The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-21
AS 1T LOOKS IN IDAHO.

The Owen County Journal prints letter
from E. c. Steele, a former citizen of Spen-
Ger, who is a resident of Idaho. which
gives some information concerning the sill
yer question from an Idaho point of view.
Mr.. Steele says that out of a total popula-
ton of $4,000. about 10000 are engaged in
silver mining. and there is not a town in
Idaho of 300 inhabitants but has some of its
citizens interested in silver mines. He con-
tinues:
Until the issue was squarely made in the
national convention at Chicago, viz, as to
tie silver at the ratio of sixteen parts sill
yer to one of gold, the people of all parties
were almost unanimous in the belief that IT
could be done. But this was because they
mad not carefully considered the question.
A great change is now going on here, men
are constantly coming to the conclusion in
every political organization, much against
their desire, that it is a dangerous and
PROBABLY disastrous experiment We nave
cause personally interested in the result,
snd their reasons are so fallacious and sec
lion - that deem it Pr1pr to eau tba l.
will help the Pacific coast by building up a
trade with China and Japan because, as
they assert, this section of the country IS
not benefited by the foreign trade we now
have conducted from the Atlantic coast.
Ihey expect great manufactures to be
built this coast and a great influx of
population from the Eastern States, who.
they believe, cannot conduct their business
in the East successfully on account of the
destruction of our trade with Germany,
France. England and other European coun-
tries. and thus when we come to a silver
basis they say we must do business with
nations who do business upon a silver
basis China and Japan are on that basis.
and are very near to the Pacific coast
of this country.
OF course, these views are utterly vision
rI,c = 1daI
on sectional and unpatriotic grounds. The
idea that a manufacturing business and
foreign trade could be built up in the Pa
cifc States on silver basis that would
enable them to outstrip and depopulate the
Eastern States is too absurd for serious
consideration. while the expectation of de-
stroying our trade with the gold-standard
countries of Europe and building up one
with the silver-standard countries of the
East is new evidence of the selfish and
unpatriotic greed of the silver mine owners.
Further evidence as to the motives behind
the free-silver movement in the States of
its origin is found in the writer's statement
that There are but few here, in fact, not
one in hundred. who believes that silver
can reach a price that will make sixteen
ounces of silver worth one of gold, but they
argue that it will be at least a good thing
for this coast, and on account of many of
them being indebted to Eastern capitalists
they care nothing about the effect such
law may have upon people in States east of
the Rocky mountains. Mr.. Steele inclosed
in his letter a sample of the blank notes
used in Idaho, which he says every one
cio in q
borrow money it being the only kind of
note given 1t contains clause requiring
principal and interest to be paid in gold.
Thus it appears that the money lenders of
Idaho. like Governor Altgeld, want COM
pulsory free-silver law for other people,
and yet make their own contracts payable
in gold. The letter concludes:
AS to the condition of affairs in Idaho We
believe there are enough sensible, patriotic,
reasoning men IN the State who will vote
for sound currency to carry the State
for Mckinley. Such change in sentiment
and in political Affiliations has never been
seen by me as is now going on here Dem
ocrats who have believed without inVesti-
cation that this government could keep the
value (Which is 81 to y are declaring them
selves every day against the chicago
that if that platform could succeed the
people of this and other countries would
lose confidence in a republican form or
government: that it would show that the
people are not capable of governing them
selves. We shall make great night In
Idaho, and believe we can carry TINS silver
mining State for SOUND currency.
1t is too much to expect that any of the
silver-mining States can be carried for Nc
Kinley, but it is gratifying to know that
the friends of sound money are making
good fight there.