The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-08-15

nor more characteristic by soundness OF
argument than by just honorable roDust
and manly sentiment We make TWO
extracts from his speech that will give
fair idea OF It. He said;
In this discussion we are constantly led
astray from the main issue by the per-
sistent camor about the demonetization
! ~ silver in 1879 Not one word IL said
| about the fact that there was. substan-
| tally. no silver 10 be demonetized In 1873
| and that at that time standard silver dol
| lars had gone out OF existence, because
| the bullion in them was worth more
| than a dollar. If silver had gone at
premium, not a single protest would
we ever have heard against its demone-
| tzation at the American and European
mints. When IL commenced TO decline,
| however, then the startling discovery
Was made that 1t was demonetized,
and the clamor has increased
in intensity and ferociousness In proper
ton TO the decline in price. The lower
the price the greater the noise g III
vital Issue of this character, affecting
the welfare Of every home I'm the land.
could be settled by the angry abuse OF
denagogues and fanatics. who have
nothing TO lose and everything 10 gain
by involving the country in turmoil and
disorder.
And when speak Of demagogues and
fanatics I do not refer 10 the honest
advocates Of a bimetalic standard, whose
earnest convictions, so far differing from
my own, are enlisted In the cause they
represent; nor DO ! mean the mine-own-
ers. whose continued prosperity and ex-
orbitant profits are threatened by the re-
peal Of the measure that is now before
us. refer TO n set OF politicians who
prey upon the Ignorance or their Victims
who veer around with every breeze. who
trim with every party, who have no poll
tics, because they have no principles,
and whose opinions are like the surging
tide that ebbs and flows. leaving no land
marks In its track, except the froth and
foam Il casts upon the surface. This IS
the element that predominated in the
conventions that have lately assembled
for the purpose Of discussing this sub
ject. Men who have been identified with
every crazy movement that has taken
place in their generation; who believe
in the doctrine that cheap money Is
king; that imitation means prosperity;
that the creditor has no rights that are
entitled 10 respect: that money is a curse
when Il is good, but n blessing when II
IS worthless: that the man who IS bank
rupt must always be protected; that the
man who Is honest ought to be sacrificed.
Men believing IN these doctrines have
controlled these conventions. Now. from
their decisions, from their incoherent
medley, from their Babel OF confusion
and of gathering tongues I appeal to the
sound Judgment Of the American people
10 adjudcate this mighty question.
I appeal 10 the people for a currency
that is uniform, that is stable, that is OF
intrinsic value equal TO the inscription
that Il bears: that can be used as a me
dunn Of exchange and a standard Of
value, and that will be universally recog-
nized throughout the world as the sym
Dol Of the honor and solvency Of the Gov
eminent that 1t represents
In concluding ne said:
As far as 7 am concerned. I desire to
say that at this critical hour Of the coun-
try's need ! am not in the slightest de-
gree disturbed or intimidated by the
elittering catch words Of political con-
ventions. 1 am guided by a pure and
n higher faith I believe in forever strik-
ing from the tenets of our creed the SUI
perstitious folly that nation grows
prosperous in proportion to the amount
Of worthless money It can coin. and In
lieu of this idolatry, ] would plant high
,Ipon our affairs, so that all mankind
could read it, the inscription which,
like pillar of fire, will lead us to de-
liverance-that we believe In our honor
as much as we do in our liberty, and
that we would rather fall and perish
than dlshonor any Of the obligations
upon which we have imprinted or en-
blazoned the emblem Of the Republic.
These are honorable and manly senti-
ments. fit to be transmitted by us to our