The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-08-22
Secretary of Agriculture Can't
Meet Gold Democrats,
But He Writes Committeeman
Eugene Hagan a Letter.
is FULL OF FINANCE.
Has Advice to Give Kansas and
Nebraska Farmers.
Says Free Coinage Would Be a
Case Of Steal.

Eugene Hagan, the member of the
national committee on theGoldStandard
Democrats is busily engaged in pre-
pairing for the meeting that is to be
held in this city on Tuesday next I'M.
Hagan has received a letter from J.
Sterling Morton in which he states his
inability to be present at the cOnven-
ton and defines his position as regards
the Democratic party. 1t is as follows:
Arbor Lodge, Nebraska City, Neb.,
August 21, 1896.
Eugene Hagan, Esq, Member of the
National Democratic Committee, To-
peka, Kan:
My Dear Sir:-I wired you today that
it was impossible to accept your highly
appreciated invitation to address the
Sound Money Democrats of the state
of Kansas at their convention in To-
peka on Tuesday next, the 25th in
stant.
Be assured that I am thoroughly in
accord with your patriotic movement in
behalf of the organization of a real
Democratic party in the state of KAN
sas. The need of the hour is a political
organization of the United States de-
voted to the fundamental principles OF
popular government. The organization
should, in the language of Magma
Charta as confirmed by John (by the
grace of God, king of England and
June, 1915, declare that; 1--WE will sell
to no man. we will not deny to any
man, either Justice or right"
This assertion covers all questions Of
finance. It prohibits the selling to the
mine and the bullion owners of the
United States the sole right to enhance
personal profits by legislative enact
menr. 1t forbids the selling of princi-
pies for political prOminece and posi-
ton. It prohibits intellectual and pc
litical prostitution for the purpose of
attaining public place and emoluments.
It denOunceS the attempt to increase
the privileges of one class of citizens by
taxing all other classes of citizens.
The biblical text quoted in the Madl-
son Square Garden speech of GIr. Bry-
an-'ThOu shalt not SteuI'-lS in per-
feet accord with Magma Charta, and it
is difficult to see how one who reVeres
such teachings and who quotes them,
can, at the same time, favor a coinage
system which would steal from all the
people the difference between 65 cents
(Which is today the bullion value of sill
ver) and $1.29 an ounce (Which is the
mint value when that metal is coined
into 4121a grain dollars and made a le-
gal tender money! and bestow it upon
a few mine and bullion owners.
When Kansas and Nebraska farmers
find that the government is running
gristmills at its own expense-Where,
depositing so cents worth of wheat, the
said farmers may get for the same
dollars worth of fiOur-it will be
time enough for them to advocate
mints running at government ez-
pense, where mine and bullion owners
bullion and receive a full dollars worth
of coin. Silver bullion is a product Of
the earth, taken out by human skill
and muscle, and so is wheat. and there
is no reason why the government
should, by enactment, place an artifi-
cial value on the former any more than
on the latter. The relation of the sup
ply of wheat to the demand of wheat
fixes the value of wheat. And just so
the relation of the supply of silver to
the demand of silver fixes the value of
silver. And all the legislation of all
the states, the territories the United
States, and even of a congress of all
the civilized nations of the earth cannot
by legislation, repeal this immutable
and inexorabIe law of commerce.
Yours truly.
J. STERLING MORTON.
Mr.. Hagan said to a reporter today:
"Of course it is impossible to say how
many may be expected to attend this
meeting, as there are now no OrganiZa-
tions in this state to elect delegates and
this meeting will be in a measure an
effort to organize in the state. ] have
already received letters from many
persons that assure me that they VIII
be present if possible, and while don't
know positively, 1 think there will be
$50 here at the meeting on Tuesday.
MANY of the most prominent Demo-
Gratis in the state are coming out on our
side Ed Carroll, who has always
been a prominent man in the councils
of the party, and Thos. Fenlon of
IeavenWorth are both with US. Be
sides these there are many others from
all over the state that will do all they