Letter from Benjamin Franklin Christlieb to Ervin G. Chrislip – 14 Jul 1896

Pasadena, Cal. July 14, 1896

E. G. Chrislip, Esq

Dear Cousin: Please excuse any long delay in answering your very interesting letter of April 15. I was much interested in its contents. It voiced my sentiment as to monopolies and other topics, and now since we have had of late a Democratic National Convention whose entire effort was waged against monopolies and the encroachment of the money power I now feel inspired to write to you in congratulation of the progressiveness and firmness of Democracy in advocating the rights of the people displayed in the action of that body. I do not know what may your ideas as to the free and unlimited coinage of silver, but I see that the delegation of your state was favorable to that idea, and I confess that it has been a great query in my mind at times as to whether free coinage by the U.S. was expedient, but one thing has always been very evident to me, namely: that if the enactment of 1873 and other enactments made in the interests of capital and banks had not been made that silver would have continued to circulate as it did previously and that the apparent difference in the bullion value of the present would never have exsisted to as great an extent if at all. When we look at the present financial condition of masses, the prices of the products of the laboring and farming communities as compared with times previous to the dishonoring of silver, it is evident that there is something wrong somewhere, and when we see bankers, money lenders, shylocks insisting on having expressed in the contracts from the borrower that payments of interest and principal shall be in gold it arouses a suspicion of a combination of capital to dismember silver and to control the gold of the world and make it the money of the world the obtaining of which by the masses to be subject to their will. After surveying such situation the apparent remedy lies in restoring silver to its former place and putting it on an equality with gold in the matter coining it at the U.S. Mints. When we see such talented men as Senator Daniels of Virginia, Senator Harris, Senator Jones, Senator White, Gov Boies of Iowa and hosts of other honest and talented statesmen of the West and South advocate the reinvestment of silver we can accept their teachings in preference to those statesmen who take their cue from Wall Street although some of the latter are Democrats whom we delighted to honor in the past. This is a time once more that tries mens souls which fact was appreciated by the great majority of the Chicago Convention and I believe that they have given the country grand standard bearers, Bryan & Sewall, and a platform suited to the times. It may be argued that free coinage is advocated by and will operate to the benefit of silver mine owners of the Rocky Mountain Pacific States. Its benefits will extend to the masses, but even allowing that those mine owners may be benefitted, is it not better to enrich American institutions than foreign? Capitalists of the Old World, the Rothchilds and others, and besides we bring in a desirable circulating medium in competition with that of Old World are that it is popular in the New World from Alaska to Cape Horn. I have dwelt rather long on politics but I feel under your ideas right ~illegible~ will be patient with me even if you should differ with me on some points.

In regard to my health it is about in the same condition as when I last wrote. I have not made remarkable strides toward regaining health and in fact at my time in life and condition I cannot expect great progress, but I feel thankful that my health is as good as it is at present. My brother Isaac A. (my only living brother) is with me now. He has no wife so we are keeping bachelors quarters here and it is very pleasant and in fact consoling that we can be together and look after each other. He has taken the place of the man I brought with me. There are only three of us of my father's family alive. My sister in Missouri, Mrs. Tritt, my brother and myself. I was much interested in the progress that your son is making at college and am especially pleased to learn that he possesses ability as an orator. Knowledge is grand thing but it is much more satisfactory when one has ability to express knowledge on the forum. That faculty brought our present Democratic Standard Bearer to the front, and I have faith that he will succeed and that we will find in him the man, as in case of Lincoln, the man for the times, and who knows but your son may at no distant take part in shaping the destinies of his locality and the nation. I sincerely wish him that distinction.

I presume by this time you are through with the harvest, perhaps of that which you spoke of in your last letter as being sown in April. I heard through a friend of mine from your son the Colonel. This young man, Mr. Westafer was raised in Pennsylvania near my old home but was still a child when I left there 37 years ago, but he sojourned on different occassions in my locality in Minnesota and is related by marriage to my deceased brother's family. He was much pleased with his visit to phillippi although he says it was hurried. He spoke considerable of the oil and mining operations in W. Va. He is now located at Wheeling, W. Va. I find the summer here pretty agreeable with some exceptions. We have passed two heated terms of about six days each and are now passing a third. How long this may continue I cannot say. It is now the period of hot weather of the North Temperate Zone and this may continue longer than the previous ones although the old settlers claim that the hot waves do not last long here. The heat is somewhat oppressive on me, but I can easily find relief by going to the sea shore which is only one hours car ride distant, but I am of the opinion that it is better for me keep away from the sea shore as it seems to affect my throat. I am probably safer at Pasadena in a warm dry atmosphere even if I find the heat unpleasant. I can remain quiet during the warm part of the day. It has not rained since April. Everything is dry and dusty, which is relieved by irrigation of lands and sprinkling of the streets. During these heated terms the temperature ranges at the hightst point from 90 to 103, but are accompanied by a sea breeze which helps the matter. The nights are comfortable. I will be pleased to hear from you especially your views on the political situation and will be pleased to hear from any of your family. I wrote a letter to your daughter some time ago. She writes very good letters. My brother much appreciates the matter in learning something of cousins that he had never heard of till I informed him of them orally and through my book. He sends his kind regards to you and family. Wishing health and life and prosperity to your self and family I remain.

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