The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1901-06-15

that plank ~euld have votsd against the
legisiation. This would have defsated
any Act sought to be passed for ths fres
Coinage OF silver.
Had every state which voted for che free
and unlimited coinage Of silver In the con.
vention of 1910 elected every congressman
shDs Democrat they could not hsve carried
selves from tho st,tes oppo-ed to Il would
have defeated Il. II the entire house OF
representatives had been Democratic a
majority OF this membership. a. shown by
convention. would have opposed the free
coinage of silver. Then what was the OBJ.
1ect or tn SO menf It would seem that
there could only &c one solution. The
delegates from the West were personally
interested In the free coinage of silver for
the reason that, IL carried out. it would
open up the Western silver mines and
double she value OF Western property.
The east would have bsen injured only by
the nnsettliny Of business. The East and
the West could by y coalition obtain com
plete control of the finance and commercs
OF the south. All contractswould have been
gold contracts. Under the free coinage law
there would undoubtedly be a provision
by which the Western bullion would be
presented to tho mint by the Eastern
banks and form basis Of permanent and
constant credit for all Western transac-
tions. The banks would control the bull
what they would lose by tho depreciation
or contracts not already In gold they
won q about make even through their
Western connections. But the South pro.
auces no bullion. 1t would have no need
tor maintaining reserve in the East such
as would b created for the benefit of the
West by tho bullion.
AL Of its contracts would be gold con-
tracts. For all Of its money it would be-
dependent upon the East and be compelled
TO pay whatever rates the Eastern banks
saw Mt to charge. Then . part Of the
same scheme was to prevent the Demo-
cratic policy of the repeal of the tax upon
state banks, in order to prevent the South
ern States from having any circulating
medium whatever for local purposes. The
West would have its silver as basis for
obtaining the gold and the East would
control the gold; the South would be pre-
be under the absolute aud complete and
perfect control of the East and West.
When l made fight in the House for
the repeal of the 10 per cent tax Mr.. Bryan
voted against it, and invite your atten-
tion to his utterances at this time, which
fully confirm what say. Congressman
Bailey Of Texas. one of the ablest men in
the United States, called my attention to
the sinister attitude of Mr.. Bryan at the
time. The Western silver mine owners
were supposed at the time of the Convep-
tfon to put up the money for the cam
Paign. But the East had become so largely
interested In the newly organized indus
tries OF the South, and so much Eastern
money had been withdrawn from the
West. and found profitable employment
in the South, that the Eastern bankers
saw that they had rs much to lose by such
an arrangement a. they could possibly
ment demanded by the Western mine
owncrs.. At this point, which occurred
when the campaign was at its height, the
promised contribution to the Democratic
treasury failed to como in and several
wealthy silver mine owners made visits to
New York, then returned to their homes
and Joined the Republican party.
''crime of '73p'
Up to this time a number of States
wore sdmittedly doubtful; Those Of Mary
diana were notably so. But when the
financial schelle fell through there was
no longer any doubt as to the outcome of
the election, and the doubtful States all
gave greatly increased Republican ma
The trouble with the South has always
been its clinging to traditions and its lack
Of practical wisdom in preventing the
other sections from imposing, upon them
by under-handed means. The South is
solidly Democratic, for nowhere in the
world Is there greater love for freedom
OF speech, liberty of thought and action,
and absolute justice. which arc the foun-
dation stones Of the Democratic party.
But they were asleep in 1896 and 1870, and
totally ignorant of the reasons for this
| new issue being forced upon them. 1t
| was In the Democratic platform and they,
/ therefore, voted for it. Now IL behooves
/ them TO consider why 1t was in that plat
| form, and they will learn that instead of
| being Democratic 1t was q counterfeit to
be spurned and cast aside.
The South should now take advantaee
| Of the fact that 1t controls the Democratic
party and see to it that those principles of
Justice and equality which lie at the foun-
dation OF Democracy are not again de-
parted from, and that no scheme for the
enrichment Of any section for the benefit
OF any other section shall ever again be
Incorporated into q Democratic platform.
When l called you over the phone for
permission to make my reply public did
not expect 1t to grow to such length, but
| It 10 great theme and its importance is
| my apology. Yours respectfully,
JOHN LOwNDRS McLAURIN