Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-25
DOLLARS OF OUR FATHERS
Some Remarks on the Money of the Con-
stitution.
A Correspondent Dissects Bryan's Ap.
peal to the Great Charter of
the Government.

~. Y. H." discussing the silver question,
writes further to The Star follows:
In closing his letter of acceptance, Mr..
Bryan appeals for united action among
those who are determined that progress
toward an universal gold standard shall
be stayed, and the gold and silver coinage
of the Constitution restored and in his
address in this city on Saturday last he
said: Il come as the nominee of three
parties, who believe in the restoration of
the money of the Constitution, who believe
that the money of the Constitution Is an
honest money, honest enough for any
man." These are two of the many de-
mands made by him and other advocates
of the 16 to l, free, unlimited, policy for
the restoration of the money of the Con.
stitution." This expression plays no small
part in the addresses made by them to the
people, and is, therefore. expected to have
large influence in determining their action
at the coming election. The fact that
there is still cherished among the people
at large such a sincere respect for the Con-
stitution that politicians are constrained
to appeal to 1t In support of their conten-
TORS is one of happiest augury. That that
venerable instrument which more than
century ago set forth the fundamental
principles upon which a nation was to be
established and perpetuated should still
command the universal approval and sup
port of 10.m0,O0O of people Is of meal
culable significance. 1t means the prevail
ence of a loyal devotion to those principles
which will not tolerate any tampering with
the instrument itself. 1t means that the
people still regard the work OF the fathers
as wrought with uneXampled wisdom and
foresight and that they will not look with
Indifference upon any effort or policy cal
culated to undo that beneficent work. 1t
indicates spirit that will resent with in
dignation any suggestion looking to the
weakening of the bands that bind in one
the several sections of the nation. and
that will consign to eternal infamy the
authors Of such sugges tons should they
unfortunately arise. Nothing more aSsur-
ing for the present, nothing more au-
spicious for the future, could exist than
this prevalent, profound regard and VEN
Grafton for the Constitution, to which APP
peals are now so persistently made In be-
half of free silver" Whatever tends to
confirm and strengthen this loyalty to the
Constitution among the people confirms
also the stability and integrity of the ma
ton. Whatever tends to weaken or under
mine this sentiment undermines also the
very foundations of the government. Per-
manence and security depend upon the per-
petuation of this sentiment. If the time
shall ever come when appeals to the Con-
sttution lose their force, and our citizens
become Indifferent to it's provisions, dis
Indignation cannot be long deferred.
1t is therefore of the utmost Importance
that nothing be done to diminish in the
least the popular respect entertained for
the fathers Of the Constitution, nor the
popuar confidence in their political wisdom,
authority of this fundamental and ALIEN
bracing enactment. The man who attempts
this permits himself to do what In
directly may have this result, is nothing
less than an enemy to his country. No
censure too severe could be pronounced
against such an one. One method by which
this disastrous effect may be wrought Is by
false or illogical appeals to the Constitu-
ton, appeals which are unwarranted by Its
provisions, which are not sanctioned by its
language. which are based upon partial or
perverted interpretations, misleading the
people, and in the end involving them IN
disappointment or disaster. No political
ambition. no stress of a political campaign
should betray any public man into the use
of such appeals. When in soliciting their
suffrages the people are referred to the
Constitution as an argument in support OF
any definite proposition, the very language
| of the Constitution should be placed before
| them and strictly fair and judicial in
depreciation given thereto not moons stent
with that given by it's authors themselves
| 1t is neither honest nor safe 10 deal In
gittering generalities, nor 10 make asser-
TONS direct or by implication, which are
| not fully sustained by the Constitution 1t
self and it's contemporaneous construction
However great the regard in which 1t Is
| held by the common people. they are not
| familiar with the details of its provisions
They have lived under its protection; they
have experienced its safeguarding of their
| rights; they expect 10 find in it defense
| against public oppression or injustice, but
| they can be deceived and misled for time
| as to its provisions. Political leaders, pre-
| Stunning upon their ignorance or credulity,
| may persuade them to believe that 1t COM
mands or sanctions certain legislative ac-
| tion the refusal of which involves its VIC
| lation when such is far from being the
| fact When, however. they have been I'M
| deceived, when by results or by more thor
| ough and honest instructions they have
| learned what the true import of the Con-
| stitution is, the consequences are likely to
| la <,tp toward those
| whom they have been m;sled, but lessen
| ing 0: their regard for the Constitution it
| self They find it is being used as thing
| TO conjure with. that 1t is being played
fast and loose" with by their leaders,
| employed merely to catch their votes, that
they have not been told the truth. the
| whole truth and nothing but the truth" as
| to its meaning. They have been diSappoint-
| ed and the most iamentable result of all
| this Is rkelv to be a diminution In their
loyalty to this ancient charter of their lib
! critics. Woe to the party or the man whose
| words or deeds have this effect. This evil
| i....1,er can he averted only as trans.
| parent honesty shall characterize every ap.
'nH' 10 the Constitution. only as it shall be
| found that its name. which ought to be
held but little less than sacred by every
! c zen. has not been used for merely selfish
| or partisan purposes, that no strained o,
perverted or Illogical construction has beer
put upon its provisions. but that it does
clearly ard unms takably sustain tn.
propositions to whose aid 1t has been sum
moned. Any use of the Constitution
especially in a political campaign, other
wise than in this manner and spirit de
serves the condemnation of all good citi
zens as unpatriotic and disloyal, tending t.
the breaking down of one of the best AND
surest defenseS of the rights and liberties
of the people.
Let examine for a moment the appea
now being made to the Constitution in be
half of free silver, 16 to L." Mr. Bryal
demands sile restoration of the coinage o
the Constitution" His associates and fol
lowers are crying cut all over the countr
| for the "mor ey of the Constitution" an
| some Of the people, confidng in the integ
rity and wisdom of the leaders, are echoin.
the cry. Give us the money of the Consti
tution." not knowing what they say. Wha
do the masses understand their leaders {
mean by these phrases? When they ar
| told that by supporting the 10 to 1 polio
they are voting for the coinage of tn
| Constitution" and that the victory of thi
policy will result in the restoration Of tn
money Of the Constitution" what must b
their conclusions? 1t must be borne i
l 80 ~ la A..