The sun., 1896-10-17
Is INCOME 4 CRIME,
The Csse or Man who Earned EHis and
Cnut Afford TO Lose Halt.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUS-Sir: May l
have word in your columns with the gentle
men who are declaiming to the effect that no
one will be hurt by free silver except pluto
Gratis" and people who have fixed incomes" 2
Tho inference, OF course, is that the nation owes
no protection to those classes of its citizens.
Let me state my own case and ask whether
am really noxious member OF the community
who should be dcspoiled at will, provided n po-
liticRl majority can be got to sanction 1t.
was graduated from college practically pom
niless, and therefore TOOK up the practice OF
law. For years l worked hard at profession
which became more and more unconEenial as
time passed. until fully realized that while I
could wranrle In the courts did not enjoy such
life, and that my tastes were rather studious
and literary. still | knew that literature rs n
calling was more than precarious, and worked
on, looking forward to the day when l should
have enough to assure the supplying of my
slender wants and leave me free TO live the life
longed for. ! lad no expensive tastes. had
accustomed myself to going through tho world
thinking OF what l could get along without
rather tlrnn what l wanted. AT last the time
came when | felt safo to give up my practice
and be philosopher even in the nineteenth
century. To be absolutely frank, had, by hard
work and self-dcnial. saved about $4,000.
which, safely invested in per cent. mortgages,
could be counted upon to pay me an assured In
come OF 5000. ! can live on that, do tho work
that pleascs me without troubling myself about
pot boiling, and let the tritle add to my income
go toward hutteriDg my bread. AT the same
time have the consciousness that am much
more useful mem Der OF the community than /
would be In my former calling.
The oldest OF my mortgages Is six, the young
est one year old. and have placed in the hands
at any time for Sis.O In gold: nor am con-
scious that the purchasing power of the money
has appreciated during the period. Moreover;
my country had again abd again guaranteed
me against loss in the way now threatened by
declaring It TO bc its settled policy to maintain
every dollar OF its currency equal TO every
other dollar. Is it right or honest for that same
country to turn around now when am helpless
to protect myself and confscate u portion of
my hard-earned capital for the benefit OF my
ere itors, all OF whom are builders or large
%neh cher than yse every
To be sure. Mr. Bryan throws me an occa-
sional sop to the effect that free coinage will
gold; but. on the other hand he admits again
and again that men In my position will be in
of mortgaged farms on the score that. with FREQ
silver. they can pay off their mortgages more
eoa easily; Certainly y he does not propose to cut
mains that he means to authorize their pay
ment In currency nominally the same but
ootainable for less which will purchase less
and which Is consequently less valuable. This
latter also seems To Ire the OF his two irrecon-
But have the followers Of Mr. bryan right TO
move the Government. which help to support
not only TO refuse me the protection it owes to
every citizen. but actually to compel my spolia-
ton. and that in violation OF its specific and oft
repeated pledge. upon the faith OF which con-
sidered IL unnecessary to stipulate for a gold
clause in my mortgages? Can my country
honorably bind me. put its hand into
my pocket, take half OF my property. and
pay it over to another2 Can you. Mr.
Bryan. honorably advocate such an act? Or
do you believe that honesty is to be laid aside
whenever expediency seems to point toward an
opposite policy? II such be your principles,
what assurance have your supporters that YOU
will treat them any more fairly or honorably
than you propose to treat me?
MAN VINO HAS EARNED HIS INCOME.
New YORK, Oct. 10.