Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1896-10-29
Adams for Sound Money.

Boston, Oct Z, lS96.--My Dear Sir:
i have this morning received your IA
vdr OF the 3rd inst, in which you some
what astonlsh me by saying that AS
sertions have reached you from some
OF my Kansas City friends that l am
In sympathy with the movement In
favor Of the free and unlimited coin
age Of silver by the United States.
] have not felt under any call to
take an active part in the present can.
vass, for the obvious reason that those
who would be likely to listen to me,
feel as do; while those who think
otherwise, are not likely to he influ-
yenced hy anything | can say.
None the less NY views "u t'r issues
1nvo.ved are uu IT, we'll defined, and
have at no time undergone any change
or been concealed. To my MUD the
question, Is not nov of the wisdom, or
unwisdon of what was done nearly a
century ago-iD 1873. GA that subs
jecf, viewed In the light Of subsequent
even.s--then in no degree foreseeable--
opinions may differ, and hold my
own. But what has that to do with
the present time? There are some
political questions, especially ques-
ti6ns relating to finance and business,
which 1t is much more important
should he decided, and decided finally
then that they should he decided one
way or the Other.
Fhe question Of its monetary basis
was.decided by the United States In
1873; and the decision was re- "A ffirmed
IN 1893. Since 1873 great many
things have happened. Among other
things, this country has, not without
serious troubles and sore tribulatiOn-
In which, by the way, have individ-
ually had to bear my full share-gOne
ON adjusting itself to the basis then
decided upon. The question Is now
whether IL h wise on its part to reverse
its steps, undo all that has been done
In those twenty years, plunge into u
new sea Of troubles and go through u
second process of slow and painful re-
adjustment?
The proposition seems to rue to ad-
NIT OF one answer only. So to do
would he little short Of insane. Obser-
walton and careful inquiry during a
recent extended visit from New. York
To the Pacific, made for the purpose,
satisfied me beyond question that the
work Of Ndjustment IL now practically
complete, aud that we are ut last In u
healthy and prosperous condition
and. ~ fact. were 1t not for politics, on
the verge Of ,anOther period Of ACTIVE.
development. All that ais required IL
stability, and tile confidence resulting
tierefrnm. Cudtr these circumstances
this everlasting agitation of the
measure OF value In my belief, has done
Is now d"i.is, and, 80 lon1 Ns it con
tlnues, Will do unCH!cuIubie injury
Stated markedly, the proposition Is to
make sh"it cut to prosperity 10y
mionkeyiiig with the currency, hut |
have yet to discover "a single instance
In all r. corded his DRY where any ma
ton ever, ~ enlnted this expert
ment with RESULTS beneficial to itself.
1t has leett tti.d time out of mind,
and over and over agu,n; but always
with one result. For its public men
t. tainper witt, u nations money IL
the most insidious form Of treason.
This II a practical business question .
A now see the situation, the country
II much In the position OF man Of
naturally strong. condition, who has
gone through u long aud violent H.
mesa and been greatly reduced, but Is
ut last ina course Of = natural recovery.
IT It does not kill the patient, 1t will
1t least give him y setback. So every
where that l have been during the
last year-and have been all over the
NOrth-I have seen plainly the signs
Of healthy recupjraiioD, aud nowhere
have | seeti them mort plainly than
In the great mining regions. l have
seen Those signs In the increased ecOn-
Oalies practiced, In more diversified
corps, in new developments, In
cheaper transportation, aud In mechan-
lcal appliances and scientific processes
hitherto pnheard Of. 1.-THE politicians
would only leave these natural forces
alone 10 work out the remedy, the
remedy would, am confident, be
with us, and be with US for = ten.year
stay, within A.tWelve- month. But It
win not come ~ long - reviving con-
cdeNce Ii shattered by this incessant
agitation In favor of resort to nuack
n0strums.
Under existing circumstance, there
fore, ] regard the free and unlimited
colnage Of silver proposition not ~ the
merely harmful n0strum Of " quack,
but rather N the deadly draft Of u
prlsoner. In my Judgment, II resorted
~ 1T this time, 1t will bring Oh the
country calan,itses Of = busiues and