The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-10-28
.tONHSTY IS THE BEST POLICY"

the world, in political matters, as
well as by the masses of civilized
humanity in their transactions and
promis IS in every day life, and the
straightforward, honest, truthtellinl
man is universally respected by al
who know him. 1t is well that thi.
is the tact, for without moral and
lpolitical-as we'll as personal hon
esty-the People cannot know
whom to trust. This was the great
lpervading trait of character with all
the noted leading patriots of oul
revolutionary war, so characteristic
as to give rise to the cherry tree in
lcident with the Father of his coun.
try" aud to give to his successor,
Abraham Lincoln, the title of "Hon-
est Abe" with those who knew him
best, and the same rugged honesty
# life and purpose gave to VIM. j.
Bryan the nomination for Presi-
dent Of three parties, and 100000
votes at the polls in 1864 larger
number than was ever cast for any
candidate for President before.
These facts prove that the American
people love honesty and sincerity Of
purpose. The COURIER believes
the People Of Dubois county and
the Sd Congressional district, love
these traits yet, as well as any
people any where ever did.
The violation of specific promises
to be in favor Of the equal coinNge
Of silver and gold at the U IS. minis,
made by Democratic Congressman
If the SD Congress in 1894, gave
the Republicans large majority in
the next Congress, even permitting
Mr.. Hardy to defeat Mr.. Bretz in
this strong Democratic district, not
withstanding the latter pretended to
carry out his numerously made
pledges to the People uttered by
him during his canvass, at every
meeting, that he would vote, if
elected, for the free coinage of silver
at 10 to 1. But tire Peoples votes
showed that they clearly saw through
this subterfuge, and preferred an
open opponentto treacherous party
man. His speech in Congress ex-
cusing his action, and explaining his
vote on the amendment to the bill
repeating the single section of the
Sherman Act compelling the coin
age of $4,500,0OO OF silver each
month, showed that the gold stand
ard men had him in their grip. He
was like the boy whose father ssnt
him to town to sell yellow dog,
and told him to ask ~ for the dog,
but if he could not get that much
take 81, and rather than miss a sale
take 80 cents. Brett, in his excus-
ing speech said he would first vote
for the amendment providing for
the free coinage Of silver, as he had
pledged himself to his constituents,
but if he could not get that he would
vote to coin the silver belonging to
the government, lying idle at the
mint, commonly called the "seign-
orage" but that next, if defeated, he
would throw himself into the arms
Of his friends, the gold-bugs, and
vote to repeal that part of the only
law compelling the coinage Of silver.
The COURIER refers to these
things now because Mr.. Bretz has
undertaken to make several politi
cal speeches in the present Cam
paign, and some silver man might
ask him how much he got in cold
gold for that gold vote? and such a
question might be embarrassing to ex-
plain, in view of the pledges he
had made when candidate in 1892
for congress. Again they might
tell him that as he had successfully
evaded carrying out the true spirit
of his pledges before, that he could
not be considered safe advisor in
any political canvass, and that the
party would do better were he to
retire to private life, and get fees
from clients as opportunity offered.
Again, there have been ugly ru-
mors, but not borne out by the tax
duplicate, and therefore probably
untrue, Of his sending to bank,
during his term as congressman, at
one time SAL go, more than his
salary amounted to--and some in
quisitive Populist might ask him to
explain it, and in this way destroy
the effect of any speech he would
make. The COURIER does not
credit these mendacious rumors. In
TACT it does not believe them-be-
cause it belisves any any men with
business capacity sufficient to ac-
cumulate that large sum Of money,
would not have paid it to him-and
luther it believes il he owned any
such amount Of money, he would
have returned it on his tax list.
But, with all, it believes Johnnie
makes mistake il he thinks he