The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-08-28
GOV. n,coxSELL,s REPLY.
sDokans. wasn.. Augrs. = rrss

Spokane. WaSe@s AugrS. = fSs1
TO re Editor: In your paper Of ,hs lstn
letter az recent date. yoa wena z,
your answer by stating as soI-
lows: The Spokesrsaz-Revsew believes
x has now answered al the Quss-
tiors found In Cor. MrConneiTs commune
cation II II has overlooked any Of the
governs queries II wiz take pleasure in
answering them al any future tine after
II has had the leisure more fully 70 look
up the governors past Etterances"
Now. gentlemen ! ask you 10 come 20
the front. and not sfirk tire issue as I
proposed IL ! stated IN uy eoznuunica-
ton that / differed with you as 10 the
paramount issue. and my Ianguaka was as
follows; I believe that the paramount
issue In this nation s. ard
always has been. the mainte-
nance OF our national government.
the enforcement OF IT'S laws snd a wise a6-
u1inistration OF It's business affairs.
think when the representatives OF 4 great
political party like that which convened
in Chicago and nominated Mr.. Bryan.
condemn the president OF the United
States. he being a member Of their own
party. for suDpressing the Chicago riots.
when they condemn the highest judicial
tribunal for rendering q decision not in
conformity with their peculiar ideas OF
political economy. II is time for al
lattons with that party"
You have undertaken 20 prove that
which atmitted-thAt have always been
an advocate OF the free and unlimited
coinage Of silver, and arm today. / am
willing that you should publish every
Fpeech have ever made on that question.
and I VIII not retract one grain or little
from anything / have said. ! have even
said. as you assert. that the time might
arrive when II would be necessary for Us
10 organize an independent silver party:
but have never said that IL would De nee
essary or proper for US to unite with free
traders and anarchists 10 promote the in
terests OF free coinage. careless OF whether
we destroy our country in other directions
or not
BY references to tfls files Of your paper.
you VIII see what IT'S utterancee have been
concerning the lawless acts of the mob in
Chicago: what II said concerning the mis-
guided men who blew up the mills and
sacrificed human life In this state; con-
suit its flies, / say, and repeat 20 US. II
you please. what you have said on these
subjects; then state whether you believe
your present course 10 consistent with that
which you formerly occupied. Look out OF
the windows OF your editorial rooms across
the beautiful Spokane river: gaze with
the fondness OF an American citizen on the
flag which adorns your court house, and
ask yourself whether that Is an emblem
OF the state OF Washington. or an emblem
OF the United States: whether the liberty
IL represents IL guaranteed by your state
alone, or whether every citizen under that
flag does not look further than his state
for protection.
ployes OF car building company in the
state Of Illinois had q difference with their
employers, and the word went out that no
railroad company should haul cars OF their
construction; when, by tampering with
the bridge at Sacramento the lives OF
those fellow workmen who insisted upon
earning q living for their wives and chill
dren went out amid the wreck OF spllnt-
cred timbers and demolished engines;
when the militia and the governor OF that
state, either through cowardice or incom-
potency. failed to promptly enforce the
law: state, / say, whether you candidly
indorss the platform OF party which
would denounce the president for inter-
posing the protection Of the American
flag.
Do you honestly condemn the president
for maintaining the United States courts
In the states of Idaho and Washington
during the time when trains were stopped
st various points in these states and men
and women were stranded? Do you pre-
tend TO say that the manner In which
oliver dollar shall be coined Is a paramount
Issue when we have confronting US such
a vital question as the one 20 which re-
fer: when a great party, or, rather, a
oonglomeration OF parties are appealing
to the lawless elements In this nation TO
place ambitious men In power: and when
journals like yours. in the hope OF build
ing up their selfish interests, viii forget
the loyalty they have always shown to
their country's flag and unite with them
for that purpose7
I repeat as / did In my former COM
munication, that the paramount issue is,
and always has been, and always Will be,
the maintenance OF our national govern
ment and the enforcement OF Its laws.
You may avoid the embarrassment. II
you see fit, OF discussing the progress
made by your state and The nation during
the years since the demonstration of sill
yer up to the time Cleveland was elected.
although you viii probably admit that the
little more than three years Of Democrat
ic rule has cost us more than the war Of
the rebellion fourfold Even that. how
ever, IS OF small Importance In comparison
Wiz the paramount issue to which I call
your attention. Respectfully yours.
WI MCCONNELL. Governor.