The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-08-13
promise according to the strict letter OF the

| memDer-Nny not Keep I'LL OF tnen
| Mr. Rayner-Yes; I know that this particular
| provision OF the Democratic platform has been
construed as adversely as the various inter-
ests OF those who interpret It But ask the
| gentleman, II q man owes debt OF 500, and
| he cannot pay to his creditor but $50 Is it n OF
better for him to pay the $50 that he is able to
| pay than to cheat his creditor out OF the whole
amount?
IL we have made promises and cannot keen
them ALL let us keep at least part OF them, az
far as We are able to keep them. There was
something said. I know. about the parity OF
the two metals. but you cannot keep the two
metals, silver and gold. on basis Of absolute
| parity alone and without an intern ational con-
ference unaided. 1t Is nonsense: It is quib-
bling with words to say that you can do 30.
| You cannot maintain double standard In the
| Government OF the United States In the face Of
| tho action OF every other civilized Governme ont
upon the face OF the earth which has adopted
| the gold standard. That portion OF the plat
form cannot be carried out. but you can take a
step In the direction Of 1t, and IL you cannot
make your promise good. do as the President
has said carry 1t out as far as you can.
lam in favor of keeping faith In the prom
ises made. There is no ambiguity about the
terms. Our duty Is as plain as the language Of
man can mako it, and from the binding obli-
CATION that rests upon us there Is no escape or
| evasion except through an absolute betrayal
| OF tho confidence OF the people. IT, Mr..
| Speaker. We deceive Thorn now. It may be, and
| doubtless will be. very long time before we
will have another opportunity to deceive them
again. because II We attempt 1t they will de-
ride us with broken pledges that we have
| Haunted in their faces
| In conclusion. sir. wish to state that as far
as am concerned at this critical era in the
history OF our country. am not in the slight
est degree disturbed or intimidated by the
glittering catchwords OF political conventions.
am guided by purer and a higher faith. No
matter what construction may be placed upon
the platform. believe in forever striking from
the tenets OF our political creed the supersti-
tious folly that nation grows rich in proper
ton to the amount Of worthless money 1t can
coin. In place OF this idolatry would plant
high up upon our affairs. so that all mankind
could read It the inscription that we cherish
our honor as much as our liberty. and that we
would as soon fall and perish as dlshonor any
OF the obligations upon which have been i'm
printed or emblazoned tho emblem Of the re-
| public.
The silver men accepted this as a gage
thrown down by the Administration. They
nodded their heads. as much as to say. THAT
settles it. We accept this issue. and shall
hereafter expect and give no quarter" The
words "glittering catchwords will undoubt-
| eddy be used as a war cry.
When Mr.. Rayner concluded with the sem
| tence SO remarkably felcitous in compost.
| ton. Jason Brown Of Indiana got the floor He
looks like well-to-do Indiana farmer. big
| boned and heavy-framed. He has voice pro-
! portioned to his stature. He took his stand
upon the Democratic platform. As the plat
form had denounced the Sherman act. he was
raady IN fulAl TIA of
same time he called attention to what it said
about silver. and indicated that he would be
found among tho bi.metallists in the ratio
voting.
This. however. was not satisfactory to Silver
Dollar Bland. When no took the floor his black
eyes began to snap. He had evidently pre-
pared himself for the fray. He had removed
his necktie. and his collar was unbuttoned at
the throat He wore an old alpaca coat and
vest. and the signet Of Royal Arch Mason
swung from his hair watch chain. In indig-
| nant toneA he referred to Jason Browns
speech. and warned him OF the wrath to come
At times he roared like a lion. and again spoke
SO low and dispassionately that his words
| could not be heard twenty feet away. But 1t was
| great speech. He claimed that France for
seventy years had sustained the monetary
value OF the two metals at a ratio OF 1511 to l,
and what France could do with population Of
3O.O0O.OO0 this country could do with q popu-
lation Of nearly 70.o00.O00. But tho pith OF
his speech was at tho end OF it. In bold and
vigorous words he denounced the attempt To
repeal unqualifiedly the Sherman act. II silver
was to be demonetized he said that 40 far IA
he was concerned he had come to the parting
OF the ways Despite his long service to the
Democracy he should jump the fence and bid
Rood-by to the party He would hereafter be
found fighting under tho standard Of the
white metal. This threat to dissolve his rela.
tons with the party gave rise to ominous
looks John De Witt Warner. who sat behind
the great silver advocate, smiled. but many A
Southern and Western Democrat applauded
rapturously. Jerry Slmpson's followers were
in the seventh heaven of delight. Tom Reed
made some facetious remark to a colleague.
and the Republicans looked happy and. con-
tented
Wh,n Bland subsidized, a tall. thin vounp
man. clean shayen. and arrayed in a neplioe
anti took tba door