Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-10-30
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g! RskiHs RskassF:
To Much Johnson, Too Little Truth
EDITOR PLAIN DEA1RR:-
ABSOLUTELY PURE

. .-- ----
To Much Johnson, Too Little Truth
EDITOR PLAIN DEALRR:-
In reply to an article that appeared
in the Republican of October 81, say
ing that the P. D., is wrong again,
there was more johnson than the
other fellow wanted"
To those present sat the Wells
school house an answer would he
superfluous, but to those who had no
opportunity to know what little re-
gard the Republican has had for truth
in this campaign, an answer seems
necessary. The very fact that John
son opened his spe ech by rem arking
that the majority of his audience did
not know any more about the money
question than the fellow did who
said that 18..to /, meant 16 silver dol
lars to one Of gold, would indicate
that he presumed good deal on the
ignorance Of his audience.
He then followed by the remark,
"that we had the best financial sys-
tenn in the world, and it could not be
bettered, and it was good enough for
him" To show him that he was out
of harmony with his platform, I cal
led on him to read from that clause
In the republican platform where it
declares for bimetallism. He said he
would, if I would tell him what ma
tion had better system of finance.
He then reluctantly read the clause.
l then answered his question, reply
ing that France had better system of
finance. He maintained that France
system was identical with ours.
In reply would say that France
reserves to herself and to her credit
ors the option of paying a debt in
either gold or silver, and does not
recognize gold contracts.
Under the ruling of Secretary Fos-
ter, under Harrison's dministration,
and its successor-the Cleveland ad-
ministration-we have gold contracts
and corporation gold bonds.
asked him would it be legislating
in favor of the silver mine owner, if
we adopted the free coinage of silver
at the ratio of 16 to 1. He said it
would.
then said you acknowledge that
you wronged the mine owners in 1878,
and reconciliation only return to
them what we took from them then.
A gentleman in the audience then
asked: Will Mr.. Hardy pleas tell what
we took from them in 1878. Mr..
johnson then replied: mo he won't,
am talking now." I then asked fol
q few minutes to answer the ques.
tion after the close of tha speech,
which was denied me.
Mr.. johnson replied that as he was
the defendant and I the plaintiff that
he YVES not required to furnish any
proof that wonld condemn Lin. I
agree with him, that the law does not
require defendant to testify to any
thing that will condemn him. But
the very fact that he refuses to testi-
fly condemns him in the eyes of the
people. Neither are there any parlia.
mentary rules that COMPEL person
to read from any text book or any
recognized authority that would con.
demn his argument. But the very
fact that he refused to read from the
recognized authority (if it is at his
disposaD condemned his argument
in the eyes of his audience.
In his closing remarks he claimed
that the bond issue was made neces
sary by the fact that the balance Of
trade was against us. I then called
him down, and referred him to Sec
retary Carlisle's report, which he re
fused to read from, knowing that il
would refute his statement.
He asked me what the bonds were
issued for. In reply 1 told him te
maintain gold standard. He the1
asked me if the balance of trade wa.
against us, if it was not paid in gold
what was it paid in? I replied, i
could be paid in standard silver dol
lars or silver certificates.
For the fiscal year closing June 80
1896, the total exports of the United
States exclusive of gold and si,ve,
. was s703, 392, 500, and the total im
ports were S73l ,9G9, ,966, thus show ir,
that our exports exceeded our i'm
ports SCI, ,42s, ,533, and our exports o
gold and silver bullion increased tn
excess OF of our exports over import
to $3.50, ,OS2,77s T. j. HARDY.