Rock Island Argus., 1896-10-31
THE OHIO ORATOR.
Ben Butterworth and His Posi-.
ton on Silver.
A STRONG ADVOCATE LAST APRIL

uubpit8l dt w 8tcIbOWU, IL Will Oe re-
membered, the repu ublicsns got up
political demonstration in the even
ing for no other purpose than to
show their disrespect for the COVER
nor Of the state, who was the guest
of the two cities in q purely ofiicia,
and social capacity, and without ref
erence Whatever to politics. Hon.
Ben Butterworth. the brilliant Ohio
orator, who is frequent visitor to
Moline, where two of his sons reside
and who is now there. was the star
speaker Of the occasion alluded to.
Of course MIR. Butterworth spoke
from the gold standard standpoint of
republican adoption. 1t was the Gus
tomary stock argument Of the repub-
lican party. But like most o, the
other representative republicans, MIR.
Butterworth does not now think as
he did few short months ago. He
has experienced change of faith.
ostensibly, at least he appears to
have altered his convictions since
the st. Louis convention.
1t was only last April that Senator
Henry NJ. Teller. of Colorado, arose
in the senate and read q letter from
Mr.. Butterworth accompanying a COM
munication from Samuel j. Richie. .
leading republican merchant Of Ak
ron. They we're read and made q
part Of the ate record. Some ex-
tracts from that letter are now inter-
esting. considering Mr.. Butter
worth's present political attitude.
Here are some Of these excerpts:
Thss and Nov.
"In travelling through the several
states find that persons employed
in the various industries and avoca-
tions of life, those whom Lincoln
was accustomed to call the plain
people and who are the salt Of the
earth and strength of this nation,
in estimating the character and effect
Of the influences that have gained
supreme control in this nation, feel
and speak as Mr.. Ritchie does, and
they realize that the representatives
Of the monopolistic combines, in one
form or ano'her, have too firm a grip
on the legislative and administrative
branches OF the national aud state
governments for that grip to be
easily torn loose.
The judiciary, indeed. is left. but
unhappily there is too much reason
to fear that the confidence of the peo-
pie in that last stronghold of free
men for the defense OF their rights
is being affected by the general de.
moralization and may be slowly un.
dermined. This is less, il in any de-
gree, the fault of the judges than of
the general decentralization that tie
influence and corrupt use Of wealth
in other departments has induced. =
1--WE hear it asserted on all sides
that a great political party-a party
of victory. of prestige and honor
will be seized by the representatives
Of monopolies and combines, who will
advance the money to control nomi-
nations and elections on the distinct
understanding that there will be
such legislation as will enable them
to recompense, by appropriating
revenues collected from the people
without being liable for embezzle-
ment. And the farmers and producers
of the country are urged to assist in
this scheme for despoiling them.
selves. and. l may add, that vast
numbers Of them listen to the siren
song, and like the victim of the
opium habit, in order to enjoy q
pleasing delusion risk the ruin that
follows. -
God speed the day when our gov
ernment shall part company with
socialistic paternalism, and 60 out OF
the banking business and stand as it
ought to. as guardian of peace; coin
our money. gold and silver, and let
us, without molestation, work out
our own salvation. using the bound
less resources and vast opportuni-
ties with which heaven has blessed
us.
Deprlving the World Of Half Its Money.
"And the conviction is owing
that the demonetization Of one-half
the money Of the world, no matter
what theoretical financiers may say,
is-and wac by those who were chief
contrivers of the manner Of its &C.
complishment. intended to be-a
scheme to increase by legislative en-
actment the wealth Of those who are
already wealthy, and the power OF
those who are already too powerful.
That it has been done 10 certain: that
1t has taken from the farmer and con-
fiscated half the product of his fields
is sure, and now a. measure of re-
lief he is urged to tax himself fur
ther Is a means to increase his as
sets. The farmer can't sell bis
crops for enough to pay for the i'm
plements with which to till the
1.-THE English financier and capi-
talist says to his countrymen: The
United States government has con-
sented to compel her citizens to pay
us in gold all their debts, public and
private, and not only that. but her
ever redeemable. but never redeemed
and that will not stay redeemed
greenback can be 50 manipulated IS
to compel the government to supply
the gold for that purpose. and she
sells Us bonds to get the gold; and
better still. each dollar Of gold we