The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1898-09-30

faster than it did in 1898, and the
S2oo, 900, 900 authorized to be issu-
ed would depreciate, but that is not
all, it would affect $40, 900, 900
greenbacks and $500, 900, 900 silver
certificates and coin notes. 1T
would not only damage the govern
ment and unnecessarily increase the
cost, but would rob the soldier and
sailor.
Wouldn't it be encouraging to the
brave sailors who destroyed the
Spanish feet at Manila to hear the
government thank them for their
beavery. but would pay them in a
deprecated dollar7 The govern
ment does not pay the soldiers and
sailors much, but what it does pay
will be in sound money dollars,
worth their face the world over.
l remember in the fftythird con-
gress, the gentlemen who now OPP
pose the republican policy of rails
ing money to carry on the war voted
for measure that forced the issue
of bonds in the time of peace. l
was surprised at their conduct.
Dewey had won his splendid vic
tory at Manila, the guns at Matan-
zas had been silenced, successful
blockade had been established at
Havana. thousands of men were
answering their country's call,
troops were ready to start to the re-
lief of Dewey, and thousands more
ready to start for Cuba and drive
the Spanish from that island. The
republican house voted for the
measure to provide money to carry
on that war, but the opposition vot-
ed against it. The measure went to
the senate, the republicans were
ready for action, but the opposition
who control that body, amended
the measure in committee so as to
destroy the credit of the country,
and if they had been successful in
the senate would have inflicted in
juries on the government which
would have been more costly than
the war itself.
They may talk of their patriotism
but the truth is they opposed a bond
issue in the time of war to force
financial policy upon the country
which had been repudiated at the
polls. To deny the administration
money with which to carry on the
war, to ruin the credit of the nation,
to reduce its financial standing and
to bring on a panic is far from pat
riotism.
To issue $3.50, 900, 900 of green
backs without adding to the gold
reserve so as to provide ample
means lor redemption as is now
provided for other greenbacks
would be to place more power in
the hands of the spectators to raid
! the gold reserve and cause an issue
of bonds under the act OF 1855.
! They cry out against bankers and
spectators and yet they would leg
islate in their interest. They are
against an Understanding debt,
vet they would legislate in way
that would increase that debt and
call for a higher rate of interest
than the measure they oppose
authorized.
The truth is they wanted war;
they want an expensive war, and
yet they opposed the measure which
would furnish the money to carry
on the war.
The republicans of the house de-
serve great credit for the prompt
ness with which they presented and
passed measures to provide soldiers,
to supply funds and to carry out the
war with Spain. The opposition
deserves praise Tor Young lot the
$50, 900, 900 for preparation for
the declaration of war, but they de-
serve the condemnation of the peo-
pie of this country for refusing to
vote for the measure to supply the
government with the means with
which to carry on the war.
But, ladies and gentlemen, have
not mentioned the worst. You all
know that it was to the interest of
the country to have the senate and
house sustain the administration,
the members of congress by every
speech, and every act should have
shown the world that the people of
this country were ready and willing
to defend the policy of the admin
istration, but what do we find pop
ulist members of congress doing
and saying1 Hon. E. R. Ridgely,
the member from the third Kansas
district, wrote letter to the Pitts
burg Tribune, March II, 1898, in