Birmingham age-herald., 1895-05-24
THAT BANNER IS RAISED And on It Is the Legend Sound
 Money" SOLID MEN OF SOLID SOUTH
Gather Around It and Southern Statesman
 Comments It to the Country.
MIR. cARLIsLE,s MAGNIFICENT SPEECH.
Dissects the Vexed Question in All of Its Complex Details in Simple and Stately Phrase -Searchlight of Truth
 Flashed Upon Error

Memphis, May 23.-Under banner with the inscription, Sound Currency and Better Banking Facilities" between TOO and 800 representative men of the southern states assembled at the Au- ditorium this afternoon to express their opposition to the doctrine of the free and unlimited coinage of silver, and to declare in favor of the continuance Of the present monetary conditions.
 It was essentially a gathering of ''solld men, bankers. merchants farmers, manufacturers, storekeepers and mem- bers of professions, allied with indus trial interests. It is especially com mented upon that politicians are con spcuous by their absence.
 The morning trains brought several hundred delegates to the city, and Sec retary Hotter of the cotton exchange was kept busily employed examining the credentials and issuing blue and gold badges, without which admission to the main floor of the Auditorium was barred.
 At 8 o'clock the committee represent ing the local organizations waited upon Secretary Carlisle, who had arrived some hours earlier and had remained in his car and extended him hearty welcome to the city.
 MT. Carlisle was taken to the Gayoso hotel where, from 10 to l. he received the delegates, who were introduced to him individually by Congressman Patterson of Tennessee and Catchings of Missis sppi. He was cordially greeted, and as many visitors as the line passed along found opportunity to say word indica- tive of their sentiments "Tell MT. Cleve- land we are all with him down here, said a tall, long Texan. while New Or leans banker chimed in, Don't be afraid, MT. Secretary, that the south will go back on sound money. We are all with you" Similar expressions were numer- ous, and they certainly indicated an ex- pression of the sentiments manifested.
 The silver men among the democrats will caucus after the permanent organi- zation to determine on plan of action to claim representative on the resolu- tions committee.
 In order to accommodate the belated delegates and to enable the state bankers to conclude their annual meeting the proposed morning session was dispensed with, and 1t was not until o'clock that the visitors assembled in the auditorium which had been decorated with stars and stripes, the coats of arms of various southern states and an abundance of tri-colored bunting
 The appearance on the platform of Sec retary Carlisle, escorted by the execu- tive committee, was the signal for the first enthusiasm of the day, the dele gates as well as the thousand or more of spectators in the gallery applauding loud and long. Shortly after o'clock the convention was called to order by w J. Crawford of the cotton exchange, who urged his hearers to be governed in their action by wise, patriotic and conservative counsel
 Congressman Catchings of Mississippi was made chairman of the convention on motion of Congressman Clarke of Ala bama, who is the Alabama member of the resolutions committee.
 After permainent organization Sec retary Carlisle was introduced and spoke.
 MT. President and Gentlemen of the Con-
 vention
 fortune in having the opportunity to ap- pear before this large assemblage of southern business men, and l congratu- late the people of the south upon their good fortune in being able to send here so many real representatives of their great industrial and commercial inter- ests. It has frequently been my privilege to address commercial and financial or ganizations in other parts Of the country but nowhere have met greater number of earnest and intelligent gentlemen than I see before me today. am sure that nothing less than a full appreciation of the vast importance of the questions to be considered could have secured the at-
 
 business men upon this occasion, and the fact that they have voluntarily aban- doned their usual avocations to partici- pate in the proceedings of this convention encourages me to believe that their ef- forts in behalf of a sound financial policy will not cease when it has adjourned.
 MT. President, I do not think the inn portance of the questions you are called to consider can be overestimated, or that the gravity of the situation can be over stated. The proposition to revolutionize our monetary system and thus destroy the credit of the government and the peo- pie at home and abroad, violate the obli- gations of all contracts, unsettle all ex- changeable values, reduce the wages of labor, expel capital from our country and seriously obstruct the trade of our people among themselves and with the peoples of other countries, is one which challenges the intelligence, patriotism and commercial honor of every man to whom it is addressed. No matter what may be the real purposes and motives of those who make the proposition to le- galize the free and unlimited coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to 1. these are the consequences involved in their scheme; and in my opinion, they cannot be avoided if it should be adopted. Tn no part of the country will the conse- quences of such a policy prove more in