Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-29


business lie OF Philadelphia.
The Academy. while not crowded. was
wei filed The character OF the audience
was worthy 81 any speaker. being much
superior to the usual crowd that attends
political mass-mccting. An intelligent
attention was given 10 the various speak.
era, and the exposition OF the financial
question was listened 20 with the deepest
/ interest by the audience.
George r. Roberts. pr sidcnt Of the
/ Pennsylvania Railroad Company. was
made chairman Of the meeting.
RESOLUTION.
The meeting adopted. with a long pre-
amble. tho following resolution.
Resolved That a sound-money league
be organized In the city OF Philadelphia
opmcnt Of m intelligent public opinion
on the question Of the currency, and that
al citizens be invited 10 become members
OF the league upon the basis Of the prin-
'iples herein set forth"
After me adoption 4 the resolution
and the election OF onic,|5 for the league
the meeting adjourned
Senator Edmonds spoke for nearly an
hour
TRENHOLMs SPEECH
Mr. Trenholm was the next speaker.
His address was an able and compre-
hensivc exposition Of the financial cOndl-
lions existing to-day. lie said:
There Is no need 10 exaegerate the
necessity that Is upon u.s. We are here
tonight because we recognize the gravity
OF the situation. and appreciate the Inn
p0rtance OF doing all we can towards
bringing about a right solution Of the
frcc-silvcr-colnage system.
1T is serious thing when men differ
as 10 The ideas that undcrlie their religi-
Gus and moral convictions. their liberties,
or their material welfare. All the great
conflicts which by their results have most
profoundly Influenced the destiny Of our
race have been conflicts as 20 such ideas.
Not 10 go further back ia history we
have had in this country great conflicts
between adherents to opposing ideas Our
Revolution came OF the contention be-
tween the mouarchical and the republican
idea. Nothing but the civil war put an
end 20 the long conflict between the slave
~ idea and the abolition idea.
To-day two Fundamental ideas are
struggling for supremacy ia controlling
the future destines Of our Industrial and
commercial interests.
For breyity's sake let ne call them the
gold idea and the silver idea. These two
ideas are declared by their respective adj
vOcates 20 be irreconcilable with each
other. hence. If one is true. the other
must be false: whoever adopts the one
must discard the other.
TINE TO MAKE CHOICE.
"Thc time is at hand when every citi-
zen of this country should form his
judgment in the liEht Of his own reason,
and under the sanction Of his own con-
science. as 20 which is right ana which
Is wrong.
"No oue can afford 10 disregard this
duty. because very vote will tell. and on
q question Ike this he who votes against
his conviction votes against his country.
These two ideas are contending each
for exclusive application 70 the questions
OF right. Of justice. Of contractual obliga-
lions. and OF public policy, which are
ipeXtricably bound up with our monetary
system.
"Thc decision as to which OF these two
ideas Is the true one must be reached
by reasoning. predicated upon facts, and
guided by logic: the decision as 10 which
shall be adopted SITS with the people.
the people adopt that which is true, all
will be well, n they adopt that which -
false. disaster and ruin viii cover the
whole face OF our land"
Mr Trenholm had no hesitation In de-
claring his belief that n the gold idea,
planted TN 1875 had been left in sole pos
session II the soil Of our national finances
We should to-day have been far more pros
porous and far more wealthy than we
are
He described the growth and spread Of
the silver idea until IL has become so
prevalent so strong. that It threatens to
overruu the whole country.
SILVER DANGER.
1--WE who believe it to be wrong I'm prin-
ciple and disastrous in application now
perceive that 10 must either be eradi-
Gated or we must abandon to its destruc-
tive asCeudency all our property all our
means of livelihood. and all our pride in
our country's place among the foremost
nations OF the earth.
"Wln you abandon these? Can you, as
citizens Of Philadelphia. remain passive
spectators of a conflict upon the issue or
which depends so much that you value
most dearly?
ITO your consideration the means
whereby this contest may be decided as
We think nay. as we know, IL should be
decided.
First. we recognize that the ranks OF
the silver party contain many Of our
feMow-cltizens who are just as good
Americans as we are; Just as devoted to
principle: Just as firm in maintaining
what they believe TO be right To these
we must address arguments in favor OF
our views. We must appeal from their
prcipdccs 10 their reason; we must sub
stituto for their short-sighted conceptions
Of personal and local interests broader
Of natural law. In one word,
we must carry on the campaign Of en-
lightenment . those communities in
which false ideas prevail"