The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-08-18
ALrGELD SEES GLOON.
Tells How the Rise in Wheat and Fall
in Silver Affect Doctrines
of Democracy.

Chicago. Aug. 1S.-John P. Altgeld,
ex-governor, has given out ms opinion
on the effect of the high prices on
wheat and the low prices of silver on
the doctrines of Democracy and of the
future of the party. He was sitting at
his desk in his office in the Unity build
ing when the following telegram was
handed him:
New York, Aug. Is, 1s97:-John p.
Altgeld, Chicago: Will you obfige the
Herald by wiring US at our expense
your views on the effect of the high
prices of wheat and the low prices OF
silver on doctrines of the Democratic
party of the last campaign and on the
IN Y HERALD"
Mr.. Altgeld Immediately wrote this
reply:
New York Herald-Sir: 1. Answering
your telegram, will say the American
people know that, while the wheat crop
is phenomenally large in our country,
it is a failure in the South American and
European countries, so that there
must come a kind of wheat famine, and
get over 81. 80 for his wheat, and would
get that under the financial system
which formerly prevailed in the world,
SO that he is even now suffering a
wrong caused by legislation.
y. The average price of all other
commodities known to the worlds mar
kets has been steadily falling, and sill
yer, whose uses have been restricted
by legislation, has simply kept pace
with the commodities as shown by
the London markets. In our country
the price of corn and most of the other
farm products is so low as not TO pay
the actual cost of production. The
present advance in wheat being due to
a temporary cause cannot give general
or lasting prosperity; besides, only a
small portion of the farmers of America
raise wheat.
''s. Should the Klondike country or
any other cause so greatly increase the
volume OF the worlds money as to pro-
duce prosperity, it would be a demon
stration of the correctness of the Demo-
the volume of money gives prosperity
while a reduction in the quantity of
money produces paralysis.
a The country has now enjoyed
over nine months of restored conf
dence, and, as result, the great cot
ton mills of New England have shut
down because they could not sell their
products. The coal miners of America
are on strike against hunger and
against nakedness, and the Chicago
city railway company, which last win
ter helped to debauch the legislature of
1iilnols, and got advantages worth mil
lions of dollars, has just given notice
to its men of reduction in wages
The condition of the debtor and hon.
est toiler is getting steadily worse. Con-
gIess has Just given the sugar trust and
kindred patriots commission to col
lect several hundred million dollars a
year tribute in excess of what they
formerly got from that sweat of Amer
lean industries in order that these pat
riots may not amass fortunes them
serves, put may contribute millions to
carry elections. The newspapers are
persistently calling this prosperity, but
the American people are not fooled bv
II and the Democratic party is not be-
ing weakened by these proceedings
.. Nearly all of the events since the
election have tended to show that the
Democratic party was right in the last
campaign and that the gold standard
campaign was a colossal FRAUD, managed
by the INSCRIPTIONS agents of the
trusts, Which are destroying our coun-
try, and, the more intelligent and patri-
otto Republicans of the land are begin
ming to see that their party never can
rescue our institutions from the corrllp-
Ton Whlch is overwhelming sand that
this rescue must be made by the great
masses of the common people, who have
saved our country in every past crisis
ana VINO VIII rally around the standard
of a true Democracy.
"JOHN P. AITGEI.D