The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-05-11

the afilavit OF Lackenhack, and they
have the most convincing evidences that
silver was secretly, stealthtly. surreptfti-
Dusty. frauduiently. corrupsfy demone-
tixed in lS74
VIVA, kind Of a man must Luckenhack
bel He claims to have been the intimate
friend OF Mr.. Seyd. In his affidavit he
states that from 1SsS to iSs4 he went to
London every year. and every time he
went there he was entertained at the homo
OF his friend. A man who would needless
". even by . true affdavit. elacken the
memory OF q dead friend and bring dis
grace upon his family. Is az only for the
company Of liars and sccundreia.
Surely in this matter the denial OF the
son Is more worthy OF belief than the
affidavft OF Luckenback.
During all the pricd. 1888 to 1873 the sil-
yer dollar was worth from N.oc TO N-oS In
geld. II Is absurd to suppose that. years
before silver became the cheaper money az
the mint ratio. money lenders in America
and Europe formed q conspiracy" TO pre-
vent their debtors from paying them In
silver.
The bill dropping the silver dollar from
our list Of coins had passed the senate on
January TO- ISL. by q vote OF 50 to IL IL
had passed the house on May q, lSss. by .
vote OF 10 10 Is 90. In the name OF COM
mon sense. what need was there for Eng
here in the winter OF iSss-Is." TO hf:es
congress TO favor q measure that had al
ready passed both houses OF congress
without q word OF opposition from single
member7 Granting that bankers are a.
willing to resort to bribery rs Populists
claim-and the word Of those who forge
government reports would. Of course. b
accepted as conclusive on this point-they
should be credited with having sense
enough not to use bribery when there IL
no necessity whatever for II.
Ernest Seyd was one OF the most noted
bi-metallists OF the world at that time,
and had written several works In which
he most strenuously urged the use of sil-
Yer as standard money on equal terms
with gold. He had been consulted. ~ an
authority on finance. by those In charge
OF the bill for the demonstration of silver.
and had been requested to give his opinion
with reference to the various provisions
OF the bill. In = letter to Mr.. Hooper from
London. dated February II. lS72-about the
time Popuiists say he was in this country
he wrote strongly against the dropping
OF the silver dollar from our list OF coins
as the bill provided CD.
Yet we are asked to believe that Mr..
Seyd bribed congress to overthrow the
monetary principles that he had spent tho
larger part Of his life In unfolding. While
he lived he was regarded as q very able.
ever brought against him Is the contempt
ible charge that Luckenback brings
against him after his lips are silent in
death.
Suppose for the moment that II Is true
that Mr.. Seyd did bride congress 20 de-
monetize silver. From the atfidavit Of
Luckenback it appears that Mr.. Seyd told
him OF his infamous act. not impelled by
remorse. but merely as q matter OF news.
with the tacft permission to Luckenback
to tell the whole thing as soon as Mr..
Seyd should die. Mr. Seyd knew that the
publication Of his infamy would stamp
him In the eyes Of all honest men AZ a
vile hypocrite and bring odium upon his
sons and his family. Had he no regard
for his own reputation or that of those he
would leave behind him! II Is not credible
that Seyd would have told Luckenback Of
his fnfamy without pledging him to eter-
nal secrecy. Luckenback's affidavit bears
upon Its face the indubitable, marks OF
falsehood.
Simply because the American people are
an intelligent. reading people. the charge
that congress was hribed to demonetixe
silver is bound to take its place along With
the other political lies Of history.
1.-Weaver's Call to Action" d so. A.
Congressional Globe, April ., 1872 d 2304
a.-"Seven Financial Conspiracies," D Sc;
Call TO Action" p go 4.-'Conspiracies,"
81. h-Congressional Record. August "a
1885,. p 1876. 6.--Do. August q, 1885, d 56l,
7.--Do. September Is. 1898, D. 1870. g.
Laughlin. p IS. 9.-Congressional Record.
August =. 1893. p. 5s5.
HERMoN W. CRAVEN.