Middletown transcript., 1896-08-29
LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE.

to assure patronage and plunder.
LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE.
Major Mckinley gave out his letter
Of acceptance Wednesday evening. It
is an able paper, one that every intelli-
gent voter should read. The condition
of the times demands that men shall
put aside partisanship and substitute
patriotism, and every voter should
study the issues and cast his vote ac-
cording to the dictates of his iudg-
ment upon them. Not only are the
times hard but they are perilous to the
congested condition Of business which
awaits the result of the issues between
the great parties. But every intelli-
gent reader understands the condition
that confronts the country to-day,
lack of business confidence with idle
factories and idle workmen. He may
not in his own mind understand the
reason, but he should seek for it and
from all sides. This is duty the citi-
zen owes to his country and to himself.
It is impossible for the TRANSCRIPT
to give the entire letter of acceptance
and we must be content this week to
make extracts from his discussion of
the silver question, the one of all
others now aggitating the people of
this country. The letter says:
THE FREE COINAGE OF SILVER.
For the FIRST time since 1868, if ever
before, there is presented to the Ameri-
can people this year a clear and direct
issue as to our monetary system, Of vast
Importance in its effects, and upon the
right settlement of which rests largely
the financial honor and prosperity of
the country. 1t is proposed by one
wing Of the Democratic party, and its
allies, the. Peoples and Silver parties,
to inaugurate the free and unlimited
coinage of silver by independent action
on the part of the United States at a
ratio of 16 ounces of silver to one
ounce Of gold.
The mere declaration of this purpose
is menace to our financial and indus
trial interests and has already created
universal alarm. 1t involves great
peril to the credit and business of the
country, peril so grave that conser-
vative men everywhere are breaking
away from their old party associations
and uniting with other patriotic citl-
zens in emphatic protest against the
platform Of the Democratic National
Convention as an assault upon the faith
and honor Of the Government and the
welfare of the people. We have had
few questions in the lifetime of the
Republic more serious than the one
which is thus presented.
NO BENEFIT TO LABOR.
The character of the money which
shall measure our values and exchanges,
and settle our balances with one another
and with the nations Of the world, is
of such primary Importance and so far
reaching in its consequences as to cali
for the most painstaking investigation.
and, in the end, . sober and unpreju-
diced judgment at the polls. We must
not be misled by phrases nor deluded
by false theories. Free silver would
not mean that silver dollars were to be |
freely had without cost or labor. It |
would mean the free use Of the .mints |
OF the United States for the few who
are owners of silver bullion, but would |
make silver coin no freer to the many
who are engaged in other enterprises.
II would not make labor easier, the |
hours of labor shorter, or the pay bet
ter. 1t would not make farming less
laborious or more profitable. 1t would
not start factory or make a demand |
for an additional days labor. IT.
would create no new occupations. It |
would add nothing to the comfort Of |
the masses, the capital of the people or
the wealth of the nation. 1t seeks to |
introduce new measure of value, but |
would add no value to the thing meas
ured. It would not conserve values.
On the contrary, it would derange all |
existing values. It would not restore
business confidence; but itadirect effect
would be to destroy the little which
yet remains.
WHAT FREE COINAGE MEANS.
The meaning of the coinage plank
adopted 1t Chicago is that any one may |
take quantity Of silver bullion now
worth So cents to the mints Of the
United States, have il coined at the ex-
pense Of the Government, and receive
for it 4 silver dollar which shall be
legal tender Tor the payment Of AL
debts, public and private. The owner
Of the silysr bullion would SET the
1ilvet dellar e would belong y him