The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-25

of the civilized world Gold is that dol
lar now; silver may be also, If kept on
parity with gold. But this can only be
done by international agreement What l
mean by sound dollar is one that the
farmer the mechanic and the laboring
man can use with a purchasing power
of 100 cents, and buy as much with 1t
as any other dollar. What l mean by
sound dollar is one that it's holder may
lay away to buy home. save for rainy
day, or provide for himself in old age,
with absolute certainty that it win be
as good as any other dollar when he
wants to use it. Gold is that dollar, sill
yer cannot be, unless, by international
agreement, 1t is made equivalent to a
gold dollar.
Il am for a sound dollar for the poor
man, as well as for the rich man. | shall
never consent to a monetary system which
will place it in the power of the rich man
to hoard his gold and pay his poor cred
itor in deprecated dollar.
ut may be said that my views have
undergone a change. To the superficial
observer and reader this may appear to
be the case, but. in fact, my position while
in congress was one of doubt as to the
policy of independent free coinage and 1t
was so regarded. l never attended and
was never invited TO attend free coin
age or anti-free coinage conference"
During my congressional service l was
on important committees where my duties
were onerous and engrossing, and not con-
nected with the currency question, and 1
had very little time to maturely consider
the silver problem. Lately | have given
the subject as careful study as possible,
reading the argument and literature on
both sides with an earnest desire to reach
correct conclusion and the opinions
now express are the result of deliberate
examination. If, however, l had been
warm and avowed Independent free coin
age advocate, I should not hesitate TO
give utterance to my political views.
trust that the day will never come when
l will be found adhering to any position
which / believe to be erroneous, for the
sake of consistency or continuing in
course which 1 am convinced is wrong
because too cowardly to face the charge
of inconsistency. IAN obstinate consist
encv is the hobgoblin of little minds,
adored by little statesmen and philoso-
piers and divines."
Consistency would have kept Paul In
the role of a disbeliever. Consistency
would have kept Washington loyal to the
king. Consistency would have kept the
hundreds of thousands in republican
ranks whoehave come over to democracy
| and brought victory for tariff reform, local
! self government, and democratic princi-
pies No, if I had been ever so strong a
supporter of Independent free coinage
would now, after being satisfied, by care
wrong track; admit my error uor II IS
human to err and retrace my steps, ana
seek TO undo any injury may have done
! in misleading the people.
"WiH the independent free silver move
ment succeed? 1 am not prophet but
predict that it will meet the fate of green
/ backism, which a few years since was,
I for a time, apparently so formidable
"1he agriculturists of this country VIII
never consent to lose a foreign market
for their surplus products, nor receive IN
the home market deprecated silver dol
lar. simply to enrich silver mine owners,
/ or holders of silver mine stock; they will
never consent to unsettle values and make
them dependent upon the price Of silver;
they will never consent to drive all gold
out OF circulation and substitute silver
dollars without the purchasing power ~
gold: they will never coneent 10 ADOPT
a monetary system which will stop I'M
portaiions. and. consequently, deprive the
Government Of rs tariff revenues. and
thereby force direct TAXATION upon land
10 meet the obligations and expenses Of the
+. government
1.-THE wage Garner VIII never agree that
this government shall embark upon a
( scheme which win double the prices of all
they have 20 buy without increasing their
wages IA a corresponding ratio. Ihey