The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1892-11-04


and fluctuations, and poverty, (but
thou art rich,) and l know the bias
phemy of Them why they say they are
Jews, and are not. laughter
This letter. written from Smyrna,
was from General Grant, who was
twice hOnored with the executive chair
of this nation. 1t is dated February
22, 1873, and is addressed to Judge
Long of st. Louis, and WAS first publ
shed in the Globe-Democrat March 80,
1878. He says, speaking of the silver
bill:
"But if / were where was one year
ago and for the previous seven years.
l would put most unqualified veto
upon the Reputation bill, called silver
bill, if it should receive the vote of
congress. l fear it has passed, but
hope, If so, all business men in the
country will work to defeat Its opera
ton by refusing to make contracts
except to be paid in gold coin"
do not know what he meant by
ian unqualified Veto" unless he was
going on the principle that if you want
to shoot a long why you must pull the
trigger hard. Laughter.
Now, there has been great talk on
this floor about revolution, and for
my part 1 deplore such agitation to
degree that is almost akin to horror.
1t seems to be privileged question
here, however. 1t intrudes itself upon
our consideration at every moment and
at the most inOpportune times. [ de-
plore everything like revolution or the
disturbance OF tranquility anywhere.
in congress or out of it, But | say
here. as an ex-solder who fought I'M
der General Grants command, that to
incite any portion of the American
people to combine to defeat the opera
ton of law, or to advise them to do SO,
carries with all the moral guilt Of re-
volution, and revolution of the worst
kind. [Applause'l
Mr. Weaver-Talk about the extra
vagence of the people! The author of
that letter is spending more money to-
day in his trip around the world than
most of our poor constituents VINO labor
for living will ever see or handle,
and yet he advises the money kings of
this country to combine and crush
them. The New York clearing house
and other financial organizations took
him at his word; and the secretary Of
the treasury. although an officer not
even named in the constitution, being
mere cabinet minister whose highest
duty and pleasure should be to obey
and enforce the laws, shook hands with
Wall street and Lombard street, and
struck hands with General Grant &C.
cross the water, and with the men Of
this country who have fixed incomes,
and says he will not pay out silver.
Let me show you what he says. Here
IS letter written by this eminent
cabinet officer, addressed; 40 the
Honest Money League at Chicago"
Laughter. Honest money! The
letter is dated January 80, last he
says;
II have q clear conviction that the
forced payment of the silver dollar to
public creditors would tend TO depre-
ciate it and cause it to be sold in the
market at less than par. While
it is the duty of the government to
coin different kinds of money, public
policy dictates that it should be within
the power of the citizen at his option
to demand either form of lawful
money"
Thus the secretary stands up in his
place not to obey the law, but to say:
II have conviction that if obey the
law it will injure the value of silver!"
This reminds me of an incident
that happened when an effort was be-
ing made to launch one OF our great
steamers. A sub-engineer in charge
of part of the work feared that there
was some defect or fault in her con-
struction which would prevent her
from being safely launched. There
was great confusion when the chief
officer come upon the scene saying,
Launch her! Launch herl I'll take
the responsibility" [Lpplause.]
Now, the American people say to
the secretary of the treasury through
the law Of the land. "You are our
servant; you have no law making
power; we have told you to pay out
the money and you must do it, and we
will take the responsibility" Let me
call particular attention to this re-
markahle language of the secretary:
awhile it is duty of the govern
ment to coin different kinds Of money
public policy dictates it should be
within the power of the citizen at his
option to demand either form of law
full money"
You will see that this places an alb
solute veto against silver in the hands
Of the public creditor The law says
that it shall be legal tender money for
the bond. The secretary is bound by
it, but he says the public creditor shall
determine what he will take and not
the law. The president had a quail
fed veto of the bill and the veto failed
But the secretary, like an autocrat,
confers upon the public creditor more
power than the president possessed.
He gives him an absolute veto. If
that is to be the law the bonds can
never be paid. Again, he has coined
under the minimum instead Of the
maximum amount.
shall. if l am recognized for that