The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-06-26
APPEAL TO THE SOUTH.
non. I'D W1RD ATKINSON SAYS FREE
sILVER YOU'D CAUSE DEFEAT
or Democracy-Ue Advocates n State
Bank Currency as Remedy for
Existing Evils.


my part by my Southern friends If
make one more appeal 70 them to take
such action as VIII prevent the Demo-
cratic party vacatlng its power and place
for long period by declaration at the
Chicago convention in favor OF coming
silver dollars Of full legal-tender at the
ration Of l6 TO 1.
The safety OF this country from iohB
period Of uncertainty and confusion III
respect to tho collection OK revenue oy
duties upon imports. It's standard or uhtt
OF value and It's banking system ucPe.'"7
upon such an even balance Del"ee" 'u'
two political parties as VIII prevent en-
er from abusing its temporary po"e' N'-
Ger q great majority. Bolh pdlue' "H' 9
in recent years displayed their lo"y ~
abusing the great majoritles Wilich my
had attained In the house OF represents
tlyes. and unless the DemccFauc parry
Is checked in its Wild course LOW aiu Niu
money. the Republican party VIII asa"
Do, restored 10 power with "A huge pre-
,.,rd.ronce. All other questions are sun
t-to iusieniHcauce a. compared 10 VIC
Issue between good money ana nda H'ol'
and IL through the folly OF lne 49,,
H. leaders the opportunity shouiu ~
No the Republican party 70 s,"i.u 90 .s, ,o
onlv party In the country sus,''i''''7
ar GOOD money, hundreds OF 'lOu,''.' ~,
,.,ters who would vote asdH'7' III
DIR other conditions Will thfo" 'i''''
Now what IS It that had orousn, u1 r,'9
marty 10 this dangerous point! ,'.1r..ss
h. imputod 90 mere "ron5 -,.,,,,t. n
Tho facts are plain 10 ono VIZ mi any
rtte outside. viewing events WI he ar
uer-onal interest beyond '''"'
binary citizen. ,.t, act WAS "a
var measure. Tho purpose "a NO. coun-
49,. mas to force the banks ol quo -
,AA -..t.scrihe for United Staies uoi''
e a.s t..il,oe Was then granted 10 '"e
- q, issue notes serving i"e
49, ~ money or currency on the s'o"'
- ,,cso bonds. That system po9''
~ .,r,at merit I'm giving bank-hole ~
.t,eolufeiv as safe and sure az '".
tord 81 the Government hse"'
g. the same dangers. the s"i"e
..... .li..rned iu bad money ana ''i''
s,ondiny in many ways 10 t"e "'
tbe Government itself but thal SSS''"
~ t.,tt,y mo- longer meets the require
r,orfs of the country. Neither ''t '.'~
,r,,...s,r,, meet the requirements OF tH1
country for a note clrcuiauo",
cauee the Treasury Of the Ohlien ol"l''
g. totally unfit TO do banking
and vet great sections OF lHe 0o"''e' , D
notably bon the south and West are io'
hidden to supply themselves wiz" q"
lank-note currency TO meet tneH oN"
,...00.sities and their ncighbOrhood de
mauds. 10 is held that the Cohs l,s'
bc 1-nued states BE- more capable OF
,.tir,, c,re Of the people. and eAerting
a Maternal control over their banks anu
tonl.,s than they are themselves. That
fs a genuine grievance. The evidence Us
inoursifoucd that great embarrassments
have occurred; that local prices have
haou depressed. that facilities for credit
cannot be attained. owing 10 the restHc-
tions mon banking. Tie shreWd and
able owners of the silver mines and their
r.taiuers in Congress have taken adj
vantage Of this real grievance. Ihey
have diverted the attention az the peo-
ple Of the farming States Of the West
and of the people of the South from me
true grievance. and are attempting 10
take adrantaee Of this m.s@onccgtion
to thcir own profit. Are they to Doe per-
mittel to do so?
4 free-cOIlage act empowering any
one 10 carry silver bullion TO the mint 20
havc IL coined into dollars Of fuii legal
tender nc sixtecn G0 10 one Cd. would give
an enormous profit go two privileged class
os-the minc-OWncrs of the West. ana the
bankers Of the East. who can buy silver
or mine silver az the rate Of about thirty
600 or thirty-tW0 $50 TO one O. Now. II
the power is given 20 the miners 10
N.rHNN a
mint. and 10 force &c upon the c0mmu-
nifty under acts of legal tender az one
hundred llD cents. they have a margin
of profit ON their years production Of
over thirty million dollars GD000.eO.
while. on the other hand. If the bankers
of the East arc permitted 90 buy bullion
aii over the world at the present rate
of thirty CW or thirty-two c2) 10 one Cd.
10 carry 10 TO the mint have 10 coined
into dollars 40 the public expense and
then force it upon the community al six
teen O@ 90 one %. they have another
cuorrous profit boz prospect. at the cost
~ the community. which they would
attain during the period which had
elapsed before the community had found
ont how much 10 had been cheated. Cheap
money OF that kind bad money Of that
kind. is % cheat. n fraud an instrument
~ oppression and Of plumber. There are
no other words 90 be applied 10 snch
AN undertaking. and yet these astute
managers have persuaded thousands and
thousands Of honest and sincere men I'm
the South and West 10 support this ef-
fort 10 their own terrible injury.
Why only think for a moment. This
country sells It's products TO foreign coun-
tries in such an enormous measure that
in our traffic with Great Britain. France.
Germany Belgium. and Holland. which
buy from us eIghty-three per cent go
year by year Of our exports. we have
had passed TO our credit every year on
the average for the last ten OO years
two hundred and fifty million dollars
$3.50 10000 in gold coin above our pur-
chase from them. These nations cannot do
without our grain. our provisions. our cot
ton. our dairy products. or our oil. They
must have them. and we can and have
compelled them 10 pay for them az the
worlds standard OF value in gold. Now
these astute owners Of the silver mines
and their retainers have got up a cry
about international bimctallism in order
10 carry the free coinage OF cheap doll
lars which cost them less :han fifty CO
cents In gold, with power 10 force them
upon the community at one hundred
cents 600. They say that we are strong
enough 10 go Sc alone. What would be
the end Of 81? We have sold TO Great
Britain, France. Germany. Belgium. and
Holland IN the last ten GO years twenty
five hundred million dollars G2 $4,000 .0o1J
worth Of grain provisions, cotton. dairy