The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1901-06-19

He mad been :rocNel IN a NvpuOl- IN
cradle; and had always lifted up his voice
in behalf of the Republican party"
Within few weeks after this remarkable
speech he had walked out of the only Re-
publican Convention to which he had ever
been delegate and Joined the Silver Re-
publican party. lie Went home as Silver
Republican and two weeks later was nom
mated for Congress rs Populist AID en-
dorsed by the Democrats. He was nomi-
mated az Vice President by the Popuiists
and then went to Kansas City and pro-
claimed to the Democratic Convention
that he was only masquecading as Pop
ulist and Silver Repu blican, and, as a
matter Of fact, was Il simon pure Demo
crat. He then received as a Populist from
the PopuliStic Governor of Minnesota a
thirty day appointment AS Senator of the
United States, and placed himself under
the direct management Of Senators Petit
grew and Butler. one Il Republican and
the other Populist.
When party Of men are willing to see
their party go down in defeat in order
that one issue may be maintained thew
either believe that this issue lies at the
very foundation of all government, or else
they have some ulterior motive. In the
case of the silver issue experience has
proved thrt, whether or not the free coin
age of silver is beneficial and the wisest
system of finance, yet the perpetuity OF
our institutions does not depend upon it.
1t is not an issue OF such magnitude as to
justify the disorganization of political
party in a vain attempt to establish it,
And yet there can be no dolbt that the
leaders Of the Democratic party. who were
responsible for forcing that issue in 1900,
knew when they did so that they were en-
dang ering the life of the party. without
in any way making it possible to carry out
their design, even though elected. Had
the Democratic party succeeded the Dem.
ocrats from the states which voted against
that plank ou1d have voted against the
legislation. This would have defeated
any Act sought to be passed for the free
coinage of silver.
Had every state which voted for the free
and unlimited coinage Of silver in the con-
yention of 1860 elected every congressman
Democrat they could not have carried
that legislation. The Democrats them
selves from the st.tes opposed to 1t would
have defeated It. II the entire house OF
representatives had been Democratic
majority of this membership, as shown by
the votes Of the states in the Democratic
convention, would have opposed the free
coinage of silver. Then what was the OBJ
ject Of these men? 1t would seem that
GEere COulu only De Ouc SOIullOu 4hC
delegates from the West were personally
interested in the free coinage Of silver for
the reason that, if carried out. it would
open I'D the Western silver mines and
double the value of Western property.
The east would have been injured only by
the unsettling OF business. The East and
the West could by coalition obtain COM
plete control Of the finance and commerce
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 the mint by the Eastern
banks and form n basis of permanent and
constant credit for all Western transac-
tions. The banks would control the bull
lion and the rates Of exchange, and thus
what they would lose by the depreciation
of contracts not already in gold they
would about make even through their
Western connections But the South pro-
duces no bullion. 1t would have no need
for maintaining reserve in the East such
as would be created for the benefit Of the
West by the bullion.
All 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 ft to charge. Then a 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 it's silver as basis tor
obtaining the gold and the East would
control the gold; the South would be pre-.
vented from even having paper. and would
be under the absolute and complete ana
perfect control Of the East and West.
When l made fight in the House Tor
the repeal of the 10 per cent tax Mr.. Bryan
voted against it, and I invite your atten-
ton to his utterauces at this time, which
fully confirm what l say. Congressman
Bailey of Texas, one of the ablest men IN
the United States called my attention to
the sinister attitude of Mir. Bryan at the
time. The Western silver mine owners
were supposed at the time Of the Conven-
tion 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 as they could possibly
gain and declined to enter the arrange
ment demanded by the Western mine
owners. At this point, which occurred
when the campaign was at its height, the
promised contribution to the Democratic
treasury failed to come in and several
wealthy silver mine owners made visits to
New York, then returned to their homes
and Joined the Republican party.
Think of Senator Stuart forgetting the
"crime of '73!'
Up to this time 4 number OF States
were admittedly doubtful. Those OF Mary
land, New York, West Virginia and In
diana were notably so. But when the
financial scheme 81 through there was
no longer any doubt az to the outcome OF
the election, and the doubtful States all
gave greatly increased Republican ma
joritieS.
The trouble with the South has always
been its clingiEg to traditions and its lack
of practical wisdom in preventing the
other sections from imposing upon theDl
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 are the four
dation stones of the Democratic party.
But they were asleep in 1896 and 1900, 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 1t behooyes
them to consider why it was in that plat
form, and they will learn that instead OF
being Democratic it was counterfeit to
be spurned and cast aside.
The South should now take advantage
of the fact that it controls the Democratic
party and see to it that those principles OF
justice and equality which lie at the foun-
daticn 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 Democratic platform.
When called you over the phone 10.
permission to make my reply public did
not expect it to grow to such length, but
it is great theme and its Importance IS
my apology. Yours respectfully,