Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-07-17
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
Some suggestions as to Expediency
of Uniting the silver Forces.
ID. STANDARD:

hillHis peItulI me Tue use Oh your
valuable paper to call the attention OF
the friends OF silver to the political
situation in this country and to offer
suggestions as to what is probably the
best thing to be done under the cir
cumstances.
In this county the battle for silver
is already won as regards convincing
an immense majority OF its voters OF
the desirability and necessity of the
United States Immediately enacting
legislation for the free and unlimited
coinage of silver at the ratio of lG to | =,
irrespective oi what any foreign coun-
try may do.
The people OF the Thurston county,
(barring the gold bugs, are a unit in
believing the United States is great
enough to successfully conduct its
own affairs without having to consult
with Johnny Bull.
You cannot go to any precinct in
the county without finding the silver
men in an overwhelming majority.
Therefore, l may truthfully state that
this is silver county.
No one disputes the fact that to
elect either gold or silver man for
President will make considerable diff
ference in the policy OF our financial
legislation, but all concede that it
will not make all the difference and
that it is possible for the next Con-
gress to enact financial legislation
irrespective of the wishes of the Presi-
dent.
Now the State OF Washington is I'M
doubleday a silver State. Therefore,
it should have silver delegation in
the next Congress. We have two
Representatives and one U. S. Sena-
tor to elect to Congress from this
State this fall and winter. Thurston
county has two members to the House
and one member to the Senate to
elect this fall to the State Legislature.
The State Legislature has the duty
OF electing the United States Senator
from this State. Thurston county
being silver county should see to it
that its delegation in the next State
Legislature should be silver men.
But though this is silver county the
silver forces are divided among them
selves. because in times past they have
belonged to different political parties.
Many of our voters think it is fu-
sion for the silver forces of this
county to unite on silver ticket be-
cause it must necessarily bring to-
gether men who have previously held
different political opinions. Now fu-
sion, as used in politics, is as under.
stand it, the combining of men of diff
ferent political opinions and parties
for the purpose Of dividing the spoils
OF office. Usually in fusion men lay
aside their principles and vote with
but the one object, of electing some.
body to some office. The idea of sill
yer men and gold men laying aside
their principles and fusing for no
other object than to elect their man
to office is repulsive to all honest,
patriotic citizens who have their
country's welfare at heart. A man
who sincerely believes that the para
mount question before the American
people to-day is the financial ques-
ton and who also believes that the
enactment of legislation to restore the
reconciliation OF silver at the ratio o
Ito to l, is the correct solution of that
question regardless OF what other ma
tons may do. cannot consistently vote
the Republican ticket. On the other
hand, no man who sincerely believes
that the maintenance of the present
gold standard by our government is
the proper thing to do, can consist
emily vote the Democratic ticket.
Again, no man, who does not sincerely
believe that our present troubles will
be relieved by free silver and the other
reforms advocated by the Peoples
party, can consistently vote the Peo-
pies party ticket. Now we have the
matter before us and the question
arises as to what is best TO be done.
AS regards electing the President it
is conceded that two silver tickets in
the field will insure the election OF
Mckinley. Hence the hope of the
country rs regards the President rests
with the members of the National
Peoples Party convention that is soon
to be held. May an All-wise Creator
direct their deliberations!
But as regards the controlling of the
next Congress, that rests with the
great American people, a large ma
jority OF whom favor the free and I'M
limited coinage of silver. 1t therefore
follows as natural consequence that
the next Congress should be distinct
q oil ., 10
a result to be obtained? The answer
is, that the silver Republicans must
not fuse with the gold Republicans;
that the silver Democrats must not
fuse with the gold Democrats; that the
silver Prohibitionists must not fuse
with the gold Prohibitionists and that
the liberal country-loving Populists
must in a spirit OF the greatest good
to the greatest number" accept their
one great reform and as many OF their
other reforms as can be had by joining
in with their silver brethren who were
formerly Republicans, and their silver
brethren who though still advocating
prohibition are willing this year to
lend their aid to the great cause and
all together act as one united whole to
form silver ticket in each county and
State in the Union. Other counties
will take care of themselves. 1t is our
duty, as the majority of the voters of
Thurston county, to take care of
Thurston county. Let us see to it
that we do. Let us organize an indie
pendent silver ticket. Let US place
complete legislative and county ticket
in the field. Let us unite with the
other counties OF the State who do as
we shall do. Let us put State ticket
in the field. Let us take such action
as regards the President as will insure
the election of a silver man. Let us
be patient. brave, untiinching. Let us
present solid phalanx to the gold
bugs. Let us win.
ONE WHO KNOWS
THE PULSE OF THE PEOPLE.
To William Jennings Bryan.