The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-11-02

south and Yves: Converted to Protection
A Plea for Hanna
Washington. October &-secretary OF
State Sherman has written Il letter to
the editor OF The Cincinnati VoIksblst
about the Importance of the political con
test now raging in Ohio. in the course
OF which he says
My chief regret Is that i cannot per
sonally participate in the campaign, as
by q usage carefully observed from the
DAYS OF jefferson to this time the secre- /
tary of state is p~reciuded from activity |
sharing in political discussions other
than on foreign affairs. l look upon the
pending canvass in Ohio as a re-trial oil
the issues involved in the election OF iSS-
State issues, If any, do not seem to be
the subject OF debate. Naturally the first
issue now is whether the administration
of William Mckinley thus far IS ap-
proved by the people OF Ohio. Upon this
question there ought not to be any
difference OF opinion. His prompt calling
together the congress of The United
States to provide requisite revenue for
the support of the government ana the
Drompt repeal of the feeble and indie
IttElAtt a " hA'S
German law. has met with general ap--
prevail. The revival Of all industries ana
the commencement of prosperity III all
parts of the United States was the
natural and necessary result OF the lc-
ton OF the president and Il republican
congress. 1t is unfortunate that the
beneficial provisions OF the Dingiey act
cannot be in full operation Tor a year
or more. owing to excessive impo-tations
under the W~ilsor-Gorman act, but CON
fdently believe that within a year. under
the present law, the revenue OF the GOV
eminent Will be amp! to pay. not Ciiiy
current expenditures, but a large sum
yearly in reduction Of the public debt
To secure this desirable result the re-
publican party must be sustained, not
! only in Ohio. bat in the United States.
Another question of public polcy OF
equal Importance to the tarln Is what
is known as the free coinage OF 81 Yer
without regard to its market Vaiue CT the
action of the great commercial n'itions
of the world. Silver and gold have since
the framing CT the constitution, peen
the standard coins of our country, out
| the relative market value OF c2ch mas
! changed from time to time. The coinage
| ratio of the dollar is one ounce CT goid
as the equivalent of sixteen ounces or
silver. Within the past twenty years the
! market price of silver bullion has been
! reduced more than one-half. so that one
i ounce Of gold is now equal in value TO
! thirty-nine ounces of silver. "
standing this wide diversity OF the marx.
cI III ~ llCliN q t">
States and all the leading commercial
nations of the world have maintained
their silver coins without any change-
This was done, and could onIy 10 pc
! lone by limiting the cheaper meta! ana Dy
coming only on government account II
is now proposed as the cardinal pr1ncipie
of certain parties that the holder OF any
! silver bullion without regard to its marx.
ct value may present it to the mint and
have il coined into dollars and made q
legal tender for all debts. public and
private. AT present the silver in a dollar
is worth about Al cents. 1t would seem
that this bold and transparent prcpOss-
ticn and reputation of more than one
half Of all debts, public and private II
the United States would shock the puo-
lie sentiment of honest people and secure
its prompt rejection. But, strange as Il
may seem, it is defended by SO many tina
we are bound to consider their reason:
before We denounce it as a fraud.
ut is said that free coinage would brint
I'D the price of silver bullion to the rat1d
of 16 to /. There is not the .siighteS
ground for this opinion. Silver has gon'
down in price precisely as iron, TIN, cop
per or indeed the price of all the metal
except gold. The development in tn.
process of mineralogy has kept pace Wit
the cheapening of nearly all the pronuc
lions of skill known as MANUFACTURES
Even gold may decline in relative Va1u
as the result Of the recent development
of mines in special parts Of the earth
but from its superior value IN sne sma ~
SSl SIdSS. otN 49,
cCrrosiOn than any other money meta
, it is now and will continue to be tn
| standard of value in the chief nation
2 of the world. Silver will be largely use
:. in all countries for minor coins-and
limited in amount and redeemed at II
$ coinage vaue, or made legal tender fo
: limited sums, it will be largely absoroe
for minor transactions-but free coinag
I for all who demand it would at ono
= make it the sole coin in circulation. pr
!, vent the coinage of gold and pIas
, our great and powerful country in fna1
cial operations among the minor an
: poorer nations of the world. This is Il
:. issue thai will largely control the vo
X of Ohio next week.
aside from his important measur
II the people of Ohio should bear in mir
| that one of the most eminent citizel
of the state is now president OF u
! United States. He is especially entiu'
:. to your kind and considerate favor AZ
=. deserves praise for the careful selecu'
IL and appointment Of officers OF the Unit
n States. There has been no abrupt has
l. in making changes, and while from I
nature of things he could not appo =
,e changes he did make deserved the q
l. prevail of the republican party. 1t Is i
"a possible for any executive orlcer chaIs
" with the duty of appointment to meet I
wishes of all. Many must be disappoil
VI ed. but they will all concede that IN
.. nave had a fair hearing, for no preside
ed could have given applicants more kim
and patient dlleiillOI- ioi ~ /"
V president have felt more keenly his II
bility to comply with the wishes OF
al friends.
LAS to the issues Of the future I {
say with absolute confidence that in
~ future as in the past, the mode of levy
IT, duties on imported goods and the I
coinage of silver will he the dividing Ii
OF of the two great parties. II may be I
en- the benefits of protection VIII be so
hy parent that the SOUTH, now already
coming a manufacturing community,
IN the west, filled with mineral resour
~ of untold value. may be converted to
policy of protecting their nascent ind
Ire tries by tariff laws. And it may be I
is the manufacturing industries Of the {
not may become so strong as TO OPP
duties on raw materials, thus reVers
~ their positions. This would be n cha
Of position in the sections, but the Is
would remain
L. AS for the ticket that is presented
the republican party, there Ought to
no division of opinion among republic
n Governor Bushnell fas proved to be