and no
~ much it is going to count for in the nea
future; to take away, as is now propose
one-half its value TO begin with, and to S
" the other half to tiuctuating toanindefini
y extent with the rising and the setting
y the sun and the approach OF every stori
" Through such a medium of exchange
fr is impossible TO do legitimate bushes
!, since sound money and stable values Il
u it's life blood. Without them it becom
only an uncertain aud hazardous specui
IL ton.
II There is, therefore, in my judgment,
man more criminal or who is Il worse p'i
ne lie enemy than he who engages i'll or cou
" tcnances that infamous and destructl
~ attempt. And he is tenfold Grimm
~ who seeks success in it by playing up
~ the prejudices and the passions OF the le
intelligent, and stimulating warfare
classes. the most desolating conflict IN
II can come upon any nation, well KNOWN
~ for he has all the experience OF the woi
Is IN teach him. that he is not compassi
er tho destruction of one class, but of hot
Oh since those whom he dupcs into seryi
" his purpose must inevitably he the earlit
"a and worse sufferers 10y its consequence
WI because the less a man has or the less
hs earns the more necessary il is to him tn
,o- the value of that little should be maj
III tanned and made sure, and that the fl
OF dollars in his pocket should be as go
IA, dollars MS they are. As well might I
NJ steerage passengers in a vessel in m
10 ocean, weary of their privations, be
ne cited by some mischief maker to scut
lef the shin in order to drown the inmates
ne the more luxurious cabins, unconsco
70 that they themselves must be equally
m victims of the common calamity.
.ad Aside from the financial decisions of
ain Chicago platform its other features ;
ZOO almost equally objectionable. 1t propo'
lar to rcpudiate in great part the natiol
of debt, to the distress of the thousaI
dc. whose small resources are intrusted to
tbo faith of the nation and to the dishonor
mic our country in the eyes of the world;
I'm destroy the protection we enjoy under
no. Supreme Court of the United States,
md most hohoreu an" IN the iast resort
ars most necessary institution we have; to
n;r strain the arm of the national execut
ha from the repression of lawless violen
Of and even from the preservation of I
nod very agencies of the government itst
his to violate the obligation and sanctity
>, existing contracts, and to restrict the fir