Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-10-15
AN OPEN LETTER.

Iull return Ol COHHueHCe anu Ilc DSSlH
ming of a restoration of prosperity
await the absolute certainty Of his de-
feat at the polls and the consequent
danger OF change in the monetary
standard Of value in this country.
After this Nebraska Cyclone has
disappeared from public view the storm
cellars of boarded money will be opened
again and the stagnant channels OF
trade and commerce will begin to re-
sumo their old time activity.
Besides about S40O, 100000 of gold
there is about 800, 100000 of currency
lying idle, awaiting the result of the
Presidential election. If Mckinley is
elected this idle money, estimated at
about six hundred millions of dollars
will again be available for business
purposes, because the stability of the
value of our money standard will then
be assured, but the effect of the elec-
tion OF Bryan upon the money market
would make matters worse rather than
! OellGT' ~ HuduCldl SboIlh "Oulu SNOOP
over the country with disastrous effect
and a change to a silver standard would
inevitably follow.
1t will be four months after election
before the new president would be
inaugurated. If Bryan was elected and
hastened to call an extra session of
/ ~ mould falya
another four months at least before a
free coinage act could pass the U. s.
Senate where debate is practically un-
| limited and forty determined men
could occupy three days each discuss
ing the bill with possible chance OF
defeating it for that session to be
brought up again in December 1897
and another four months be taken up
with its discussion so that the prospect
of getting more money into circulation
by the election of Mr.. Bryan is very
doubtful and could not be accomplished
for several years, whereas by the elec-
tion of Mckinley all of our own idle
money would be Immediately available
and besides we could go into the money
markets OF the old world and borrow If
necessary any amount of gold at four TO
five per cent. interest per annum.
The present paralysis of business,
closing of manufacturing establish
ments and scarcity Of money through
out the country are caused primarily
by the change from protective tariff
TO the present Wilson-Gorman deficit
producing tariff and secondarily TO the
feeling Of doubt and uncertainty pre-
vailing in financial circles caused by
the nomination of w. j. Bryan on a
free silver platform. But the dawn is
fast approaching, the golden orb of
day is rapidly rising into view and the
silver star OF Nebraska is slowly fading
from sight, soon to disappear in the
dim western horizon.
No man deserves or is fit to be elected
to preside over the destinies of this
great nation, who in his public speeches
stoops to the lowest arts of dema-
gogue, appealing to the passions and
prejudices of the people, trying to ex-
cite the debtor against the creditor,
the poor against the rich, and the
laborer against the capitalist. Such a
man has no claim to be considered a
patriot; he is no friend either OF his
country or his fellow men. He cares
nothing for the interests and welfare
of the people, but selfshly seeks his
own preferment by pondering to the
lower elements of human nature as
found in the lower grades of human
society.
The people have taken Mr.. Bryan's
measure. They are willing to concede
that he is the boy orator of the
Platte, but they will bid him tarry
awhile in Jericho, until his beard is
grown, until he is better and wiser
man. Am | mistaken? Then why do
more than two hundred leading daily
Democrat newspapers refuse to support
him? Why do we find thousands and
tens of thousands of old line Democrats
either joining Mckinley clubs or stat
ing that they will vote for Mckinley.
Why are nearly all OF the business
men, the manufactures, the old SOL
diers, the college bred men, the clergy
men, the teachers, the more intelligent
and best posted men among the farm
ers, mechanics and laboring men,
irrespective of party, supporting Nc
Kinley.
1t is because this is not merely a
political issue but question OF patriot
ism, a question OF words, question Of
honesty and question of national
honor, that is to be decided by the
ballots OF free and intelligent people