The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-08-12
IN JOINT DEBATE.
congressman StalIings md Clarke
Speak at Admission, Ala.

Mobile and Congressman Jesse Stallings'
of Greenville, crossed oratorical swords.
The debate was held in the Noble street
theater and the audience was Il large one
including leading citizens of the various
communities of this and adjoining countess
showing that the people of north Alabama
arc greatly interested in tho financial sit
uation and to get right upon the great
question OF the day are willing 10 rue
many miles to listen to a discussion OF II
Many ladies We're also present.
Mr.. Clarke, representing the gold side OF
the question, spoke first for an hour ana
half. Mr.. Stallings, champoning the cause
of the free coinage OF silver, followed IN an
hour and forty-five minutes and Mr.. Clarke
closed in fifteen minutes.
Dr. j. Il. Kelly acted as Mr.. Clarkes
sponsor and introduced him.
Mr. Clarke opened by stating that in the
democratic party alone was the matter o.
financial legislation now n leading question.
He urged that it be settled within the
party and pleaded that democrats STICK TO
the party. no matter what decision was
reached by the majority of the party.
Nearly all men are bime tallists, ne claimed
but many differ as to the definition OF III
what it consists Bimetallism means the
! actual circulation of gold and silver upon
a practical and theoretical parity. lie SAID:
Il am bimetalIst. II ire free coinage
of silver at a ratio of l6 10 VIII bring ABOUT
and maintain an actual parity, then you
can't give il to me too quickly.
Mr. Stallings and he disagreed i'll their
belief as to the results which would pe
brought about by the free coinage at "A ratio
of l6 TO / and he would try to prove that ne
was right MIR. Clarke then proceeded with
his address, making "A very pretty argu-
ment i'm the advocacy of his side OF the
question. There was some applause out ho'
much 1t was noticeable that not once our
| ing Mr. Clarkes speech did he mention the
name of President Cleveland and Secretary
| Carlisle.
Mr.. StaIlings was introduced by Mr. John
S. Monrng, a rock-ribbed democrat Wh"'
| though president of a national Dahh' y
| n friend of silver Mr. Mooring stated that
no question now before the people meant SO
much to them as the one now uhder as
! cussion.
The old Democratic Faith.
Mr.. stallinss said he came to preach no
new " no ala that. ne belonsedH d, ~,
school of deInocracys pot ~. new ssia~r'a,s.'l
| kind The democratic platform ever since
the organization Of the party had declared
! for free coinage of silver, and the one
adopted in 1892 contained the same plank.
! We Alabama democrats. every one OF Us.
| told the people that it meant free coinage,
| but since the election a few of them say
| it means something else. Mr.. Stallinss
| begged that the democrats would settle
| this matter among themselves. because
| some democrats went wrong was no rea-
son why the principles of the party Were
/ wrong and no reason why the house of
| democracy should be destroyed. II you
want the free coinage of silver work for
it and you will get it. Mr.. Stailings de-
! clared. and backed up his statement by il
/ Illustrative proof, that bime tallsm meant
! prosperity aui the gold standard ruin for
| the masses. He cited the history of the
| United States for the last hundred years
| as further evidence.
He paid many compliments to Mr.. Clarke.
| who, said. was not far wrong te-ause
he had not been wrong long enough 10 get
very TAR. MIR. Stallings's speech was
punctuated throughout with enthusiastic
applause and when he sat down the audi
ence applauded him vigorously. The
speeches were entertaining ana instructive.
The debate was conducted upon thorough
~ good humored and harmonious lines and
nothing unpleasant whatever occurred.
That the audience was overwhelmingly
with Mr.. Stallings and in favor of the free,
unlimited and independent coinage OF sill
yer was plainly seen. The ratio of free
coinage to aLti-free coinage men seemed to
be about to l. Taking Admission and Cal
houn county as a whole the silver men are
in a majority by at least 10 to /.
Colonel Denson's speech.
Opelika, Ala. August ESPECIAL. Colo
mel W. II. benson. oil Gadsdnn the silver
tongued silver advocate of Alabama, spoke
day, many people from all over the country
being present Colonel benson said that
money originated from the necessities of
society. If there was no organized society.
no effort made to elevate mankind and
develop him into that higher civilization
and enlghtenment suggested by our own
senses. there would be no need of money
Money is one OF the essential and mighty
agents of civilization. Without it advance
ment of the human family and civilization
would have to call a halt social progress
would be enjoined and mankind would COM
mence retrogression.
ITO understand and properly appreciate
the money question, being discussed
throughout this country, a broader view
must be taken of the question than is gem
orally manifested by the speeches that are
being made and the arguments put forth
ty the one side or the other. The money
question interests and affects all society
the whole people-and should be discussed
from the standpoint OF society, and from
that of the whole people.
Our fathers provided in the constitution
Of our country. the fundamental law of the
land, tor the coinage of money and they
conferred such power upon the people that
they could take their gold and silver bull
lion TO the minis and have il coined into
metallic money ut the ratio of IL parts of
silver to l of gold. by this free and unIiui-
tied coinage of gold and silver the volume
of money is beyond the reach and control
of the banks. This is the inestimable bene-
fit of the free and unlimited coinage of both
geld and silver. 1t gives the power to con-
troll the money volume in the country to
the honesty. patriotism and nergies of the
common Ioople and takes il away from
the avarice and despotism of the banks. by
it they are freed from the greed, insolence
and despotism of the gamblers of Wall
street and the pawnbrokers of London.
he IN fha
and use of both m tails without any dis
elimination to either metal in any re-
spect whatever. viii any man have TIE
temerity and effrontery to declare that any
nation On earth has ever demonetizcd silver
or banishod it from the minis because sill
yer money did not do the work and did not
sustain full and adequate parity with gold
at the ratio of 16 TO 1? Will any man
point out when and where the question Of