The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-05-24
THE QUESTION OF MONEY
Eight Hundred Representative Men
Meet to Discuss the Subject.
Sound Currency and Better Banking
Facilities Their Motto" The Pol
itician is Conspicuous by His
Absence. Dstinctively a
Southern Body.
BY Southern Associated Press.


tween seven and eight hundred rep.
resentative men of the Southern States
assembled at the auditorium this alter.
noon to express their opposition to tue
doctrine of the free and unlimited
coinage of silver and to declare in
favor of tue continuance OF present
monetary conditions.
1t WAS essentially gathering of
'solid men," bankers and merchants.
farmers end manufacturers, store keep
ers and members of professional allied
with industrial Interests. 1t was espe
clally com mented upon that the politi.
ciane were conspicuous by their ab.
sence.
The delegates began TO assemble at
the auditorium shortly after O'Clock.
There was few men of national reputa
ton in the columns that marched I'D
tho aisles with military tread, but those
that were recognized came in for
hearty greeting
General Thomas G. Catchings, OF
Mississippi, who hae parted with his
flowing beard since the Adjournment
OF Congress, was unrecogniZed at first,
but when the Assem- blage knew him 1t
made the rafters ring. Othor who
came III for true Southern greeting
as they appeared at The head of their
State delegations were congressman
Kyle, OF Mississippi; Clarke, of Ain.
bama; Patterson, OF Tennessee; Lieut.
Gov. Alverd, Of Kentucky, and Lieut.
Gov. Stannnrd, OF Mississippi.
When Chairman Crawford, of the
local committee OF fifteen, assumed the
gavel at 2 o'clock, there were six hun
dred nnd twenty delegates on the floor,
and fifteen hundred spectators OF both
sexes in the galleries. The few words
OF welcome III behalf of the Bluff City
were prettily and quickly spoken and
permanent organization was then in
order.
The Alabama Congressman, Mr..
Clarke, WAS recognized for the purpose
of presenting the name of the little
giant from Mississippi as permanent
chairman, but he availed himself OF n
call to the platform to lead of the ora
torlcal fireworks with speech that
aroused all the energetic enthusiasm of
his audience.
1--WE are not forlorn band making
q desperate and hopeless fight" said
MIR. Clarke, "but we are to give form
and organization and voice to deep
rooted and widely spread public opin.
lop, that ID growing In volume and
which IS destined to mould the financial
policy of this country.
I'VE have nothing to fear in the fight
that has been forced upon us. The
conservatism of the American people
Will not allow its monetary systems to
be dragged down to the debus ed level
OF Mexico and China. The roar OF the
free silverites 10 as the roar of fire.
Upon chnf1 that soon burns itself out
and leaves but ashes and smoke, 1t is
but the echo OF the fiat moneyites.
Standing here as g Southern man.
say that have firm confidence in the
sound sense and integrity Of that sec
tlon OF the country III the cotton mon
and the industry that has made Mem
phls one OF the most important cotton
markets in the world.
we are not the blind followers or
tools OF any man or set of men, but We
are led by man who has, like no other
man since jackson, the confidence of
the american people. (Prolonged ap
pleuse.) Why? Because the American
people know that their President is
honest (cheerO; that the possesses
mental aud moral courage (more
cheefs); that he is not ouly man, but
whole man; that he has wisdom that
Nv ooioduJ oHu QAFken,
Shouts and stamping followed the
speakers retirement from the platform.
There was moro Of tue same kind when
the motion was put and Gen. CatchinQs
deslared selected IS permanent chair.
maD.
On being escorted to the chair he
gracefully acknowledged the honor and
contiuued:
"No convention has ever assembled
IN this regiou Tor higher or nobler
purpose. Not man has come here to
advance any personal end or to accom-.
plish any selfish purpose. We come
here believing that the fres and nm.
limited coinage of silver would be- dis
appointing to its advocates and disas.
trons to all public and private lnteraats
We are assembled for the purpose of
giving this an open church tn onr
iaiti. All kinds of charges hava been
made against us. We have been
charged witt seeking the ipterea. Of
the money lenders. Let ms give lbe lie
TO that. We have been accused of ho.
ing in league with Wall street. Let ne
give the lie to that.
Let ns go home determined to
stand resolutely for sound mnnav
though the world, the hesh and t5s
devil he against us. [oheersl. Onr
views are stnctitied by, the approval of
all the Intelligent and intelligence Of