The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-10-23
AN OPEN LETTER.
To the Populists and Free Silver Re-
publicans of the Fifth Congressional
District.

publicans of the Fifth Congressional
District.
The writer was an active Democrat
for more than thirty years, first voting
for Buchanan in 1856, and last voting
for Grover Cleveland in 1884, and in
1889, when it was plainly seen that Mr..
Cleveland intended to destroy silver. he
severed his connection with the party
and became an ardent and active Repub-
lican.
The Republican party in 1888 made
this declaration: I'VE condemn the
Democratic party for its effort to de-
monetize silver" / was greatly en-
couraged by this bold show for silver,
and the fact that Mr.. Mckinley and
the Republicans in the House Of Repre-
sentatives voted for and passed free
silver coinage bill which failed to be-
come a law by its defeat in the Senate.
l continued to vote with the Republi-
can party till 1896, in the hope that
they would finally give the country free
and unlimited coinage of silver, as well
as gold. upon the old ratio-(old as the
government ITSELF of 16 to 1. was
doomed to disappointment and in 1896
voted for Bryan, Kitchin and most of the
State and county Populist tickets
Without egotism, | think l may say
that my past political experience and
knowledge of public affairs is worth
something. And believe there has been
no period in the history of the govern
ment as dark as the present If the
gold bugs and monOpolists get control of
our next Congress, | feel sure that they
will follow up the demonstration of
silver with the complete destruction of
the three hundred and odd millions Of
greenback and also destroy silver as
standard money by making it redeem
able in gold. AS certain result all
agricultural and other labor products
will 90 lower and still lower; because
gold being then the only measuring or
standard money, and the increased de-
mand for it so much greater that it will
very soon take four bushels of wheat
TO buy one dollar instead of two as
now: and this dollar will be silver
dollar or bank paper dollar as no APP
preciate amount of gold will be used as
money. but will be boarded by the bank
to double the interest to be paid by the
borrowers. But the advocates of such
dire contraction will still claim that
there is plenty of money, plenty of silver
plenty of bank paper and still count
upon the blindness Of the masses who
seem unable to see the reason now of
fifty cent wheat. thirty cent corn and
two and five cent tobacco.
For Gods sake my brethren and fell
low voters wake up! Look at the situa-
ton. Here are our Democratic friends
making the most calamitous howl of all
at a supposed danger of negro supre-
macy. This is neither the danger nor
the issue. The Republicans are con-
fessedly and entirely committed to the
gold standard, which means the most
abject poverty and industrial slavery
for the masses. Both at fault. The
price of our products is the true
barometer of liberty. They go down
with gold monometalism and up with
gold and silver bimetalism. When prices
go up the masses are prosperous, hap
by and free, because the accumulations
of labor are widely distributed. When
prices go down the masses grow poor,
miserable and unhappy; because the pro-
ducts of labor are gathered together,
and in this concentration of wealth lies
stroy liberty. But this enough.
Who are you going to vote for in this
district for Congress? Adams or
Kitchin? Kitchin or Adams? If you
want the gold standard and poverty,
vote for Adams. But, you say, Adams
is 'al right" He is for silver. He says
so. Suppose he is. While that is con
fession that the free coinage of silver
is right and the same as saying he can't
be elected unless he really is for silver,
still he is Il Republican, and could get
no patronage from his friends unless he
votes with his party for the gold stand
ard. Say what he will, the fact remains
that he will act with his party and his
party is thoroughly entirely and irrevo-
cabIy committed to the gold standard.
In my opinion no free silver voter can
or will make such n blunder not to say
commit such crime, as to vote for
Adams. Nor do / believe that any true
Populist will surrender at this critical
moment, for any consideration whatever
the basic principle-tinancial reform
which gave life and existence to the
Peoples party.
What then? Shall | vote for Kitchin!
Certainly | shall vote for Kitchin! And