The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-05-23

| Ing That David has in His Speech Gone
| Beyond All the Bounds of Decency-His
Charges Against John G. Carlisle are
Gratis.
Topeka, Kan, May 22.-United States
District Attorney W. c. Perry said in
conversation with correspondent to-
| day that David Overmeyer, ike most
OF the silver advocates, was guilty of
incorporate language and reckless state
ments. He had reference 10 Overmy-
! er's recent manifesto on the silver ques-
ton.
THAT hired orators, like Bryan,
should deal in invective and misstate-
nent," Mr.. Perry continued, lis not as
tonishing. But Overmeyer is honest,
and the torrid and ford character of
his words is to be attributed solely TO
his enthusiasm, which always relieves
itself by the use of six-story adiectives.
But he is not half as savage as he sound
1t is a singular phase of the type of the
men of which Overmeyer and Ingalls,
are examples that the pointing Of
phrase or the coming of an epigram
is of more Importance TO them than
either accuracy Of statement of the
law of libel.
"Mr Lowe last Friday showed that
the facts did not trouble Mr.. Overmyer
in the preparation of his screed. 1t
is a favorite fallacy to talk of gold
and silver as the money of the cOnsti-
tuition. In fact, the only place in the
constitution in which any metal is
mentioned by name is the clause inhib-
iting the states from making anything
but gold and silver coin tender for
debts. The power confided 10 the ma
tional government is 10 coin money
not of gold and silver-but from any
substance which its wisdom, or unwis- |
dom, may choose. Doubtless the franz
ers of the constitution had gold and sill |
yer in mind, because those metals were |
in common use as money. But Mr.. Ov- |
ermeyer knows that the great men who |
wrote the constitution inserted inhibi-
tory language against the states as a |
guard against fluctuating or uncer- |
tain standard of value. He also knows |
that the fathers never dreamed that |
the government had, or could have, any |
power of creation; and hence the con- |
stitution delegates to congress, not the |
power to make, but TO coin, money. |
Nor will he when out of his silver tan
trum deny that all the great men and |
especially jefferson, who figured in the |
early history of our country empha-
sized the fact that money could only
be coined at the commercial value of the
metal used for that purpose"
In regard TO Mr.. Overmyer's charge !,
against Carlisle, Mr.. Perry said: at
is absurd. Carlisle never was in favor
of free coinage. If those who differ
with him would answer his arguments
instead of abusing him, there would
be less prejudice and more reason ap-
parent in the discussion of this ques-
ton. The speech made by Carlisle in
congress in 1878, when the specie in the
silver dollar was worth little less than
that in the gold dollar, advocated a
measure for the limited coinage of silver
dollars on government account not free |
coinage"
Mr.. Perry continued: "Overmyer
claims that those of us who believe in
the gold standard as opposed to the sill
yer standard are more devoted to gold
than to the party, and are knowingly |
attempting to lead the party to defeat.
This aSpersion is utterly unfounded |
and uncalled for, but / hesitate now to |
speak of it because IL will doubtless
be said that 1 wear 'Cleveland's collar
But, parenthetically, / may say that 1
know good many men who asked for
one of these collars-and 1 did not
who are now berating the president |
as they would nat dare to belle a boot |
black if he were within reach of them.
sometimes wonder what these men
would have done if they had obtained
the collars they asked for.
Mr. Overmyer knows, especially |
since his recent experience, that il is
not the men who opposed silver who !
bolt Democratic tickets, try TO wreck
the party, or deny other mems Democra-
cy. No so-called gold Democrat has |
Soasted he would not abide by the re-
suit of the convention. On the other
hand very many so-called silver Dem
ocrats say they will not if the decision |
be adverse TO them. True, the last |
convention of the party in Kansas de
clared in favor of free coinage at a
ratio of is to l. / presided over that |
gathering, and il nominated Overmyer
for governor. The committee on res
oiutions, and the delegates, were quite
evenly divided on the question. but the
accepte the decision of the ma
jority as final, and will DO so again
Overmyer accepted the nomina ton for
governor hours before the report of the
committee on resolutions was made.
Would he not have accepted il had |
the silver clause been omitted from the
platform? / fear he was not then so
satisfied as he is now that the silver
sentiment was a great wave on which |
ne could ride 10 popularity and power"
MI. Perry had a word for Kansas
Democrats. He said: 1T is proner
IAarN.1-NVo oh |
express opinions upon all public oues-
tons. They would not otherwise he
Democrats. Debate is desirable and
necessary. Without il intelligence and
knowledge are impossible, but discus
sion should be kept within reasonable
bounds; and should not be permitted
10 descend 10 animadversion.. There
is serious schism in the party. and !
such hot-spurs as Overmeyer are broad :
aning l. Democrats are altogether too I
busy fighting each other 10 have time ]
TO make war on the enemy. {
our party in Kansas has been partic- {
llariy unfortunate. II has wasted Is {
per cent Of its subsistence This has z
been brought about by coalitions, fus- 6
ons. running after false gods. treason,
everything but straightforward. manly. I!
simple. unterrified. undiluted Dsmocra- =
y The decision % a Democrats con 2
-ention is % me in matters politically / r
he same as the decision OF the supreme :
'ourt in matters Of property. Il
1 DC not believe in silver az Is 20 =
md never have. 50 stated in a n
peech FOUR years ago 20 the Democrat
c Editorial fraternity. and I base this n
'eliet as much on the proposition that G
ne government can not create vaIues !,
: on any other fact. But do NOT u-,,- !.
.oss 70 be either proscriba5 - ,,ir,t.s.z :