The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1896-04-08
HON. BEN BUTTERWORTH
Endorses tho White Metal and DEE
cIares for Silver Beasts Of Bnr.
dan and Raasts OF Prov.


den and Beasts OF Prey.
WASHINGTON, April g.. Ex-con-
gresham Bon Butterworth recently
wrote letter to Senator Teller on
the financial question, which was
made public yesterday. In the
letter Mr.. Butterworth says:
"What has transpired before my
eyes during the past few years has
compelled me to modify my views
on the silver question, though not
on the tariff. Nothing can be
more natural and appropriate than
an alliance with those who favor
extreme tariff, and those who favor
bimetalism. The triumph of such
an alliance would hasten the CON
dition in our country which would
present people divided into two
classes beasts of burden and beasts
of prey
"You know full we'll, and it would
be mere affectation TO deny it,,
that nothing is more generally
believed than that the great nation
al conventions about to assemble,
will be controlled by monopolistic
combines. That each convention
will endeavol' with mere words and
phrases, that like the Delphic
Oracle, have two interpretations
and mean one thing or another as
the vindication of the oracular
utterance may demand, to satisfy
the political requirements of the
situation, instead of courageously
meeting the just expectations of
the people.
"You know that each year our
politics becomes more corrupt; and
worthy men affect to reject the
moral certainty of the fact because
competent legal proof is not offered.
For all this they shall be brought
into judgment. AS an inevitable
result the foundations upon which
rests the only living hope of pre-
serving our form of Government,
are being surely undermined by
the corrupting influences andpower
of wealth in the hands and under
the control of men who either fail
TO understand or are indifferent to
the fact that our free institutions
cannot survive long after such in
fuences become, as they are fast
becoming, supreme in the land.
1--WE hear it asserted on all sides
that general political party-a
party yictory-of prestige and
honor seized by the represcn-
tatives of monopolies and combines
who will advance the money to
control nominations and elections
on the distinct understanding that
there will be such Legislation as
will enable them to recoup by APP
propriating revenues collected from
the people, without being liable
for embezzlement. And the far
mer and producers of the country
are urged to assist in this scheme
for despoiling themselves, and may
[ add, that vast numbers of them
listen to the siren song, and like
the victim of the opium habit in
order to enjoy a pleasing delusion,
risk the ruin that follows.
"And the conviction is growing
that the demonetization of one
half the money of the world, no
matter what tho theoretical finan-
ciers may say, is, and by those who
were the chief contrivers of the
manner of it's accomplishment, was
intended to be, scheme to in
crease by legislative enactment,
the wealth of those already wealthy,
and the power of those already too
powerful.
SIS it not folly TO suppose that
the capitalists of England, and
they are the capitalists of the
world, will be easily persuaded to
agree OF consent to bimetallism?
Why should they? How is it to
their interest to do SO, while we
consent to make it to their advan-
tage to refuse? They have doub-
led the value of their credits by
demonetizing silver and that dou-
bles the amount received by them as
interest.
"The United States blundered
into that trap, and within year
beggared million of her citizens,
and if we adhere, to the blunder
will beggar five million more and
double the burden of every debtor
and burden bearer of the land. If
it is said the United States cannot