Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1895-10-05
Associated Press Report.

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Associated Press Report
Montgomery, Oct. 4.-Secretary Her
bert was greeted by an immense and
enthusiastic audience at the theater to-
night. The people at his old home, re-
gardless Of political opinions or differ
ences upon the issues of the day, as
sembled to do him honor, and 1t was
great occasion. The speaker was In ex-
cellent condition and voice and was fire.
quently cheered and applauded, the name
of Cleveland being received with much
enthusiasm whenever mentioned. This
is the secretary's first appearance before
q Montgomery audience since he went
into the cabinet, and he was exceedingly
gratified at his reception.
Secretary Herbert's theme was silver.
He expressed his thanks for the invita-
tion to participate in the debate and for
the reception accorded him.
The question the people are consider
ing, he said, is whether or not the United
States government ought to undertake
the Independent, free and unlimited coin
age of silver. This Is the most impor-
tant question we have had before us since
the great campaign of 1874, when we took
Issue with the carpet-baggers, who were
then dominating our state. Even setting
economical results aside, the question is
important. On the conclusion at which
we arrive may depend the future su-
pT6HdCy OIL tne ue1lOCTdllC party III the
United States for years to come. 1 ap-
proach this question as bimetallist and
let me remind you of what you already
know, that / am also democrat who
has always worked in harness, and l
have never complained that a party col
lar chaffed me or sat uneasily on my
neck. l am bimetallSt because l be-
lieve in all the gold and silver we can cir
culate at par with each other, but l am
not the friend of either of these metals
for any sentimental reason. What our
currency shall consist of is a question
to be decided on business principles.
There Is sentimental objection to gold
INDUCED in by some that 1t is the money
of the rich, but 1t does not seem to me
that this should have any weight, be-
cause, in my opinion, the poor man is en-
titled to as good money as the rich.
There Is sentimental argument in favor
of the silver dollar because 1t is said to
have been the dollar of our fathers" 1t
does not seem to me that this argument
should have any weight because 1t is not
founded on facts. The fair presumption
is that neither your father nor mine nor
any other mans father who died prior
to 1878 ever handled enough silver dol
lars to keep him out of the poor house.
The secretary then plunged into dis
cussion of the silver question and of the
causes of the recent panic and hard
times, and in conclusion said:
Il know of no more effective way of
Gripping the south and its industries
than for our people to clamor for the
payment of debts already contracted,
and hereafter to be contracted, in depre-
ciating silver dollars. Fortunately for
this country the effects of the panic of
1893 ar rapidly passing away; money
has begun to flow again in its accus-
TONED channels; wheat has risen In
prices, cotton has risen in price; iron has
risen In price; industries are reopenine
aV0rVWhprR. Ci, =
all this comes from the fact that the
capitalists of this country who are
shrewd, farseeing and who watch with
keen eyes the doings of every political
convention, nave come to the conclusion
that the free silver sentiment in the
United States is not strong enough and
not powerful enough to force this co,In
try to silver basis. They understand
that there Is no free silver sentiment in
the east none in New England: none in
New York; none in Maryland. New Ter
sey or Pennsylvania. They see that re-
publicans and democrats in the state of
Ohio have pronounced against free sill
yer; that the republicans in the state of
kentucky have pronounced against free
silver; that only parts of the democrats
in the other states of the west and south
are for free silver, and they are confident
as | am, that the people of the United
states what else may happen, will in
1896 pronounce for the continuance of
sound money, for the parity with gold of
every dollar of silver and of paper now
ahoat or to be fioated in the United
States
II do not appeal to any low or selfish
motives In you, gentlemen, when / urge
you to place yourselves ON the winning
side of this question: but 1 do urge ,,non
you as democrats, whatever may be vonr
individual opinions as to the advisabilitv
of enacting free silver law, to range
yourselves with the controlling sentiment
of the people of the United States, which
must and will dominate the next admin
istration Of our government. Let us do
what we can to have this administration
democratic. Alabama is a Democratic
state, deeply interested in the success of
party, what else 1t has failed to do, has
recently in congress passed a law to leave
the people of the United States free to
no 90 nxyr oil