Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-10-29
r1P. JOHN K. COWEN
Tells Why Republicans Should be
Elected to Congress.

Extracts from an interview published in
the Baltimore News of Oct. ~, 1898.
II never more clearly recognized
my own duty as sound money DEM
ocrat than / do in regard to the Con-
gressional election this autumn. The
best statement Of the case l have seen
has come from the intelligent Wash
ington correspondent of the News,
Mr.. Brady. Alter his resume OF the
situation, given in the News OF Mon
day, | do not see how any Democrat
who believes in the gold standard and
stable currency can possibly vote in
this cam paign for a Democratic candi-
date. True, some Democratic candi-
dates have said that they were for
sound money defining sound mon
ey' as being gold and silver freely
coined without discrimination against
either'-a form of phraseology which
on its face is absurd One candidate
in this city, l believe, has had the
courage to say he was for the gold
standard
"The fact about the situation is
this: The Democratic party, as a
national party, is today hopelessly
committed to the free silver and
greenback heresy. The party has
been rotten on finance ever since the
close of the civil war. AS party
they favored the greenback heresY,
and asked for the unlimited issue of
legal. tender paper money; they op-
posed the national banks and asked
for their abolition; they solidly and
stupidity opposed resumption of specie
payments; they took up the heresy of
free silver, and today it is the cardi-
nal principle of the Democratic party
under its present organization.
ut seems to be conceded that the
next Senate will have q sound money
Republican majority. If this be so a
like majority in the Lower House
would give an opportunity for sound
measure of'curreucy reform.
"The acquisition of Cuba and Puer-
to Rico, and most probably the Phil
ippines, will necessitate legislation
for banking facilities in our colonial
possessions. This necessity itself
will give an impetus to currency re-
form.
"Everything now points to an un-
usually prosperous period for some
years ahead. We have unquestion-
ably turned the corner, left hard times
behind us, and are on the upward
road. The manufacturing, mercan-
tile and large financial interests would
receive a shock and a chill il free
silver House was to be elected, and if
a Democratic House was to be elected
under the present Democratic orgaui-
cation it would be a free silver House
with a free silver speaker. 1t will
not do for a Democratic candidate to
say that he will vote for the gold
standard. Without an impeachment
Of his sincerity, such a promise is as
empty as an assurance that he be-
lieveS in virtue.
con the one issue-the gold stan
dard-the Republican party is ire
vocably committed; the business in
terests Of the country support it, and
the intelligent labor vote is behind
the substantial business interests.
Every laboring man who wishes his
salary paid in d currency which IS not
deprecated, and who does not desire
to stop business enterprises through
fear OF unsettling the monetary stan
dard, everyone who has invested IN
savings banks and insurance compan-
les; every retailer and wholesaler;
every manufacturer; every man who
has a dollar which he has earned or
who expects to earn a dollar by earn
est labor, ought to do as he did in
1896, namely, support the gold stan
dard by supporting the party which
is behind it.
The Democratic party is commit
ted to the silver heresy. 1t is in nc
condition to be supported or voted for.
1t is radically wrong on financial
questions and will be until by sue
cessive and continuous defeats 1t
learns tile lesson Of sound and honest
finance. think it is the duty Of ev-
cry Sound Money Democrat to aid IN
defeating it"