The age-herald., 1897-10-29
HaVe ReiPained From Participating in
 Politics on the Stump.
A GOOD WORD FOR BILL AND MARK
And Stab at Silver Which He One Time Cham pioned Had to Be Sent Out Through German Republican Organ
 His Letter in Full.

State Sherman has written letter to the editor of the Cincinnati Volksblat about the importance of the political contest now raging in Ohio in the course of which he says:
 My chief regret is that I cannot at present participate in the campaign as by usage carefully observed from the time of Jefferson to this time the secre- tary of state is precluded from actively than on foreign affairs. look upon the pending canvass in Ohio as a retrial of the issues involved in the election of 1sse. State issues. if any do not seem the first issue now is whether the ad- ministration of William Mckinley thus far IS approved by the people of Ohio. Upon this question there ought not to be any difference of opinion. His prompt calling together of the congress of the United States to provide requisite rev. enue for the support of the government and the recommendation of the prompt repeal of the feeble and inefficient tariff law known as the Wilson German law has met with general approval The revival of all industries and the com mencement of prosperity in all parts of the United States was the natural and necessary result of the acton of the president and republican congress. 1t is sufficient that the beneficial effects of 4he new tariff bill, not yet in effect a year, have overcome some of the evils of the Wilson, German bill. To secure the desirable results the republican par ty must be sustained not only in Ohio, but in the United States.
 Silver and Gold
 Another question of public policy of equal importance to the tariff is what Is known as the free coinage of silver with out regard to Is market value or the action of The great commercial nations of the world Silver and gold have since the framing of the constitution been he standard coins of our country, but the cd from time 10 time. The coinage ratio of the dollar is one ounce of gold as the equivalent of sixteen ounces of silver. Within the past twenty years t21e mar ket price of silver bullion has been re- duced more khan one-haf, so that one
 
 more than thirty-two ounces of silver.
 Notwithstanding this wide diversity of the market value of ithe two money meals, the United States and all other commercial nations of the world have maintained their silver coins without change. This was done and could only be done by limiting the use of the cheap CT metal and by coning only on govern menta account. It Is now proposei as the cardinal principle of scaa cred parties that the holder of any silver bullion, without regard to it's market value, may present 1t at the hints to be coined into dollars and make it a legal tender for all debts, public and private. At present
 
 cents. It would seem that this bold and transparent proposition and repudiation of more than one-half all debts, public and private, in the United States would sho,k hhe public sentiment of honest people and secure it's prompt rejection. But, strange as 1t may seem, 1t is de- fended by so many that we are bound to consider their reasons before we de- nounce it as a fraud. H. is said that free coinage would bring up the price of sil- yer bullion to the ratio of 16 to 1. There is not the slightest ground for this opera ton.
 Gold Will Not Corrode
 Silver has gone down in price precise ly as iron. tin, copper or indeed the price of all the metals except gold. The development in the prices of mineral ology has kept pace with the cheapen- ing of nearly all the products of skill known as manufactures Even gold may decline in relative value as the result of the recent development of mines in several parts of the earth. but from it's superior value in the smallest space and being less affected by corrosion than any other money metal it is now and will continue to be the standard of value in the chief nations of the world. l
 Free Coinage Dangerous
 Silver will be largely used in all coun-