The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-02-16
OUR FORUM
Here Is One From Massachusetts.

Here Is One From Massnchusetts.
Editor Representative.
Gentlemen-Your circular letter Of
the 18th received. Inclosed find 81 for
my subscription to your valuable paper
l regret very much that such a paper
cannot be in the hands of every think
ing person in the country. l have
for number of years been interested
in what is known as the financial ques-
ton, to such an extent as to believe in
an irredeemable paper money Gnsofar
as to its being redeemable in any one
specific thing, as the only scientific
money, and that to be issued by the
government, direct to the people, with
out the consent or advice of any bank
Ing corporation. | find the people in
thls country especially the business
men, so-called, have as little conception
of the financial question as is possible
to imagine; they neither know the gold
side,nor the silver side, and cannot give
an Intelligent opinion on either side
and yet they are so wise in their own
conceit' that no one can approach them
on the subject In this state they ap-
parently take their opinions from such
men as Senator Hoar who in my opn-
lon willfnlly misleads them
IL In some manner a political fire
could be set agoing among the constitu-
entS Of such men as Senator HOar. who
trade on the ignorance (on public ques-
t1ons) OF their constituents, by which
their opinions would be changed from
the gold basis side to the silver side
l have no doubt Mr.. Hoar w0uld he
among the first to change to the silver
side l have yet to learn when an;
where Senator Hear has ever CON-
trlbuted by his advocacy, in the past
20 years, to any great question which
would benefit the people Of this country.
lie has invariably spoken on the most
Important question that has ever.
been brought before the people. viz.
THE MONEY QUESTION. I presume
the senator thinks that the bloody shirt
was the most important question thai
was ever before the people for no
harped on that till everyone else grew
tired
treat effort is now being made by the
gold basis party to promote the prom
lsed prosperity, under the gold basis.
The press, and all other known means
are enlisted, and proclaiming that tho
that 1t is on the eve of it Ct have heard
about this EVE in the past five wears
times too numerous to mention) Tn
TACT they say that every industry Is
prosperous, but one-the cotton r l.
fact well known by those engaged in
the Machine Tool business. that were -
not Tor export trade this business would
be in a most deplorable condition. This
can probably be said of manv otbar
industries. Still the advocates off rho
gold basis try to make the PEG lie be-
i1eve that domestic business is prosner-
Gus, and depend on their future NO.
Ntlcal power for their success in do
celvlng the people in this matter 1p
'ney expect future success on Famines
ana Letter corners In the grain market
with only export trade for our MANN
1acturers, while our home trade is naro-
1yzed by the gold basis. their dave oro
probably numbered.
1t appears to me that while raoon
nlze the necessity of the free COINAGE
OF silver at 16 to | or less nv hi,
country alone, it could be accomplished
quicker by dropping the silver Issue as
'he paramount question, taking I'D the
question OF government money, versus
Bank Currency, and making that tho
PARAMOUNT question. believing +hat
the people can more readily under
s'ahd thls question to their benefit
than the somewhat complicated silver
question. The gold basis BANKING cor
porations invite this
II IS my opinion that the so-called
gold basis people don't care a ran about
gold or silver; their aim is TO control
and issue all the paper currency Of tbo
country, and in so doing make tho
masses slaves.
While the Republican party is fhe
recognized gold basis party although
Individual members (notably Senator
chandler from this section) NOV,
squirm and twist to avoid this recogni-
tion' 1t must not be thought bv neo-
PIE IN your section that the Democratic
party OF this section is willingly in on
posl'ion TO the Gold basis banking in
terests.
Had the Democratic party taken