Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-09-03
M'KINLEY'S LETTER.
ae Formally Accepts the Nominal
ton for the Presidency.
Issues Of the Campaign Plainly
and Foroibly Presented.
Convincing Reasons Why Free Coin.
age Of Silver Should Not
Obtain.
Protection and Reciprocity Of supreme
Importance to TIE Welfare Of
the Country.
HIS VIEWS ON OTHER TOPICS.

his letter of acceptance to the press as
sociations Wednesday afternoon, havln
finished his last reading and revision o
1t at 1890 o'clock. The letter touches up0l
ell Of the important planks In the repub
lican national platform, but the first hal
OF 1t Is devoted to an incisive discussion 0
the money question. The letter is as fol
lows:
Hon. John M. Thurston, and Others
members OF the notification committee o
the republican national c0nventl0n-Gdn
tlemen: In pursuance OF the promise mad,
to your committee, when notified OF my
nomination as the republican candidate fol
president, beg TO submit this formal &C.
ceptance OF that high honor, and to con.
slider In detail questions at issue In the
be considered unnecessary In view of my
remarks on that occasion and those
have made to delegations who have WIS.,
tied me since the st. Louis convention
but In view OF the m0ment0us Importance
Of the proper settlement OF the issues
presented on our future prosperity and
standing as nation, and considering only
the welfare and happiness of our people.
could not be content to omit again call
my opinion, vitality affect our strength and
position among the governments Of the
world, and our morality, integrity and
patriotism as citizens OF that republic,
which for century past has been the
best hope Of the world and the Inspiration
Of mankind We must not now prove false
to our own high standard In government
nor unmindful Of the noble example and
wise precepts OF the fathers, or OF the
confidence and trust which our con-
duct In the past has always inspired.
Tho Free Coinage Of Silver.
For the first time since 1868, II ever be.
fore. there Is presented to the American
people this year clear and direct Issue as
70 our monetary system, OF vast Importance
In Its effects, and upon the right settle
ment Of which rests largely the financial
honor and prosperity OF the country. 1t
ID proposed by one wing Of the democratic
party and Its allies, The peoples and sill
yer parties, to inaugurate the free and un-
limited coinage OF SILVER by independent &C.
ti0n on the part OF the United States ct Q
ratio Of sixteen ounces OF silver to one
ounce of gold. The mere declaration Of this
purpose Is O menace to our financial and
Industrial interests and has already cre-
ated universal alarm. 1t Involves great
peril to the credit and business Of the coun-
everywhere are breaking away from their
old party associations and uniting with
other patriotic citizens In emphatic protest
against the platform OF the democratic
national convention as an assault upon the
faith and honor Of the government and the
welfare Of the people. We have had few
questions In the lifetime Of the republic
more serious than the one which Is thus
presented.
No Benefit to Labor.
1.-THE character OF the money which shall |
measure our values and exchanges and
Settle our balances with one another and
with the nations Of the world, Is Of such |
primary Importance and so far-reaching |
In Its consequences as to call for the most |
painstaking investigation. and, In the end,
a sober and unprecedented judgment at the
polls. We must not be msled by phrases
nor deluded by false theories Free silver
would not mean that silver dollars were
10 be freely had without cost or labor. II
would mean the free use Of the mints Of
the United States for the few who are
silver coin no freer to many who are en-
gagged In other enterprises. 1t would not
make labor easier, the hours Of labor
shorter. or the pay better II would not
make farming less laborious or more
profitable. II would not start factory
or make demand for an additional days
labor, II would create no new occupations
~ Wouiu tuu nOtHlTb 10 tne comfort OF the |
masses. the capital Of the people or tho
wealth Of the nation. It seeks to Introduce
4 new measure OF value, but would add
no value to the thing measured II would
not conserve values. On the contrary, Il
would derange all existing values, II would
lot restore business confidence, but It's
lirect effect would be to destroy the little :
which yet remains.
What 1t Means.
1.-THE meaning Of the coinage nlanr
dopted at Chicago In that anyon, may
AXE a quantity of silver bullion now worth J
cents TO the mints Of the United States,
ave It coined at the expense Of the govern
nent and receive for II a silver dollar
ghich shall be legal tender for the pay
tent OF all debts, public and private. The !
liver dollar, II would belong to him and !
D nobody else. Other people would get
only by their labor the products of their
md or something OF value. The bullion .
wner on the basis of present values would
ecelye the silver dollar for 80 cents worth
silver, and other people would he re-
uired to receive II as full dollar In the !
ayment OF debts. The government would =
ct nothing from the transaction. II would ,
he community would suffer loss by It's use.
The DOLLARS Compared,
1--WE have coined since 1878 moro than Z
\, O00, OOO of silver dollars which are main Il
lined by the government at parity with =
DID, and ore a full legal tender for the pay $
ent OF all debts, public and private How
re the silver dollars now IN use different
ON those which would be In use Under 1
zee coinage? They are TO he OF the same Il
eight and flncness; they are TO bear the Il
Inc stamp Of the government Why Il
ould they not be of the same value b
Il answer; The silver dollars now In {
'e were coined on account Of the govern a
emit and not for private account or rain, 0
I'd the government has solemnly agreed o
keep them as good as the best dollars we u
I'VE. The government bought the silver n
illion at its market value and coined It u
TO silver dollars. Having exclusive con- Il
oil OF the mintage, II only coins what II q
IN hold at a parity with gold The profit, O
the difference between the q
value Of the silver bullion and 4
e face value Of the silver dollar, goes TO j
g government for the benefit Of the peo- II
Q. The government bought the bullion a
the silver dollar at very much less than U
coinage value. 1t paid II out TO its cred u
,rs and put II In circulation among the Y
ople at It's face value OF 100 cents, orr v
II dollar. II required the people TO ao- u
pt II as a legal tender and Is thus morally y
und to maintain II at parity with gold.
lIch was then. as now, the recoPniged
indard with US, and the most enlightened a
tions Of the world The government /.
wing issued and circulated the silver dol g,
:, II must In honor protect the holder d,
)m loss This obligation II has 30 far IL
rredly kept Not only Is there u
)ral obligation. but there Is a legal obli- ci
tIon, expressed In public statute. TO d.
lintain the parity 81
They Could Not BE Kept at Par. ~
These dollars. in the particulars have nj
med. are not the same as the dollars b
Itch would be Issued under free coinage. n
ey would be the same In form, but diff q
'ent In value. The government would C
We no part IN the transaction, except to ic
u the silver bullion iDo dollars. II d,
uld take upon itself no obligation Il
u.d not put the dollars into circulation. is
could only get them. as any citizen would II
them. by giving something for them. NJ
woulc deliver them 10 those who de- vi
sited the silver. and It's connection with re
transaction there end Such are the W
yer dollars which would be issued under b,
. coinage OF silver at ratio OF sixteen pl
one, Who would then maintain the az
rity? What would keep them at par er
II goldy There would be no obligation m
ting upon the government to do II, and IL II,
IRE were. II would he powerless 10 do II. 81,
3 simple truth Is we would be driven to cr
silver basis-to silver monometallism, III