The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1895-08-03
GOV. STONES SPEECH.
Stirring Appeal to Missouri Demo-
crats to Stand Firm.

Stirring Appeal to Missouri Demo-
orats to Stand Firm.
the single Gold Standard Was FoIstsd
Upon the Country-The Ad-
ministration Criticised.
At the late Sedalia meeting of
free coinage editors Gov.
Stone made a strong plea for BIZ
The governor said that he
would not on this occasion discuss the
philosophical or economic phases of the
question, IS he presumed that
the members of this convention Of sill
YER editors already had settled convic-
tions on the subject of silver coinage.
He thought they knew what they
wanted, and that they had me to Sc
cure greater cooperation in promoting
the cause they ad vocated. In the
course Of his remarks the goverdor
said:
III "a oASCuooiOh Va Viz 4oCossoA
Of silver coinage there are some things
that ought to be conceded, because
they cannot be truthfully or honestly
disputed. OF these things / may note
the following:
81. That gold and silver are both
in the constitution a the
money metals Of the country.
'.2. That from the adoption of our
first national coinage laws In 17s2
down to 1873 the silver dollar was, by
the express terms of the law, made the
unit Of value.
"3. That during the first century Of
our national life both metals had free
entry to the mints of the United
States, but the silver dollar remained
the legal unit of value.
~. That the so-called demonetiza-
ton clause in the act Of 1873, II not
surreptitiously inserted and passed,
vas passed without the knowledge OF
q large majority Of the senators and
Representatives then in congress or Of
the president of the United States; and
also without the question having been
in any degree discussed before and
passed upon by the people.
mo fair or truthful man, at all fsmil-
lar with our financial history, can dis
pute these propositions Another
thing: In all fairness It ought to be
admitted, for It Is true, that from the
discovery of the fact of demonetiza-
ton, hid a. . secret in the act Of 1879,
UP to 1885, the democratic party was
universally regarded "a the uncompro-
missing opponent of silver demonetixa-
ton and favored restoring Il TO its for
mer rights In the mintage of the coun.
try. The democratic party was the
champion Of actual, practical bimetal-
lism, and hence Of the Immediate res
toration Of silver coinage. On the
other hand. the republican party stood
forth a. the opponent of the democyats
an this question. From the days Of
Jefferson to the days Of Cleveland thu
democratic party, Is political organ
ization, advocated the free coinage OF
both gold and silver, upon equa'
terms, and upon such ratio - congress
might, from time to time, dstsrmipe,
with Q view to keeping bath metsls II
circulation at . parity.
I'm 1855, some three months after hi
election, Mr.. Cleveland, in . letter e
Gen. Warner and others, gave MOTTO,
to congress and the country that b,
was not in sympathy with his part,
on the silver question. Then bsgal
the Arst serious difference between
democrats On the subject Of alive
coinage. From that day forth Mr..
Cleveland. aided by New York sns
New England hnanciers. has sought {,
lead the party away from it, aAoiea'
policy upon this question, and to bring
Il into line with the financial ideas I'D
vocated, first by the old federal party
then by the wings and finally by til,
republicans This IL the simple trutl
of history, and It ought not to b de
MED. This remarkable exploit Of thu
president has forced . most unfortu
nate controversy upon democrats with
In eur own rsnka
Because at Mr.. ClevelaRd's hostility
to silver coinage ! openly and publicl,
opposed his nomination in 1885,. i
March OF that year, in . speech ! de
liyered ct Jefferson City, I declared N,
opposition TO his nomination on %
coNnt Of his financial views, and 81
pressed . fesr that II he should b
nominated and elected he would d
vide his party from n ocean to th,
other. Nonstheless, after his nomina
ton. Iyielded my OWE views and sup
ported him with the utmost loyalt
md vigor. We were all told that tn
tariff was the question of superior ant
immediate Importance, and that W,
must let the money question alone TO
the present. And 30 We c Fdingl
subordipated our views N the none,
question, ~repressed our own spprehen
sions, trusted our leaders, fell int
line. fought . great battle and won
splendid victory,
"But hope has turned to ashes ON on
lips. Tariff legislation even has prove
. disappointment Hardly had on
shouts Of victory died away before tn
air was heavy with whispers of col
| ssryatism.' The tariff was relegate
to the rear
The Sherman Act.
Congress was convened In speci,
session aud commanded to enact Q 10,
Internationally repeating the She
man act, which. undesirsbls q II wa
was the only statute then In existent
authorizing the coinage Of silver DC
lar. The friends Of silver coinage. I
bimetallism. and the two things .,
necessarily synonomous, were willip
to repesl the Sherman law, for the
had voted against It, provided Il
Bland act, or something better, or /,
good, could be enacted in its stea.
They were unwilling to wipe evel
vestige of silver legislation from Il
statutes. But Mr.. Cleveland aud N
Sherman. who acted in constant ar
close cooperation, would have not
Ing short Of unconditional repeal, al
they were snccessful
During that struggle We were to-
that M. Cleveland was really In few
of bimetsllism, and that IS soon as Il
obnoxious Sherman law was out OF Il
way he would inauRurate o ananct
policy favorable to silver legislatic
and . better currency system. tn
hope, however, was soon blasted by ]
veto of the bill to coin the silv
ssigniorage, and by announcing t
purpose Of the government to abb
iutsly wave It's option to pay Its c,
reucy obligations IN sithsF e9in. IT
new policy made every obligation
the United States payable In gold
the option of the holder, although VI
sums were by the terms of the law q
the obligations themselves payable
either coin, stthe option OF the &C