Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1896-09-30
FOR MCKINLEY AND SOUND MONEY.

The article is the leading editorial
from Farm News of Springfield, Ohio,
an agricultural journal having a cir
culation of 165, 900 among the leading
farmers of the country:]
1t has been an unbroken rule of Farm
News to refrain from taking any part
in partisan politics or discussing ques-
tons which are issues OF party politics.
Under ordinary conditions No other
course is proper for a strictly agricul.
tural paper. In recent years, the issues
between political parties have been
such that the triumph of n or of the
other meant no radical changes fraught
with danger to the American people.
This year conditions are extraordi-
nary. The questions at issue are vital
and upon their proper settlement de-
pend the happiness and prosperity of
our people, if not the perpetuity of our
form of government itself. After care.
full elaboration, long and thoughtful
consideration of every phase of the
question, Farm News believes that it's
duty to American farmers, the duty of
Its management as American citizens,
requiers that it violate its heretofore
unbroken custom.
The radical and we believe danger
GUS policies enunciated in the Demo-
cratic platform adopted at Chicago, are
n challenge to evcry man who believes
in law and order, progress and pros
perity, national honor or national hon
esty, and to answer that challenge eff
f~ectually there is no course open but to
advocate the election of Mckinley.
We do this not because he is a Re-
publican. The mere names Republi.
can or Democrat have no meaning for
US, as our non'interference in previous
elections will testify. We take this
course entirely free from partisan spirit
and no man can more bitterly regret
the necessity for such a step than do
the management of this paper. Nothing
but the strongest sense of imperative
duty could force it.
AT such a crisis, candor requires a
candid statement of the reasons gov
erning this departure from an unbroken
custom.
The free coinage of silver at 16 to /,
demanded in the Democratic platform,
means a silver standard of currency.
1t is not a demand for bi .metallism in
any sense of the word, and in the opin-
ion of the leading bi metallists of the
world, including General Francis A.
Walker, whose life and great talents
have been devoted to the cause of bi.
metallism, the free coinage of silver by
this country alone will make it practi-
cally impossible to secure for silver the
position which bi.metallists believe it
should occupy, equality with gold in
the currency OF the world.
Silver recommendation means the re-
duction of our currency system to
equality with that of Mexico, or China;
a chasing of ourselves with the govern
ments of Asia and the stagnate second
rate powers of South America. 1t
means a currency f%luctuating in value
from day to day, a dollar worth one
thing now and something else next
week. Men'who lived through the Pc
riod of deprecated paper money from
1862 to 1879, know the curse of an un.
stable currency. 1t means no fixed
level upon which all prices and all
wages can stand, but values shifting
constantly and without fixed relation.
Outside Of the radical demand for sill
yer recommendation, the Democratic
platform enunciates doctrines that a
not be held less than direct attacks
upon law and order, and if carried out
would sap the very foundation of our
oONCluuiCut. |
The thinly yelled suggestion of an
intention to pack the Supreme Court,
to secure such decisions as party ext
gencies might demand, is revolution.
airy.
The deuunciation of the present ad-
ministration for using force to put a
stop 10 rioting, plumber and murder, is
u bid for support from those classes
that are inimical to all law, and is an
insult to the honest laboring men of
the country, because it assumes that
they are anarchists.
The civil service plank is q demand
for the return to the spoils system with
all its corrupt and brutalizing conse.
quences.
In view of these new, radical and
angerous doctrines which the Demo.
cratic party has adopted under the
lead of reckless men, Farm News would
be recreant to duty if it failed to cast
It's influence ON the side of sound
money, respect for constitution and
law, national honor and prosperity.