The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-01-07
Washington, Decem Der 81, 1895.
!. p. Bland

Nathan Holloway, Esq, Presidenb Bryan
Free Silver Club, Canton, Ohio:
Dear Sir-I regret that 1t is in possible
for me to attend the banquet of your
free silver club. The work for which
your club is organized Is Of paramount
Importance. Free institutions cannot
exist If the conspirators who have brought
misery to the household of every wealth
producer in the land by contracting the
m oney volume to gold alone, can main
tain their supremacy over the people. The
legislation and administration which con-
stantly increases the weight of debt and
the purchasing power of money, and con-
stautly diminishes the value Of all other
property, has concentrated two-thirds Of
the property of the United States and
Europe into the hands Of few rich men.
Tho object of the conspirators is to in
or sase their wealth by continually en-
hancing the purchasing power Of money
and to enslave the masses by depriving
them Of property, without which inde-
pendent voters cannot exist, or free insti-
tutions survive. The only enemies who
have ever made the experiment Of free
government doubtful on this continent
are those who have acquired great wealth.
The rioh, as rule, ore in favor Of a
strong government, which means despot-
ism. Great wealth NATURALLY inspires men
with a sense Of power, contempt for the
Door and a desire to enslave and coerce
by the military arm of the government.
The three great forces which enabled
the Demo Reublicsn gold com bination
to place another resident in the White
House and continue the treasury depart
ment as a branch office Of the Roths-
chiIds' gold combination, were falsehood,
corruption and intimidation. The manu-
facturers told their employees that if Bryan
was elected their establishments would be
closed The railroad managers told
their workmen IL Bryan was elected their
wages would be cut down one-half and
they would be paid in 50.oent dollars.
The banks refused ordinary accommo-
dations to the people In order to deprive
them Of funds to uefray the Legitimate
expenses of the campaign. The money
lenders throughout the land threatened
their debtors with bankruptcy and told
them their obligations would be enforced
without delay II Bryan was elected
These wicked threats and practices were
powerful agencies for depriving the people
of the free exercise of their elective
| franchise. The managers Of the campaign
knew very well that something more than
this must be done to subvert the will OF
the people. Money must be had for cor.
ruption purposes and tens Of millions
were raised and expended in the mOst
barefaoed and shameless manner. Moth
ing can be more outrageous than the
wholesale bribery in the last election,
except the brazen offrontery of the
goldite benedoiariss in claiming a YER
dict Of the people in favor of the gold
standard, contraction, misery and
despair. II verdict had been obtained
from a jury or Judgment by court
by means of similar practices to those
adopted in the last election, the verdict
or Judgment would be set aside and
the bribeis, together with the court OF
jury, would be consigned to the peni
tentiary.
Money sharks commenced war on oul
institution Immediately aftsr the adop
tion OF the constitution. They progressed
with their wicked work in the first fort,
years until they thought their power wa
omnipotent. when the people seemed d
be crushed beneath the iron heel Of 4
monied a. istocraoy, Providence raised NJ
a friend OF the people, the day OF whose
birth You eommemorate. The deliyerel
Of the massss was beaten In the memor'
able contest Of 1894, but tbs conflict wal