The herald., 1895-05-29
TIE FIRST GUN IN THE EAST
Sound Money Campaign Opened
in Philadelphia
EDMUNDS TO THE FRONT
The Ex-senator Makes Very Mastery
Argument
Action or Non-Action Of the Last Congress
Referred to---Words Of Thomas
Jefferson Quoted
EDMUNDS TO THE FRONT
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press special wire.
PHILADELPHIA. May 2s.-The open
ing gun of the sound money campaign IN
the east was fired tonight at an ethusi-
astic public meeting in the Academy of
music. The affair was under tho mana
gemnet of group of the better known
financial and business men of the
country.
George B. Roberts. president of the
Pennsylvania Railroad company. was
chairman. The principal speakers of the
evening were ex-United States Senator
George f. Edmunds. ex Comptroller of
the Currnecy William l.. Trenholm. Con-
gresham Michael ID. Harter OF Ohio, ex-
Minister to Russia Charles Emery Smith
and James Wharton.
In the beginning Mr.. Edmunds said the
sound money question must be decided
by political action, not party action. but
that kind OF action the Romans used to
speak of when no man was for party put
all for state.
Quoting Thomas Jefferson's words,
"the whole art of government consists in
the art Of being honest" he said: THAT
phrase is worthy to be written in letters
of gold and placed in front of every
public edifce in every hamlet on the con-
tnent. In a careful report prepared for
the benefit OF the First congress, Jefferson
said that the question of the difference
between the value OF gold ana silver as
money was purely commercial question;
it did not depend on legislation or the
fancy tastes of man, but on commerce.
which regulates the price of commodi-
tes."'
The speaker then discussed the varia-
tion IN value of two metals.
IF any faith can be put in human ex-
perience, he said, "lt ought TO teach us
hot xpn Ia Oiyan nj
silver worth any more when it is printed
at the mint with the stamp OF the United
States than it was before.
when the act of 1878 was passed to
stop silver coinage. all the principal
countries of Europe were coming to have
a single standard-gold.
IF tho last congress had passed on
March Sd. the last day of its session,
what is now vociterously demanded by
the free coinage people, every owner and
producer of silver bullion would take his
ounce of silver TO the mint, worth 63. 40
cents. and get S1.29 80 1000, and having
got more than two silver dollars for his
ounce of silver, he would come to the
workingmen to whom he owes for labor
and say: If | bought it IN metal, it
would have taken ten pounds. but have
taken benefit of the United States officer
and had it stamped, and you must take
five pounds of it,
EA-COntrOiier lIe1uOllH uuT llIR HIS re-
marks declared it would be found that
the issue now confronting us has become
serious only because the two political par
ties have at one time or another and on
one plea and another, courted the sup
port of those who entertained. or affected
to entertain. the idea that the coinage of
silver dollars is so essential to the welfare
and happiness of the people of the
United States that all other political
questions should be subordinated to 1t.
Congressman Harter followed Mr.. Tren-
holm. Mr.. Harter argued that an abund-
ance of money did not always prevent
commercial and business depression. On
the contrary. he argued, some of our
financial panics had come at time
when money was abundant Charles
Emery Smith spoke for the working
mans interests.