Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-08-18

year by year, until wise men believe that
unless the people call halt, the hour
will come when we shall behold ne
ton of lords and serfs.
Through the legislation with respect
to finance. the masses have been pre-
vented from accommodating the wealth
to which they are entitled. For thirty
years the legislation has favored the
money power; to make the dollar dearer
than ever before: to make the bonded
Indebtedness more difficult to pay. In
1865, when the war was over, the United
States owed national debt Of $780,
600, 600. BY the terms CT contract, the
people could elect as to whether they
would pay it in gold or greenbacks. No
sooner had the last Confederate flag
been furled, than a battle was on be-
tween the bondholders and the people.
Here was a vast debt contracted when
greenbacks were worth but 80 cents in
gold. The bondholders secured the
passage of an act requiring the payment
of the debt in gold This really doubled
the Indebtedness of the American peo-
pie. Not satised with that, they gave
further legislation on that line. Now
it has become the fixed policy of the
country, that the people are pay debt
which represented but so cents on the
dollar when it was contracted, with
money that is worth 100 cents on the
dollar.
EUROPEAN FINANCES.
When England finished the war with
France, she found that European coun-
tries owed her vast sums. Great Britain
was then the creditor nation of the
world. II was found that if one metal
was sticken down, the value Of the re-
naming money metal would be in
creased. Silver was struck down, and
gold made the sole money of redemp-
ton and final payment. The result was
the enrichment OF Great Britain at the
expense of the other nations Of the
world. In 1870 Germany whipped
France. and required France TO pay in
demnlty in gold. When Bismarck got
that money, he joined Great Britain in
,he conspiracy TO strike down silver.
Then in 1873, without general discus
sion in the nation, andon tile which
was entirely foreign to the question,
bill was passed demonet2ing half the
money of the people. Why was that
done? In order to make the gold dollar
more valuable, in order to make the
debts Of America to Europe more diff
cult to pay. To-day S10,COO,C0O,CG eco of
European capital is invested in the
United States. London Owns the p. G
o. and Ohio River railroads, as well
as other roads in the interior CT West
Virginia. In other words the roads are
mortgaged to London capitalists. The
dollar Of England has America by her
throat.
Why was silver sticken down? Half
the money of the world was still silver.
We owed European nations nearly Sl0,-
eco O0O.0 600. Other nations had de-
moneNZed silver, and European ma
tons followed US. Why? Because they
we're creditor nations. and they were
naturally DESTROYS of being paid in the
dollar which was most valuable 10 hem.
If we pay these debts in the money which
was the money Of The world when the
debts were contracted we do all thai
may be fairly expected Of us.
Mr.. Pendletcns address was pune
tured with applause. In closing he mn
toned the name OF Col. W. w Arnett,
and was loudly cheered. Mr.. Wood
then introduced the principal speaker
Of the evening, Col. Arnctt, who was
given an enthusiastic reception. He
said:
ADDRESS OF COL. ARNETT.
My friends and fellow citizenship
the course of events an election is rap
idly approaching at which you Will be
called upon to exercise your suffrage in
determining the men and methods
which Will govern this country during
the next four years. The PCpulist con-
venti0n has endorsed the splendid
young statesman from Nebraska who
holds in his hand the Democratic ban
ner. Other nomina. ions have been
made The Republicans of this district
have named man for Congress to
whom | can only refer in terms of
praise. In this campaign / shall no.
have aught to say against any Of those
who oppose me. The only difference Is
in the principles which govern the great
parties which are now marshalling their
forces for the battle of next November.
This is said to be a campaign CT edu-
cation. We differ on methods. 1t has
been said that the Democratic party pre-
sents a new doctrine, and upon 1t asks
the suffrage CT the American people.
This is not the case II is true that
the Democratic party has always been
the party Of the people. II has always
been in favor CT bimetallism-of hard
money. 1t has for generations been in
favor of the free and unlimited coinage
of silver. The ratio between the two
metals has been slightly changed. Il is
now IS to l. l find in every National
declartion Of the party a declaration for
both gold and silver as the metals of the
country. 1t is true that with more
earnestness, and more intensity, and
more emphasis, the party IS now trying
to persuade the people that there ought
to be law permitting a free and unlim-
tied coinage Of silver. And why? Is
there not general period of depression
all over the country, that has existed for
years? Ny friends will say that we NAV
be mistaken in saying that the change
which we demand will superinduL.
prosperity. Can there be any mistake
in making a change? The other has
failed signally. Can there be a lack
OF judgment in making the change? We
have many friends who have left us. We
know they are acting from their sense Of
judgment. But is it not true that those