The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-01-31


ed States to make both gold and sill
yer legal tender for all debts, public
and private, particularly now, when
this country was such large produc-
er of silver, and he attributed the great
depreciation of real estate in Germa-
ny to the demonetization of silver by
that country. He contradicted the
theory that the vast increase In the
production of silver in this country
bad been the cause Of the fall in value
of that metal and alleged, in denial of
it, that India, Japan and China alone
had taken In the course of trade dur
ing the last year $lO5, ,OO0, 900 of silver,
which was about $25, 600, 600 more than
the entire silver product of the world.
CRiTICIsING THE CLERGY.
He proceeded to quote from and to
criticise recent sermons by Mr.. Bee
cher and Mr.. rockingham. In re-
gard to the first, he said, from the
reckless character of his talk we are
led to conclude that he is just the kind
of man that Burns had in his mind
when he said -
Some books arc lies from end TO end.
And some great lies were never p.nned;
Even ministers they have been kennel
In holy rapture; a rousing whid at times to vent
And nail IL with the Scripture.
Mr.. Beecher informs us, he contin-
ue6. that gold is the standard in Asia.
Africa, Europe and America, and that
it is universal changing standard,
while the facts are that 768, 100000 of
people use, exclusively and entirely,
silver as their standard 137 600, 600
use beth gold and silver, and only
about OO,OOO,OOO use the single gold
standard.
FALsEHOOD OR IGNORANCE.
Now, said he, am justified in say
ing that the reverend gentleman in
making that sweeping statement eth.
er wickedly stated what he knew to
be false or else advertised himself to
the world as a consummate ignoram-
us upon the question? He quoted Mr..
Beecher as describing those who are
in favor of the reconciliation of sill
yer as "bull headed, without eyes en-
deavoring to undermine the integrity
of the nation, and deserving an infamy
as deep as the lowest depths of hell. :"
He also quoted him as asking wheth-
er the men in Congress knew what
they were there for. Yes. said Mr..
Price, what are we here for? Why
do we not vacate our seats and give
them to such men as this reverned
gentleman, whose record is 80 clear,
whose reputation so unblemished, who
was never before the Church and the
world in any equivocal position? He
would be the man to fix all this, for
he certainly has an experience in
certain direction which no man who
supports this Silver bill can boast of.
But it is little surprising that His
Reverence should consign us to hell,
for, if the papers report him correctly,
he has abolished that institution.
(Laughter) 1t is possible, however,
that on this subject "the wish is faith
er TO the thought" produced by per-
sonal considerations. (Laughter.)
MR.. FRoTHINGHAM.
As TO Mr.. rockingham, he remark
ed that whatever else the gentleman
might lack he certainly did not lack
"Froth," and the title of his sermon,
"Pictures Of Silver,' made up from the
verse, "a word fitly spoken is like ap-
pies of gold In pictures of silver" re-
minded him of another preacher who
declaiming against the fashion in,
which ladies then wore their hair, in
topkno:s, took for his text the verse,
"In that day he who shall be upon the
house top and his staff in the house let
him not come down to take it away"
and by taking the last syllable of the
word "housetop" and prefixing it to
another part of the verse made it read,
"Topknot, come down." Laughter.)
In conclusion he said, we are labor
ing to get back to the dollar which
has been tried in every condition and
under every variety of circumstances
in this country, ,and has not been found
wanting. We are directing our foot
steps in the pathway lighted by the
lamp of experience. We are not pio-
neers. We are only seeking for the
old paths made luminous by the foot
prints of the fathers of the Republic.
They beckon US onward; they say to
us, "this is the way; walk ye in it"
He who has been q watchful student
of history cannot mistake his way.
If we be attentive listeners we may
hear from every passing breeze thst
is waited to us from the masts of COM
merce, from the field of the husband
man, from the hum of the loom and
from the ring OF the anvil, words of
encouragement 10 pursue steadily the
silvery pathway that shall conduct
our nation to the goal of financial
prosperity.