The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-04-11
SOME M,KINLEY SILVER HISTORY;

SOME M'KINLEY SILVER HISTORY.
There was a time when this nation
mOmentariIy deserted the principle Of
protection. An overwhelming popular
vote against the principle weakened
nearly all its defenders, and there was
none $50 poor to do it reverence" Save
one and that was William Mckinley,
who. when the nation had cried out
angrily against protection, took the
field CALAMITY and made a campaign
on it.
The people of this country momen-
tarily deserted silver as standard and
good money. President after preSi-
dent of the United States refused to
recognize silver, but through it all Nc
Kinley has held to his silver senti-
mentS.
Immediately after the demonetiza-
ton of silver in 1873 it was considered
sort Of Il badge of honor for presi-
dent TO exclaim that he was for a
money good the world over. Grant,
Hayes, Garfield and Arthur detained
against silver, but Mckinley never
voted for gold measure, never advo-
Gated IL and has never changed his
opinion on the matter.
The Democrats took up the silver
idea with enthusiasm in 1868, and put
plank in their platform demanding
zone currency for the government and
10 no Ia 4
holder, the pensioner and the soldier,
the producer and the bOndhOIder." and
another declaring that, where the OBJ
legations Of the government do not ex-
pressly state upon their face, or the
law under which they were issued does
not provide that they shall be paid in
coin, they ought, in right and justice,
to be paid in the lawful money of The
United States" The Republicans met
the issue squarely, and adopted a reso-
luton that "we denounce all forms of
reputation as a national crime: and
the national honor requires the pay
ment of the public indebtedness in the
uttermost good faith to all creditors at
home and abroad, not only according
10 the letter but the spirit of the laws
under which it was contracted
General Grant was elected. not be-
cause Of this particular platform, but
because OF his war record. However
he remained faithful 10 this plank in
the platform in his second term. Sill
yer had been demoneuzed. In 1874
the silver men tried an act for its res
tOration. ON April - OF that wear
Grant met il with q veto which was NOT
overcome by the silver forces in the
congress. In his veto message Grant
said:
The theory. in NY belief, s. a de-
parture from true principles Of finance.
national interest. national oblga-ous
10 creditors, congressional promises.
party Pledges on the part OF both poLt-
zeal parties, and OF personal views and
promises made by ne IN every annual
message seEt 70 congress and n each
inaugural address"
The silver men were not dfScoura cef.
Grant had gone ont in 1871 and HAYES
had come in and on the 9TH Of Novem-
Der Of that year, Mr.. Bland made A
motion 10 pass a free coinage act and
this motion was favored by 164 mem
beTS Of the house and opposed by only
81. al bur ten Of whom came from the
northeastern section, comprising New
England. New York, New jersey and
Pennsylvania. When this Bland blll
reached the senate tlrst body under the !
leadership OF AR. Allison changed IL !
into a bill providing FOR the purchase
Of silver bullion and its coinage into
silver dollars Of not less than 100000 /
worth nor more than $4.ooo, 90 worth |