The herald., 1895-05-24
Grand Demonstration Held in
the City of Me mphis
SECRETARY CARLISLE TALKS
Platform Setting Forth the Issues
Adopted
The Meeting Held Under the Auspices Of the
Associated Mercantile Bodies-fu11
Text Of Carlisle's Speech
Assncia,ed press speclal wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. May 23.-The sound
money convention which met here today
and adjourned sine die after two sessions
was magnificent demonstration in sup
port of the financial policy of the admin
istration. Six hundred delegates, repre-
sent:ng nearly every southern state, made
up the gathering, which listened to an
argument by John G. Carlisle against the
free coinage of silver at the ratio OF 16
to 1. heard speeches by Congressman Pat
terson OF Tennessee and Catchings Of
Mississippi and other sound money lead
ers OF the south, and adopted platform
setting forth their views upon the ques-
tion now uppermost in the public mind.
The absence of political reference in the
addresses of speakers as noticeable. But
once or twice during the afternoon or
evening was the name OF President Cleve-
land mentioned. but on these occasions
the crowd went wild with enthusiasm.
Upwards OF 5000 people were present at
the auditorium at 2:15 o'clock when
Chairman w. J. Crawford called the con-
vention to order. While the gathering
was effecting an organization and getting
down to business the crowd gradually
filled the vacant seats. and by the time
Secretary Carlisle began his address the
large hall was comfortably filled. Mr..
Crawford, in his capacity as chairman OF
the committee of fifteen appointed by the
associated mercantile bodies of Memphis,
under whose auspices the convention 10
held, called the meeting to order.
Richard H. Clark of Alabama presented
the name of Congressman Catchings for
permanent chairman in neat and highly
complimentary speech.
The selection of Mr.. Catchings was
vrrxtna Mt
the congressman accepted the honor in y
graceful speech.
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of the
Conventional congratulate myself upon
my good fortune to have the opportunity
to appear before this large assemblage OF
southern business men. and con gratu-
late the people OF the south upon their
good fortune in being able to send here
so many real representatives OF their
great industrial interests.
The proposition to revolutioni0e our
monetary system and thus destroy the
credit of the government and the people
at hon6 and abroad, Violate the obliga-
tions of all contracts, unsettle all ex-
changeable values. reduce the wages OF
lapor, expel capital from our country and
seriously obstruct the trade of our peopls
among themselves and with the peoples
OF other countries. is one which chalien-
ges the intelligence. the patriotism and
commercial honor of every man to whom
1T is addressed. No matter what may be
the real purpose and motives of those
who make the proposition to legalize the
free and unlimited coinage of silver at
the ratio of 16 to /. these are the conse-
quences involved in their scheme. and in
my opinion they cannot be avoided if il
should be adopted. In no part OF the
country will the consequences of such
policy prove more injurious to the ma
terial interests of the people than in the
undeveloped and progressive south.
In the international trade, whether