The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-04-29
Why Delegates to the National
Convention Should be Instructed.

Mr.. Editor
There is no doubt but what free silver will
be the leading issue in the presidential cam
psign from now on, as the States of Alabama
and Missouri have gone for it, by large major
tiles, and wha. is true OF those states we will
see in the South generally; as we'll as the
West. The main fight will be in the East
aud some of the middle states. If the silver
ties can control the National Convention,
nominate a candidate who is in sympathy
with the masses, and a platform broad and
just to ALL with no lodging or straddling the
important issues, there is fair prospect to
elect the Democratic candidate, but it all de-
pends on the position the Republicans take
for they are as badly divided as we are. If
free silver is defeated in the National Conven-
ton, the Democratic candidate will be over
whemingly defeated mex November-for the
GOLD bugs will stick to their candidate in the
Republican party, even if he is a silveri,e-
such is their party organization, aud their ha-
tired for the Democratic party. For years the
United States prospered with the double
standard, as NO nation on this earth ever did,
and it is only since We have had the single
standard that 80 much depression and 80 many
failures have taken place. When gold was
made the unit of vaiae, the circulating me-
dunn was cut down onehalf-pot near equal
to the business needs of the country. Cou-
sequently, to keep up the gold standard, the
ADMINISTRATION has had to sell hundreds of
millions of dollars, to keep up the 100 mil
lions of reserve gold as required by law.
This in time of profound peace, heavy
burden on the taxpayers, and safe and sure
investment for the bond holders. In France,
we see how prosperous the country is with
the double standard; how quickly she recov-
cred from the disastrous effect of the Franco
German war, when she had large war in
demnity TO pay aud the loss of large slice
of her territory Each nation has TO regulate
its own circulating medium, Independent OF
OtUcl uNtlOuS, oNN tuN |HT0AJ 'Uol VIC Nou
have double standard here, except by con-
sent of a large number Of the governments OF
the world, so as to have equally valuable
circulating med iun, is all bosh and nonsense
Ii the United States s not strong enough to
stand, without somebody's help, she should
90 back to the pap bottle until she does. The
obligations of the government should be paid
N the currency they were contracted for
| This is honest and just to both debtor and
creditor alike SO Mr.. Daniel Manoiug, ~:
Cleveland 9 secretary, in his first term, ia
formed the sharper, when they tried to force
hi,a to do just what they have forced Mr..
| Carlisle 70 DO, sell gold bonds to keep up the
reserve. He construed the law TO mean eithe.
gold or silver, and would pay either on ,he
government obligations, consequently: he
was e, alone We had prosperous years
plenty of money for the business needs of th1
country and at the close OF CIeveland's lrs
term, the treasury was full, ard no issue o
bonds. If Mr. Carlisle had pursued this plan
we would have seen different times, bat Nj
Manning had backbone to do what was best