The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-08-27
TAE SLOGAN S0ukDED A Currency Undef|ed, A Ma tion's Honor Untarnished,
 the Patriotic Cry of
 Republican Leader.
MAJOR M'KINLEY'S LETTER
DEVOTED IN THE MAIN TO THE
 GOLD-SILYER CONTROYERSY.

GOLD-SILTER CONTROVERSY.
 Protection aud It's Benefits Clearly Told by a Resume of the Country's History Bearing the Impress of Statesmanship- There is No Equivocation, No Evasion A Spade is Called a Spade-Relates the Prosperity That Prevailed Under Harri- sons Administration and Compares That Period to the Present-Under Free Silver the Workingnan Will Suffer Most Words That Picture the Past, Present and Future Under Various Conditions.
 Canton, O., Aug. 26.-Major Mckinley gave his letter of acceptance to the press associations this afternoon, hav- ing finished his last reading and reri- sion of it at 12:30. The letter touches upon all the important blanks in the republican national platform, but the first half of it is devoted to an incisive discussion of the money question. The letter is as follows:
 Hon John M. 1'hurston and othels,
 Members of the Notification Com
 mittee of the Republican National
 Convention:
 "Gentlemen: In pursuance of the promise made to your committee when notified oe my nomination as the re- publican candidate for president I beg to submit this formal acceptance of that high honor, and tc consider in de- tail questions at issue in the pending campaign. Perhaps this might be con- sidered unnecessary in view of my re- marks on that occasion, and these 1 have made to delegations that have visited me since the St. Louis conven- tion, but in view of the momentous ln- portance of the proper settlement of the issues presented on our future i'rosper- ity and standing as ration, and con- sidering only the welfare and happiness Of our people could rot be content 10 omit again calling attention to the questions whieh in my opinion yitaliy ~sF t our strength and position among
 governments of the world, and our morality, integrity and patriotism as citizens of that republic, which for a century past has been the best hope of the world and the inspiration of man. kind. We must not now prove false to our high standards in government, TOT unmindful os the noble example and wise precepts of the fathers, or Of the confidence and trust which our conduct in the past has always inspired.
 The Free Coinage of Silver.
 For the first time since 1S68, if ever before there is presented to the Amer ican people this year a clear and direct issue as to our monetary system, of vast importance in it's effect and upon the right settlement of which rests largely the financial honor and pros perity Of the country It is proposed by one wing of the democratic party, and its allies, the peoples and silver parties, to inaugurate the free and un- limited coinage of silver by indepen- dent action on the part of the United States at ratio of IS ounces of silver to one ounce of gold. The mere decla . ration of this purpose is a menace to our financial and industrial interests and has already created universal alarm. It involves great peril to the credit and business of the country, a peril so grave that conservative men everywhere are breaking away from their old party associations and uniting with other patriotic citizens in empaat- ic protest against the platform of the democratic national convention as an assault upon the faith and honor of the fo Tf t1,n pie. We have had few questions in the lifetime of the republic more serious than the one which is thus presented.
 No Benefit to Labor.
 The character of the money which shall measure our values and ex changes ana settle our balances with one another and with the nations of the world is of such primary importance, and so far reaching in its consequences, as to call for the most painstaking in yestigation. and, in the end, a sober and unprejudiced judgment at the polls. We must not be misled by phrases, nor deluded by false theories. Free silver would not mean that silver dollars were to be freely had without cost or labor It would mean the free use of the hints of the United states for the few who are owners of silver bullion, but would make silver coin no freer to the many who are engaged in other enterprises. It would not make labor easier, the hours of labor shorter or the pay better. It would not make farming less laborious, or more profit able It would not start a factory, or make demand for an additional days labor It would create no new occupa- tions It would add nothing to the comfort of the masses, the capital of the people or the wealth of the nation. It seeks to introduce a new measure of value, but would add no value to the thing measured. It would not conserve values. On the contrary, it would de- range all existing values. It would not restore business confidence, but its di rect effect would be to destroy the little which yet remains.
 What It Means.
 The meaning of the coinage plank adopted at Chicago is that any one may take a quantity of silver bullion. now worth 53 cents, to the hints of the United States, have it coined at the ex- Eense of the government and receive