The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1894-09-12
HOKE SMITH SPEAKS
To the Georgia Democracy on
National Questions.
AGAINST SILVER FREE COINAGE
Closed His Speech With an Appeal to the
Voters to Remain True to the
Democratic Party.

ATLANTA, Sept. IA mass meeting
OF democrats was held in the city TIL
evening. The principal features wer
the speeches of Speaker Crisp. review
ing the work of congress. and of Secre
tary Hoke Smith against the free coin
age of silver. Speaker Crisp declared
his personal preference for the FREE
coinage of silver. Much enthusiasm
was displayed. Speaker Crisp said:
"When congress met last year, it wa
confronted with difficulties which
seemed almost insurmountable. TRADE
was paralyzcd; manufacturing had al
most ceased; labor was idle; banking
Institutions were failing, and conf
depce, the life and soul Of commerce.
was utterly de. troyed. In 80 far as
this deplorabIe condition was attribut'
able to legislation, the republican
party was responsible. For more than
80 years that party had made ouI
financia and economic lave.
"In 1873 the free coinage OF silver
had been discontinued and gold be-
came the standard. In 1873 partial
coinage was resmed. In 1890 this law
was re pealed and soon thereafter the
coinage of silver practically ceased.
These ac,s of the republican party re.
suited in so Iessening the volume OF
money of final redemption as to cause
the price of all commodities to
increase and to impair the confidence
of the people in the power of the gov
eminent to redeem outstanding obi
cations.
IA law and practice which allows a
citizen 10 pay his obligations 10 the
government in silver. or at the same
time permits him to demand Of the
government gold in redemption of lis
obligation, is manifestly unreasonable
and unjust, and in the nature of the
case must impair confidence aid tend
to produce panic. While not pro-
Tossing to understand the question
fully in all Its bearings. 1 have always
been in favor Of the free coinage of
silver-I am in favor of 1t now"
Opening his remarks. the secretary
reviewed the financial troubles of the
past Is months and congratulated the
south upon the excellent showing
made. The cotton states and the in
ternational exposition would prove of
great assistance in the development
and prosperity of the south. In the
election the people of Georgia
should show TO the world that the
wild theories of the populists had no
foothold among them. Calling atten-
ton to the recent experiences of the
great states of Kansas and Colorado
under populistic rule, the secretary
asked who would wish to see Georgia
follow the leadership of Lewelling or
Waite.
Bad as " as the record of the third
party in the west, the crazy theories Of
heir leaders in congress were enough
to stagger the comprehension and
shock the thoughtful man. They
fought disbursements amounting In
the aggregate to over $25, OOO, 600. 600.
The people of Georgia could not afford
% indorse such IA party. The state
would be disorganized locally aud dis
credited before the world if 1t appeared
o huve even listened to their imprac-
icable theories.
rFee OOln0g0 OF SlVers
A few of their beliefs were worthy of
but there was one which
to have appeared attractive, al
hough when carefully Investigated it
must be classified with their other
heories as almost equally wild and i'm.
He referred to the free
md unlimited coinage Of silver at the
alto of l6 to l by the United States
llOne, and declared it TO he a plan vi.
erly at variance with sound business
principles and fraughl with incalcu'a-
lie evil. He did not wish his position
He was thorough bi-
stroEg in his faith, and no
me could be more unalterably opposed
o the adoption of single gold stand.
nd. The injury inflicted by a single
iundard currency had been recently
abroad, and the evil eff
Gets had been felt here upon products
+ this countr raised for foreign con.
The currency in the United
states had not been contracted, but on
he contrary the per capita today was
"a. 10. IA against an average OF SASS
rom 1850 to 1860.
The secretary then described the |
light different kinds of money now
lsed In this country and maintained
hat the instant any one Of these went |
o premium 1t would become q com.
modify for private sale and contraction |
would follow, but by preserving them
lpon an equality and by an increase
quail to the growth of business and
population contraction could be pre-
rented. This could be accomplished,
lrst, by changing the bullion in the
liver dollar so as to require 100 cents
worth of silver In any dollar; second.
" international agreement, which, If
ecured. would prevent the necessity |
4 changing the ratio; or, third, by
alling In all the money of small de- |
'ominations--say, $40 aud less, not
of silver-and giving silver
he right Of way.
Tho silver Question.
After sketching the history of silver |
characterization by Germany in 1871
nd subse quently by Norway. Sweden,
Holland, Ruseia and the |
lations c0mprizing the Latin union.
Smith said: "In the mean
ime the United States had changed |
rom the coinage of only s., SSl, 800 in
liver dollars in 80 years up to 1873, to
he coinage of $4l9. SIC, 900 standard sill
e'Idollars aud to the purchase of silver
pom which treasury notes were issued,
making q total coinage value of
$40, O0O. 900 Of silver used In this
ountry during the last 20
carr. From an average of 81, GOO. 900 a
fY *