The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-01-03

central West in the great cities, and IN
the dissemination Of Republican farmers
to break away from their party in view
Of McKinley's votes in Congress for sill
yer. If nothing is done for silver, they
will not do so any more. They will not
need any literature or any speaking
In fact, without desiring such an apostle
and hoping for better things, the utter
failure of gold promises is the most
eloquent champion Of the cause fOI
which Bryan stood. In its mute disap
pointment, it shows the falsity of the
claims of the gold men. 1t proves them
to have been either sef-deceived or de
ceivers. In either event they will not be
trusted again by the people. You say
it does not prove that free coinage would
restore prosperity? Not afirmatively
but it so discredits gold that it neces-
sarily helps the cause that is opposed to
gold.
The views held by Senator Jones are
best stated in a letter recently written
by him to a silver man who was discou-
aged by the defeat of Bryan. Among
other things, he wrote:
u don't agree with the gloomy
view you take OF our efforts When
we polled million more votes than
Cleveland did four years ago, when
he was said to have carried the couu-
try by "a landslide we certainly have
accomplished "a good deal, especial
~ when we remember what the feel
ing Of the party was when the Chi
cago convention met Another thing
is Il matter Of decided satisfaction to
me, and that is that we polled at
least two-thirls of all Of the intclli-
gent votes in this country The large
Republican vote embraced millions
of negro votes and utterly unlettered
foreigners. who have no conception Of
the genius of our government. no
appreciation of the obligations of cit
izenship, and no idea OF economic
questions In this country | believe
the intelligence is bound to win, and
considering the fact that the over
whclning majority Of intelligent men
were on our side in this controversy.
! see nothing to dishearten the
friends of Democracy"
There are chunks Of sense in this short
letter
One of the most important matters
that win come before Congress at this
session is what to do with the Pacific
Railroad debt. 1t has grown to exceed,
if my recollection is correct q have not
the figures handy $135,OO0,OOO, and is in
the nature of a second mortgage, Con
gress having permitted private creditors
to get the first lien. Until recently the
owners Of the road have been disposed
to say: "Well what are you going to do
about it? If you foreclosc, you will have
to buy the road and run it. The govern
ment cans run q railroad" Latterly
they have been anxious for a settlement
that would relieve them of much of the
debt, and have employed a powerful
lobby to carry through their programmes
There is Il growing sentiment here and
all over the country, particularly in the
West, that the government ought to
demand the last farthing, and not per-
nit itself to he defrauded Of a dollar. If
that means foreclosure and government
ownership, well and good. Better the ex-
pertinent than giving to a great corpora
ton money that it could have easily paid.
Those Western roads that were built by
loans and grants of public land never in
tended to pay the government the money
advanced. Congress ought to make
them pay, and many greater calamities
could befall the country than for the
government to own and control this road
in order to collect the money due it.
J. d.