Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-02-04
a WORD TO JOSIAH.
ur. ratsersen and MS -AgItatseu- OF

have been spent, the polls are closed
the people have gone about their bust
hess. and Mr.. Mckinley has been elect
ed; but still Josiah Patterson goes
trolloping about the country preaching
the beauties of the gold standard. But
since Mr.. Patterson insists on deliver.
ing his perfunctory lectures, it may be
well to have word with him.
Now, Josiah
Don't you know that the newspapers
which had been patting you on the
back have decided with one voice that
all talk about the gold question or the
silver question, the single standard OF
the double standard, is in the nature
of agitation, and that such agitation is
highly detrimental to the business
Why, here is Mr.. Thomas Hitchcock
who signs himself Matthew Marshall
in the New York Sun, declaring as late
as last week that ''the continued
agitation of the silver question" is the
cause Of the bank failures in the west
Don't you know. Josiah, that you, as
tie only individual in the country who
is now trolloping around from post to
pillar making speeches, are largely re-
sponsible for this condition of things,
If what Mr.. Hitchcock says is true2
And, Josiah
Don't your common sense tell you
that the free and independent coinage of
silver has ceased for the time being to
be an issue? Don't you know that the
republican party has been triumphant
at the polls. as the result of it's prom
ises to restore prosperity by means OF
international bimetallism and the
tariff? Don't you know that the peo-
PIE are patiently waiting to see what
is to be the result of the republican pro-
gramme? If you don't know these
things, Josiah. you ought to be ashamed
of yourself, and if you do know them
you ought to stop talking about the-sil-
YER question in a tone of voice which,
as Mr.. Thomas Hitchcock intimates, is
loud enough to shatter financial institu-
tions as far west as Minnesota?
And, JOSIAH
Don't you know that the question of
Independent free coinage has been set
tied for at least four years to come, and
that the only way to renew the contro-
versy at this time is to do as you are
doing? Do you know of your own
knowledge of anybody who is engaged
in free coming, or who is now insisting
on free coinage? If so, Josiah, give us
his name and we promise to have him
hauled up on writ of "hippus crop
Pus," as old Uncle Billy Bivins used to
say. Don't you know that the silver
question will not be an issue until the
republicans demonstrate that their
scheme Of reforms and remedies will
not restore prosperity, and that the
question never viii be an issue again
if the republicans succeed in bringing
genuine good times under the gold
standard?
And, Josiah
If the single gold standard is such a
beautiful, such desirable affair, why
don't you, instead of trolloping around
the country making speeches against
the free coinage, of silver go to Wash
ington and urge your republican friends
and colaborers to make a practical
demonstration of the beauty and desir-
ability of the gold standard? We admit
that the gold standard has brought
nothing but wreck and ruin to the coun-
try. Everybody knows that, Jo-
siah, and it is as unnecessary to state
the fact as it is IDLE to deny it. This
being so, Josiah. there is but one thing
for the republicans to do, and that is
to give the country a clear and an I'M
mistakab BILE demonstration that the gold
standard is not responsible for the hard
times, but that IL has been due to Cleye-
lands NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of affairs.
If the republicans will only do that, Jo-
siah, the silver issue will never be heard
of again. But is can only be done by the
restoration: of prosperity, and when
that is done all the people, without re-
gard to party, will rise up and indorse
the gold standard. and bless the repub-
lcan wisdom that rescued them not
only from hard times and poverty, but
from Misrepresentation of the financial
question.
Now, Josiah
Wouldn't il be better for you to aid in
bringing about this desirable result
than to go trolloping about the country
slang-whanging the south and west
We leave it to your common sense. All
that the people expect the republicans
to do is, that which they are solemnly
pledge to do-to promote international
bimetallisTn and to restore prosperity.
Why, then, Josiah, should you be carry
ing on a campaign against the free coin
age of silver, when the people. them
selves. have temporarily shelved the is
sue, and have said to the republicans.
You have promised to restore pros
perity if you are placed in power; now
go ahead and do it, and when you
know, Josiah. that this is the situation?
And, Josiah
Are you not familiar enough with
our political history to know that the
only way in which a great issue ever
has been or ever can be settled is for
those who oppose is to show by phys
ical and concrete demonstration that
it is wrong? Don't you know that all
the mouthing and slang-whanging you
could do from now till dosmsday would
not convince single human being one
way or the other? The thing 10 do.
then, Josiah, is to urge the rep4bhcan
leaders to formulate their measures of
reform at once and proceed to put them
in operation as promptly as possible.
II they succeed in restoring prosperity,
Josiah, the free coinage question is
dead. If they fail to restore prosperity,
we advise you TO prepare for the worst.
atlanta Constitution.