Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-08-28

ana It pears none or the ear marks OF a
letter written by patriot.
Instead of adding to his reputation as
a statesman Mr.. McKinleys acceptance
| letter is calculated to detraet from it. 1t
is disappointing, sadly disappointing.
In the space of two columns and half,
which he devotes to the financial ques-
ton. Mr. Mckinley demonstrates that he
is grossly ignorant on the subject, or that
he has very little estimation of the intel
ligence of the public. 1t is barely posi-
BILE that so much space has been consum-
ed before by any writer on that subject
IN which SO little was said.
II there are In existence any arguments
to support the proposition made by the
| republicans in their platform to maintain
| tho existing gold standard until other ma
| lions consent for the United States to
| go TO the free coinage of silver it was to
| be supposed that the candidate of the
| party was familiar with them and would
| in hi3 letter of acceptance bring them into
| play. But Mr.. Mckinley presents no ar
guments He simply contents himself
with the assertion that such policy is
best, never for once attempting to say
why.
One very profound declaration, how
ever, which appears in his letter. Is that
the free coinage of. silver does not mean
that people are to be given silver dollars
without charge for them either in labor
or products. OF course that informa ton
will be a bombshell in the camps of the
"anarchists,' socialists" western
farmers who work their jaws" and
Southern ex-slave holding farmers who
DO not want to pay anything at all for
labor" who are advocating free coinage.
When these people learn through Ma
jor Mckinley that they will have to work
for the silver dollars before coming into
possession Of Them even though they be
coined free, we imagine they will go in
platoons to McKinley's standard.
In taking the position that to add to
the whole number of dollars in exist
ence does not tend to enable the indi-
vdual to procure dollars with less toll
and less sacrifice Mr.. Mckinley sets
himself up against the wisest men both
in and out of his own party and shows
that he knows nothing about the ques-
ton or is unwilling to be candid.
His declaration in favor of interna-
tional bimetallism after declaring that
free coinage would not benefit the coun-
try if the dollars are to remain on par
ity is simply amusing
His promise that the republican party
| WILL If given control of the government,
| retain in circulation all the silver and
| paper money now in circulation is of
| course intended only fol- the masses and
| not for the international gold trust,
| which is putting up a great deal of the
| corruption fund with which to purchase
| his election. The gold trust knows bet
| ter than that, and Major Mckinley we
are constrained TO say, in that particular
makes a promise that he must know Wall
party to keep.
On the tariff he has nothing new to
say. 1t is the same old story in behalf
of the robber scheme that the people
have more than once repudiated at the
| polls. He throws a crumb to the boltng
| democrats of the south when he init
| mates that his party is no longer favor
| able to force bill, forgetting or not
| having realized yet the fact that the men
| in the south who would see him elected
rather than Bryan are at heart favorab
| to force bill if it be necessary to have
one in order to keep the money power in
| control of the government.
Taken altogether there is absolutely
nothing IN the letter to indicate that Mr.
| Mckinley Is statesman or a patriot
and in our Judgment it will make thou
| sands of votes for the democratic ticket.