Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-08-18

Editor Democrat
Your article 10 your last issue from
the New ork Tribune on coinage should
De read and considered by every citizen
II conclu,ivelv shows that the govern
ment stamp imparts no value 10 money.
but that il value is measured BY lis
purchasing power.
| wish IN this communication 70 call
attention 90 some utterances Of the Chi
cagO platform more dangerous than free
cOinSge, or free trade. They are sub
v,r~jve Of our principles OF government,
and IN plain English. suarchy. Allow
me 10 quote. We denOunce arbitrary
interference by federal authorities IN
local affairs. as violation OF the cOnsti-
tuition of the United States and crime
against free Institutions, and We espe-
eiAlly object 20 government BY Injunction
Is new and highly dangerous form OF
oppression. by which federal Judges in
contempt OF the laws OF the states and
rights Of citizens become AZ once legislat-
Ors. Judges, and eXecUtlOners.
Now Jet Us consider where these utter
ances We're made, and the purpose for
which they were made. They were
made in The city OF Chicago. In that
city there was n riot which the authOri-
ties OF the city were unable 20 suppress.
The governor uf Illinois declined 10 DO
So The [ nited States mails were
stopped, interstate commerce was de-
MED. President Cleveland ordered
United States troops TO the scene. and
order was restored, commerce flowed in
its usual channels, and the mails were
released from bondage.
The plain meaning of that utterauce i.
that the nited States government has
no right 20 resist an insurrectiOn in any
locality, or 10 restrain rioters from doing
their pleasure. The president should
have let the avenues OF trade be closed.
the | nited States mails await the
pleasure of the rioters, or be DESTROYED
and left the city itself 10 be pillaged and
annihilated; aud further, the criminals
committing these deeds of devastation
and destruction could not possibly be
restrained by United states judges.
one Of the Judges of the nited States
Court, on petition % law-sbidiDg citi-
lens, ordered the rioters 10 dispense and
desist from acts OF lawlessneSs and de-
structiOn; but Instead Of obeying this
command they continued their work Of
obstruction aud destruction under the
leadership Of Eugene Debs. The court
ordered him arrested and imprisoned for
contempt. Hence this philippe, Ped
eral Judges in contempt of the laws Of
the states and rights Of citizens become
legislators, judges aud exeeutioners. &"
The same old cry Of lS6l-uncOnstiiu-
tional 10 save the life Of tie nation.
During all our controversies nothing
has given greater confidence aud stability
10 our institutions than universal belief.
regardless Of party affiliations, that the
decisions Of our courts are TO be respect
ed. Take from our court its authority,
its final srbitrsment of causes Of dis
sensiOn. and YOU break up the very
foundations of order aud peace on which
society i established.
One other utterance put into their
platform i worthy Of notice before we
sum up the indictment. I'VE are op-
posed TO the issuing Of Understanding
bonds IN time Of peace" Having denied
the government the right 20 put down
insurreetion, the courts power 10 punish
criminals, now they would take from
the government the right TO issue bonds
to maintain its credit. IL this is not
anarchy, what is IL:
We talk Of trusts, and corporations
and monopolies, and forget that this
siiser combine IS the most gigantic and
srsckedest combine the sun ever sh0ne
upon. and William Jennings Bryan is
attorney for this monopoly by accepting
a nomination on the Chicago platform.
Its purpose il 10 rob the laborer that the
Golfers of the mine owners may be filed,
TO repudiate the debts Of the Individual
and nation that a few hundred own
ers in silver mines may De enriched.
+. w. WOODBURY..
Bethel, Aug. 10, 1896.