Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1896-09-24
TO MR.. HoFFMAsTER.
CHARLEsTowN, W. VA,
Sept. q, 1896.
Mr.. JoHN J. HoFFMAsTER,
Molers, W. Va:

CHARLESTOMN, w A.
Sept. 81, 1896
Mr.. IoHN J. HoFFMAsTER,
Molers, W. Va:
Dear Sill do not question that you
quote me correctly in your communlca-
tion TO the REGISTER. am surprised,
however. at the Interpretation which
Won now seem TO give to my letter OF
October. '94. By saying to you that my
father was not. at that time, in favor OF
a single gold standard, | certainly did
NOT saw to YOU that he was in favor OF
the free and unlimited coinage OF silver
atl6-l. nor did think you would so I'M
derstand il. | believed him 10 be a bl-
uetallist. i'm favor Of the use OF both
metals on honest and equal terms. Free
silver at a 1871 ratio is not bimetalLism,
since it is discrimination against gold,
and so in favor of silver as to make those
who champion ii the advocates OF a SIN
gke SiLOer standard.
said to you that the only hope OF the
people for frecr silver lay with the Dem
ocratic party. In this | only recited
historic fact. | myself believed then,
and believe now. in the JreeR possible
use of silver consistent with keeping II
at par with our other forms Of money.
Ihad no wish TO deceive you out OF
vour vote" There were but two candi-
dates in the field the tariff, not the mon
eyouestion. was the issue between them.
4 vote for Mr. Dayton surely would not
have been a vote for free silver.
| deny that the free and unlimited
coinage of silver at 1871 is for the wei
fare of this country and for the good of
suffering humanity. Did SO believe
I should be fully as earnest a worker
for it as you are yourself. l nave no
wish other than for the welfare of my
country. no wish other than for the GOOD
of suffering humanity.
Having my home, as do here among
the farmers in Jefferson knowing as l
do how hard pressed they are. how nara
thew labor and how little they gain
knowing too that upon their well-oelng
depends. in large measure, the we'll
being of US all, have no wish on earth
other than for their good and advance
ment.
Ii is because | believe, and believe
with all my heart, that the free coinage
of silver, as now proposed, would work
them still further ill. that oppose II.
| believe their present condition due
more to the long and active agitation OF
this question, and the unSettling of busl-
ness throughout the country resulting
from il. than TO any other cause.
But it is not my purpose TO enter into
anv argument with YOU challenge no
man his honest belief If you and diff
fer, know that you are as honest in
your convictions as am IN mine. Be
iieving that Mr.. Bryan's election would
be for the good of the people and the
welfare of the country, you would be as
false to your conscience and to right II
you refused to support him. as should
be to mine, should | support him, be
lieving. as do, that his election would
work injury and wrong to the people
and to the country.
have not changed in two years
time" Two years ago | believed, and
so said in the few speeches ! made, that
Grover Cleveland was one of the great
est and best presidents We ever had !;
that | believed him to be honest, COur-
ageous. self-sacrficing and actuated
solely by the wish to see his party honest
and honored and his country prosper
Gus and happy. so believe today. Two
wears ago the Democrats of whom was
most proud. in whose wisdom and hon
| esty had most faith and confidence,
were Carlisle. Mills and a score Of others
who today refuse to accept the Chicago
platform as true democracy. | have not
changed one iota; | follow the same
leaders | did then. the same have fol-
| lowed since cast my first ballot SIX
wears ago. do not deny you are right
| TO 90 off with new leaders be fair then
and do not deny me my right to stick
| with the old.
| do not question the honesty Of the
| people of jefferson, of those from whom
| | differ; there are no more honest people
! living: none who, in years past, nave
been more loyal TO the democratic party.
! If today they are for Bryan, when four
wears ago they were for Cleveland, it is
! not because they are less honest, less sin
! Cere. less anxious to do what is right for
! the right. now than they were then. |
! believe them misled by false statement
and false promises. believe the time
will come when they will see that they
have been betrayed, and when they will
| turn against the men who have betrayed
them. have faith in the permanence
! of the democratic party as the party OF
| jefferson, Tilden and Cleveland, and be-
lieve that il will live again in greatness
and in power when this issue, which
now divides us, has passed away.
1t is hard to differ with friends, hard
er to be misunderstood and misjudged
by them. but, hard as this is, ii is hard
err still to stihe thought and conscience.
Illness has kept me from sending you
a speedicr answer. believe your letter
to the REGISTER was an honest one, and
| have had no aim other than to send
YOU an honest answer.
Very truly yours,
WN II WILSON.