Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1895-10-25
SENATOR VEST ron srLvrp

'N""Voi Nesti or Missouri, wa
interviewed by New York paper an,
was reported as having abandoned
o'metalism or at least declared IL in
expedient at present or by the United
states alone, aud without the assis.
lance OF European powers. He at once
denied this interview and declared 1,
iaise' But 1t was copied into the gold
standard papers with great glee and
most of them haye never had the fair.
ness to correct it or publish the denial.
IN opening his campaign at Fayette,
Missouri, the other day Senator Vest
replied as to his alleged change Of front
as follows:
The weakness Of any cause is de-
monstrated by resort to falsity and
Misrepresentation. When / returned
from Europe, where 1 had gone for
much needed rest and to regain nv
health, 1 was confronted, upon arriving
In New York, by statement in gold
paper that 1 had changed my position
upon the silver question aud had be-
come a member of the single gold
standard party. That statement was
absolutely and Internationally false.
No syllable had ever come from my
lips which, directly or indirectly,
could have given just cause for any
such charge. So far from having
changed my opinion upon the silver
question, returned TO the United
States more convinced than ever that
the welfare of this country and of the
world at large demands the free and
unlimited coinage Of silver upon
parity with gold. (Applause.)
So far from haying changed my
opinion, l came back convinced that
this great republic would be false to
the principles upon which 1t was
founded unless 1t stood as the champion
Of popular rights; the rights of the
people against financial greed and
monopoly. (Applause.) II 1 had
changed my opinion 1 would have
falsified every declaration Of my public
life. / would have retreated from the
principles OF Thomas Jefferson, and the
founder Of the democratic party, and,
in my judgment, the greatest states
man that ever lived. (Applause.)
III had changed my opinion l could
not stand here today and look, without
a mantle of shame upon my cheeks,
into the faces of people who, thirty'hve
years ago, heard me defend the princi-
pies Of the Democratic party In this
old county of ours. (Applause.)
1 came back to the United States
absolutely satisfied that the only hope
Of biuetallism Ia In this country. IL iS
useless to look to Europe upon an issue
Of this kind at this time. Mr.. Glad
stone correctly represented the senti-
ment OF the English people when he
declared that the world owed that
$40, 100000 and these must
DO paid In gold.
In Europe the mobility and capital
govern the country. The people are
unknown in public affairs, except to
be ground down with taxes AMI made
% support the rich in luxury and anu
snce. II the people rehel they are
.rampled down by armed men; If they !
their murmurs are met with
he roar of cannon aud the rattle OF
These murmers are hushed by
$50, COO 600 armed men 10 Germany
ready for battle, with the
.biHty to put 100000 men in that
.rniy in case of active war; by 1000 600
oldlers In Russia, that great autocracy |
yhere there is no legislation and no
will except that Of the car in France
" 100000 supported ny the people,
where soldier, it has been graphically
aid, is strapped upon the back OF every
,easant; IN England by its law of pri-
its fixed landed estates
glth a people looking for relief to
non rcb, a monarch in name ut
ehind whom is the great gold power
f the world. What chance Is there
or political freedom ia countries ike
l,fa0