The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-22

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
II you have not become intolerant you will
let me enter my protest against the fatal
inclination of the Republican party toward
the gold standard. 1 Want to say candidly
that / never voted for but one Democrat,
and that 1 had hoped 1 never wouic be
driven to advocate the principles of that
party. For many years i have been the
only Republican in family of Democrats,
and you know that Republicans Of that sort
are generally stalwarts. In The face Of these
facts shall this fall vote the straight DEM
ocratic ticket if the present tendency OF TIC
party organization continues toward the
gold staniai6. OF course, the Journal may
facetiously remark that vote does not
count, and that the Republican party will
survive, etc. Conceding all this to be true.
1 have only to suggest that within my per-
sonal acquaintance there are more than one
hundred Republicans whose views and sit
uation are identicaly like mine. These Re-
publicans are all residents Of Marion county.
How many there may be in other counties
do not know, but 1t is distinctly within my
recollection that a change OF one hundred
votes determined the political complexion
of this county. and a change of like num-
Der in other counties determined the political
complexion of the State. The Journal in
Its advocacy OF a gold standard Is not voic-
ing the sentiments OF the people, nor is 1t
true to the traditions of the Republican
party. We are a party of protectionists. Ii
Is our duty to protect our resources. and our
industries whether they be silver mines or
iron mines. gold standard IS handmade
of free trade. Gold has always been the
money of the free-trade countries. 1t has
always been the money of countries whose
labor was debauched and whose agricultural
and Industrial interests were broadly sug-
gestive of serfdom. This country needs
cheap money. 1t needs lots of money: Its
valuations are high. 1t needs an abundance
of money to enable the common people TO
live as they have right to live: 1t Is much
safer for the people If one bushel OF wheat
is worth one dollar than If two bushels of
wheat are worth one dollar. dollar is a
nice thing to have, but Ii becomes menace
when IL becomes capable OF absorbing the
standard leads to but one result, viz: that
all valuations shall fall in the presence of
the gold dollar. If there were gold enough
people and perform all the functions Of an
enlarged volume of currency the situation
would be quite different from what IL is now.
business. The result is that gold is in the
hands of the few. Our government has
been unable to retain its gold reserve, yet its
resources have been limitless. How, then,
can the poor fellow who has small resources.
whose financial capacity is frail, be ex-
pected to retain his gold reserve or TO per-
basis? With money monopolized all other
property must depreciate in value. On a
gold basis IL is possible to reach the dregs
of poverty, TO sell wheat at % cents a
,bushel to hire labor at 80 cents a day, for
II gold must be had. II 1t is made the sine
quo non the man whose necessities demand
gold must trade on the terms dictated to
him by the man who has gold to SELL Tn
der such circumstances the standard would
pass from one of intrinsic valuations to one
of avartce, and the Merchant OF Venice.
with his bond demanding blood, Aye near
est the heart" would be enthroned among
US as a living reality rather than horrible
example in fiction. The tendency Of the
party appears TO me entirely irreconcilable
with rea son or experience II an old
hen trying with the heat OF her body TO
hatch litter of chickens from a setting of
snowbalis / would regard her situation as
neither more illogical nor unnatural than TO
see Mr.. Mckinley running for President on
a gold platform The one would give the lie
to nature no more than the other
WILLIAM V. ROCKER.
Indianapolis, May d