The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1896-09-05
Issues Of the Campaign Plainly
and Forcibly Presented.
Convincing Reasons Why Free Coin
age of Silver Should Not
Obtain.
Protection and Reciprocity of Supreme
Importance to the Welfare OF
the Country.
HIS VIEWS ON OTHER tories.

lican national platform. but the first hal
OF 1t Is devoted to an incisivc discussion o
the money question. The letter is as fol
lows:
Hon. John NJ. Thurston, and others
members of the notification committee o
the republican national conventioE-Cen
tlemen: In pursuance of the promise made
TO your committee, when notified of my
nomination as the republican candidate tol
president | beg TO submit this formal ac-
ceptanCe of that high honor and TO con-
slider in detail questions at issue in tn.
pending campaign. Perhaps this might
be considered unnecessary IN view of my
remarks on that occasion and those
have made to delegations who have WIS.,
tied me since the st. Louis convention,
but In view OF the momentous Importance
of the proper settlement of the issues
presented on our future prosperity and
standing as nation, and considering only
the welfare and happiness OF our people,
! coulu not be content TO omit again call
ing attention to the questions which, in
my opinion, vitality affect our strength and
position among the governments of the
world. and our morality. integrity and
patriotism as citizens of that republic.
which for century past has been the
best hope of the world and the inspiration
to our own high standard in government.
nor unmindful of the noble example and
wise preccpts of the fathers, or of the
confidence and trust which our con-
duct in the past has always inspired.
The Free Coinage of silver.
For the tirst time since 1868. If ever be-
lore, there Is presented 10 The American
people this year clear and direct Issue as
to our monetary system, OF vast Importance
in its elects, anu upOh the right settle
ment Cf which rests largely the financial
honor and prosperity Oh the country. 1t
is proposed by one wing OF the democratic
party and its allies, the peoples and sill
yer parties, ~ inaugurate the free and un-
limi,eu coinage OF SILVER by independent aC-
ton on the part OF the II iteu States at 4
ratio of sixteen ounces of silver TO on"
ounce Of sold. i he mere declaration OF this
purpose IS Il menace to our ilLancial and
Industrial interests and has ALREADY ere
LttQ universal alarm. 1t involves great
pcr!l to the credit and business Of the coun-
try, Il Icril 50 grave lNat conservative men
.eNeTyW here are breaking away from their
cd party associations ana uniting with
other patriotic citizens in emphatic protest
against the platform of the democratic
national convention as all assault upon the
faith and honor of the government and the
welfare of the people. We have had few
questions in the lifetime Of the republic
more serious than the one which IL thus
presented.
No Benefit to Labor.
The character OF the money which Shall
measure our values and exchanges ana
settle our balances with one another and
with the nations of the world, is Of such
primary Importance and SO far-reaChing
In its Consequences as to call for the most
rainStaking Investigation. and, in the end,
q sober and unprejuGiCeu judgment at the
polls. We must not be Inisled by phrases
nor deludcd by false theories. Free silver
TO be freely had without cost or labor. II
would mean the free use of the mints on
thu United States for the few who are
owners Cf silver bullion. but would make
silver coin no fr2cr to many who are en-
gagged IN other cnterETtSs ). 1t would NOT
make farming less laborlous or more
profitable. II would not start factory
or make a demand for an additional days
labor It would create no new occupations
IT would add ncthin, TO tile comfort of tho
masses the capital Of the, people or, tho
wealth OF the nation. II socks to Introduce
a new measure OF value, but would add
no value TO tho thing measured. 1t would
not conserve values On the contrary. 4
not restore business confidence, bur its
direct effect would be to destroy the iittle
which Vet remains.
What 1t Means.
"Thc menning Of the coinage Ilan't
adopted at Chicago. is that anyoni NAV
take n quantity OF silver bullion now worth
So cents to the mints OF The United States,
which shall be legal tender for tn, pay
ment OF all debts, public ard private. The
silver, dollar, 1t would belong to him ard
to nobody else. Other people would get
II only by their labor, the products OF their
land or something OF value. The Lullion
owner on the basis of present values. would
receive the silver dollar for Sc cents worth
OF silver. and other people would tc re-
payment OF debts. The government would
get nothing from the transaction. 1t would
bear tho expense OF coming the silver and
the community would suffer loss by rs use.
The Dollars Compared
I'VE have coined since 1873 moro than
ic0, 600, 900 of silver dollars, which are main
tanned by the government at parity with
gold and ore fulllcgal tculer for the pay
ment of all debts, public and private. How
are the silver dollars now I'm use different
from those which would he in use under
free coinage? They are to be Of the same
weight and fincness: they are to be;.r the
same stamp of the government. Why
would they not be Of the same value
II answer: The silver dollars now in
ment, and not for private account or rain,
and the government has solemnly agrced
S fG ss FH9a tho S 9Gs tSa silver
bullion at its market value and coined 1t
into silver dollars Having exclusive con-
troll OF the mintagc, Y only. coins what it
representing the difference between the
commercial value OF the silver bullion and
the government for the benefit of the peo-
pie. The government bought the bullion
In the silver dollar at very much less than
itors and put 1t in circulation among the
people at Its face value of 100 cents. or a
full dollar, 1t required the people to ac
cept 1t as a legal tender, and Is thus m orally
bound TO maintain 1t at parity with gold.
which was then. as now. the recognized
standard with us, ana the most enlightened
nations of the world The government
having Issued and circulated the silver dol
lar, IL must In honor protect the holder
from loss. This obligation It has So far
sacredly kept. Not only Is there
moral obligation. but there Is a legal obli-
cation, expressed in public statute, to
maintain the parity.
They Could Not Us Kept mt Par.
These dollars, In the particulars have
rpmed. are not the same as the dollars
which would be issued under free coinage
They would be the same in form, but diff
ferent In value. The government would
have no part in the transaction, except 10
coin the silver bullion into dollars. IL
would take upon itself no obligation. 1t
would not put the dollars into circulation.
1t could only get them, as any citizen would
get them, by giving something for them.
1t would deliver them TO those who de-
posted the silver. and its connection with
the transaction there end. Such are the
silver dollars which would be issued under
free coinage OF silver at ratio OF sixteen
to one Who would then maintain the
rarity? What would keep them at par
with gold? There would be no obligation
resting upon the government to do IT, and il
there were. II would be powerless TO do H.
The simple truth Is we would beS$ekxen to
n silver basis--to silver mon6fnet fiflism
These dollars. therefore. would stand upon