The Monte Vista journal., 1897-08-21
ALT0ELD SEES GLOOM.
EH-Bovernor OF Iiiino,s Tells How the
Jump In Wheat . nd the Fall 10 the Pries
Of silver Affect Doctrine of
Democracy.


Chicago. Aug. 16.-John p. Altgeld,
ex-governor OF Illinois. has given out
his opinion on tine effect Of high prices
on wheat and the low prices Of silver
on the doctrine OF Democracy, and OF
the future Of the party. He was ait
ting at his desk In his office In the Uni
~ building when the following tclc-
gram was handed him:
New York. Aug. l3. lS97.-Thc Hon.
John r. Altgeld. Chicago: VIII you
oblige the Herald by wiring us ut our
expense your views of the effect OF the
high prices OF wheat and the low prices
OF silver on doctrines u the Demo
cratic party Of the last campaign and
on the future Of the party.
NEW YORK HERALD"
Mr.. AltGcld Immediately wrote this
reply:
Chicago. ILL.,. Aug. IL. IS07.-Editor
Of the New York IIerald:-Sir: An
swcring your telegram. l will say the
American people know that. while the
wheat crop II phcnoinenally large In
our country, II IL n failure In the South
American and European countries. 40
TINT there must come kind OF wheat
famine. and that consequently the
farmer should get over &l.:O for his
wheat. and would get that under the
financial system which formerly pre-
vailed In the world. so that he IL even
now suffering u wrong caused by leg
islation.
''??. The average price Of all other
commodities known to the worlds mar
kets has been steadily falling. aud sill
yer. whose uses have been restricted
by legislation. Inns simply kept pace
with the commodities. MS shown by the
London markets. In 'ur country the
price OF corn and most OF the other
farm products is ~ low m not to pay
the actual cost of production. The
present advance Ia wheat being due to
u temporary cause cannot give general
or lasting prosperity: besides. only "a
small portion of the farmers Of Ameri-
cn raise wheat.
-. should the kiondykc country or
any other cnurr lncrcnse the volume
of the worlds money ns to produce
prosperity. II would liz a dcmonstra.
tion of the correctness OF the Demo.
crnttc position. viz. that a. incrcnsc
In the volume Of money gives pres.
Icrity. while n reduction In the quaint.
~ Of money produces paralysis.
~. The country has now cnjoyed
over nine months Of restored conn.
dcncc. and. ms n result. the great cot.
ton mills Of New England have shut
down because they could not sell their
products. The coal miners Of Amcri.
ca arr on n strike against hunger and
ngainst nnkcdncss. aud the Chicago
city Hallway Company. which last
winter helped 10 dci,a,ich the i.csisla.
turc Of Illinois. md got advantages
worth millions Of dollars, Inns Just CIV.
rn notice 10 It's men Of reduction Ia
wn4es.
"The condition Of tho debtor and hon.
cst t0llcr In kcttin. steadily worse.
Congress has Just given the sugar trust
and kindred patriots = co:nmisaion to
collect several hundred r3iIltou dollasp
q year tribute In exress Of what they
formerly got from tho sweat of AmeSi.
can Industries In order that theSs %.
triota may not amasa fortunes them.
selves, but may contrie .te millions 70
carry elections. The newspapefr are
psrsistently calling this pFusperity. but
The American people ars not fooled By
u ard ths De0ocratic party is not BE-
Nc weakeaed By theae proceedines.
=. Nearly oil u ~ svests slacs The
eleet3ea havs tss1eA - sbew Tat the
0onDeesat5e pefty wae rgAt h ths last
eo00oloD ao1 that M ooe6-oeoA6as0