The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-05-23
JUDGE M'CoNNELLs POSITION.

| Judge S. p. Mcconnell is the leader
of the free silver forces in Chicago. In
| answer Ito letter from a prominent
| Democrat, he wrote the following
letter. Judge Mcconnell believes in
free coinage at 16 to /, but he is not
welded to ratio and he points out that
| all Democrats who do not believe in
the gold standard ought to fight with
the real bi-metallists, and not under
the gold standard banner. Here is
the letter:
Chicago, ILL.,. May 9.-Hon. John
Barton Payne, City-Dear Sir: l am
| in receipt of your letter of May 8. |
am glad that some one of your posi-
| ton and reputation as an official and
| citizen, and whose Democracy is SO
| well known, has undertaken to dis
| cover the real difference between the
two wings of the Democratic party on
the currency question.
II am, like yourself, devoted Demo
GRAFT and believe that the principles
of government advocated by that party
are such as are most likely to secure
| the perpetuity of our free institutions
and the great good to the body of the
people.
For that reason I, like yourself, de
preciate a division of the party. | more
particularly should regret division
which should spring from mere mis-
understanding.
81 think the demand for the remone-
| tization of silver has been. unfortu-
nately, in the minds of many Demo
Gratis. regarded as inSeparablv con-
nected with the subordinate PROPOSE
ton that the ratio Of silver to gold
should be placed at that of Is to /.
think this is true of many who are
advocating free coinage of silver, and
also of very many who. processing
themselves to be bi-metallists, have ar
raNed themselves for the present on
the other side.
II regard hi as very unfortunate that
the cause of bi-metallism has in any
way been confused with the demand
for any particular ratio between the
two precious metals.
PERSONALLY, | believe a full consid-
GRAFTON of all the existing conditions
will lead to the conclusion that 16 to
is the ratio which should be adopted
But is would be mere dogmatism to
insist on that ratio, and by doing so /
tdii EASILY Stt tildb the great ISSUE D<'-
tween bi-metallism and the single gold
standard might be settled in favor of
the latter, Just because the advocates
of bi-metallism continued to insist or
q detail entirely subordinate to the
main issue.
Il have already regarded the sse of
the phrase &c to r rather as a sugges-
ton than the announcement of a
principle. 1t has always seemed a
good way of giving expression to the
desire to accomplish the remonetiza-
tion of silver.
Il think, perhaps, many Democrats
at present are focking to the gold
standard banner, because they think
the gold standard better than the
coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to /.
ION the other hand | am certain
that many are announcing themselves
for the coinage of silver at that ratio,
because they deem that better than
the permanent establishment of the
single gold standard.
ut would be a sincere grief to me
that n great cause should fail because
upon minor detail some of us cannot
agree with all the other members of
the party.
There should be no division in the
ranks of the bi-metallists.
II know many Democrats who have
worked with me feel the same way. ]
really know none who are not willing
to submit the matter of ratio to the
deliberate consideration and action of
"a Congress elected on the issue of the
reconciliation of silver. as against
the single standard of gold.
Thanking you for the opportunity
YOU have given me for full explasa-
ton of my position on a question now
50 troublesome in our party councils.
| remain always with the highest
regard, most sincerely yours.
Sc p NrC0NNETr