People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 October 1895 — TO PLEAD FOR SILVER [ARTICLE]

TO PLEAD FOR SILVER

The Unknown Who is to Con. duct “Coin’s Financial School in Life.” HE HAILS FROM THE EAST. His First Appearance Was Before the New York Central Labor Union. Begins His Campaign in Chicago This Week at Kimball Hall, Under Auspices of the Bimetallic League. The Inter Ocean of last Sunday has the following interesting account of the great unknown who is to champion in actual life the wonderful allegorical book, * ‘Coin’s Financial School,” written by William H. Harvey: A great deal of curiosity has been aroused among those who have taken an interest in the financial controversy in the announcement that the National Bimetallic Union would open its campaign through the medium of an unknown youth, who will take a part similar to that assumed by the celebrated teacher of “Coin’s Financial School.” Little or nothing seems to be known as to the identity of this unique character, and the greatest secrecy is maintained at silver headquarters as to who he ts. The managers of the campaign, however, think they have a treasure, as he is ready to meet any advocate of gold monometallism and answer any question. The cards announcing the opening of •“Coifi’i Financial School in Life” state that the “Unknown” is ready to meet any query. He will be .assisted by a stereopticon, atid will give the citizens of Chicago an entirely new treatment of the silver question in graphic illustrations. It has been rumored that this young financier is the son of a New York bank president, who is backing his gifted son secretly, fearing to come out openly in favor of what he believes the best Interests of the community on account of his official position. Be this as it may, it is interesting to note that the “Unknown” first appeared in New York city before the Central Labor Union, a central body representing 70,000 voters in that big town. His youth and cleverness, together with his appearing without a name, aroused great enthusiasm. He will return to labor with the New York voters later in the campaign. For the present the union will star him West and South. He is billed for Birmingham. Ala., Nov. 13. The first appearance of the “Unknown” will take place at Kimball Hall, Wednesday evening next. Admission will be by ticket. These can be secured by application to the office of the union, Fort Dearborn Building, at Mr. Harvey’s office, and other places about town that will be named later. From indications it seems certain that the “Unknown” will have a great deal to do in shaping the free-silver campaign. In this connection his views will be interesting. He says: “Gh, the matter of my name and identity is of secondary importance. I suppose I will be taken for a thousand different persons before the campaign is •ended. lam dropping my name and identity simply as an expression of that sentiment that animates all those who are honestly laboring for the restoration of bimetallism—absolute unselfishness. “•It has been apparent all -aleng that the champions of the gold standard, and the still more numerous ‘wait-for-that-in-ternational-conference’ apostles, have not met the plain, commonsense arguments of the silverites. Neither will the unpatriotic press of the country make any sort-of decent answer to the editorials of the Inter Ocean. For this reason I am willing to stand up as the people’s advocate and defy these peurile Americans to show why it is for the best interest of our common country and the destiny of the republic to proceed forthwith with the restoration of the money system of the constitution. “When in New York my experience was very curious. One of the leading journals there, in

giving an elaborate report of my first appearance before the labor unions, while not attempting to tell the truth, called me the greatest crank of the times. Next day I went to the editor, and when he talked with me a bit he changed his mind about me being a long-haired crank. He apologized in the most gentlemanly manner possible, and sent one of his reporters to see me afterward. Further than this, he said that if I could get an engagement to appear before the Chamber of Commerce, or some other large body, he would give me a full report. “I entered the sacred precincts of the Chamber of Commerce, hat in hand and very meek. I told Secretary Wilson that I was anxious his organization should have a chance to see at short distance one of the men they had been denouncing in bitter terms at long distance. I offered to risk the entire future of my efforts to a bombardment of questions, and guaranteed I would not feel a bit offended if they became personal. I was already to do as I agreed, and had my stereopticon handy. But he didn’t allow me to tell my story, although he felt ar thrill of respect, as lam certain, for my attempt. “The merits of bimetallism scarcely need any elaborate treatment at my hands. Older and wiser heads have gone into that question and settled it as fairly as any question was ever settled; but what I shall plead for, with all the strength that God has given me, is American patriotism. “Why should we, now that we have reared the mightiest national fabric ever erected on the broad highway of nations, turn to Europe for its gracious consent that we do our simple duty by ourselves? Why have we honored as one of the cardinal doctrines of American enterprise ‘protection to our institutions’ if we are now, after the operation of that principle fol years, and after we have grown to maturity, to confess that after all the United States of America count for'no more than any of the so-called ‘civilized nations?’ If we are to be a colony of Great Britian, as the present adminis tration seems to believe, why not tear from our history the pictures of Washington, Jefferson, Jackson and Lincoln? Under such a construction of our national existence those great heroes would be out of place. Yes, let us take them from the book where appear other names that bring the blush of shame to our faces, and at least place them in the book of ‘Men Who Have Loved and Labored for Mankind.’ If we as a Nation are ashamed of them, we can honor them as men and give their faces a place in grateful hearts.”