The Dickinson press., 1896-06-20
deceive no one. Its attack upon the tariff,
its record of ineiliciency and insinccrity is a
part Of the unfortunate history Of the re.

lne present currency system Is the fruit
of Republican wisdom. 1t has ben ade-
uate to all our past necessities and II un-
corrupted will meet our future require
ments. Our greatest prosperity was at
tained when Republican currency laws were
in full operation. When the Republican par
ty was In power our currency was good: 1t
was made as good as the best on the globe
We made sound money and We also made
an honest protective tariff to go with it.
Sound money and an honest protective tar
if go hand In hand together, not one before
the other.
The very foundation of a sound currency
system is a solvent treasury. II the peo.
pie doubt the integrity of the treasury
they will question the soundncss Of the
currency. Recognizing this fundamental
fact. the Republican party always pro-
vidcd ample revenue for the treasury
When the in last half century Of our
history did the Democratic party advocate
financial policy that was In the best in
tercsts Of the American people? Look
at It's anti-bellum currency record
Consider Its hostility to the currency
rendered necessary by the exigency Of war;
and later. its effort to initiate the currency
backs. Witness Its opposition. to the ef-
forts Of the Republican party to resume
specie payments. But four short years ago
1t declared for return to the old dis
credited state bank currency.
The Republican party has not been un-
friendly to the proper use Of silver It
has always favored and fnvors to-day the
medium But 1t favors that Use under
such provisions and safeguards as shall
not imperil our present national standard.
The policy OF the Republican party Is to
retain both gold and silver as part of
our circulatin: medium. while the policy
OF free coinage Of silver leads to certain
silver mono-metallism. 1t is an immutable
Will not circulate tgethrr. and that the
poorer always drives out the better.
The Republican party, desiring fairly
to secure larger use of silver. pledged
itself In favor Of an international agree.
m"nt Harrison. true to the pledge Of the
party. took the initiatory steps and In
vit"l an international monetary conference
al BRUSSELS at which the subject OF an
international coinage agreement was ably
and prohtably discussed The Democratic
party was also committed to international
bim"tallism. hut when 1t came into pOwer
he work which had been so auspiciOusly
begun by the Republican party was aban.
d"ncd. 1t was so absorbed In its efforts
10 break down the Mckinley law and en-
ply tn" treasury that 1t had no time to
pron"t" international bimetallism.
Those who profess to believe that this
government can Independently Of the
other great commercial powers open Its
inints to the free and Independent coin
age or silver at n ratio Of 10 to 1, when
the til" commercial ratio in all the grent
markets Is ~ TO I. and at the snme time
not drive every dollar Of gold out of circu.
lation. but deceive themselves.
Great and splendid and powerful as
our government is II cannot accomplish
4
II has not til" alrhcmist's subtle art of
transmitting unlimited silver into gold.
nor can 1t. by omnipotent fiat, make
ffty cents worth one hundred cents. As
well und"rtak" by q resolution Of con.
gr"ss I" suspend tn" law of grayitatjon M
a.'"npt to compel an unlimited number
or NIFTY cent dollars to circulate with
one hi'ndr"d cent dollars at II parity with
each other An attempt TO compel un,in,.
itcl dollars of such unequal value TO cir.
c.nlte ut parity is had In morals and
vicious In policy Sound thinkers upon
the great question of the currency know
from tho beginning of the experiment
now miSrrably and certainly It would foil.
The commerce of the country would hp
again thrown upon the sea of uncertainty
ana the spccter OF want would continue to
haunt us for years to come
Fp"n opening our mints to the ipdc.
pendent free coinage of silver, foreign
credits would be withdrawn and domestic
credits would be greatly rnrtailed. More
thah this. there would he Il certain aud
sudden contraction of oar currency hv
the expulsion of SG2OOOO,MN of gold, and
our paper and silver currency would in.
stanfly and srently tlepreciate In purchas.
ing power. lsul one result would follow.
ihus enterprise would be further cm.
Darrass"d, business decentralization would
De Increased and still further and serious
INJURY would be inflicted upon the labor.
erS, thc farmers, the mercllnnts and nil
thos" whose welfare depends upon n
Wholesome commerce.
"A chhhge from the present standard IL
the low silver standard would cut dow,
the recomp"nse OF labor, reduce the value
OF the savings In savings banks and build
Ing and loan associations. salaries ana In
comes would shrink. pensions would Il,
cut In two, the bencficiaries Of life in
surahce would suffer; in short. the intur,
would be- so universal and far-racIinc
that radical change can be contc nplatct
only with th" .r;,v"st apprehension.
SOUND rnrrencM Is one OF the csscntia
Instruments In developing our commerce
II Is the purpose Of the Republican part,
not only to develop our domestic trade
Dut TO extend our commerce into the ut
fermost parts OF the earth. We sohult
not begin our contest for commercial 81,
pr"Inncy by destroying our currency stan
dar'i. All the leading powers with which
we must compete suspended the free coin
age Of silver when the increased produc
tion OF silver forced the commercial
ratio above the coinage latio of gold. Shal
we ignore their ripened experience! Slsl
we attempt what they have found uttcrl,
impossible? Shall 1t be said that our stan
dar1 is below theirs!
You caniot build prosperity upon Il dc
based or hrctuatins currency: as well un
dertakc to build upon the changing sand,
Of tho sea.
A sound currency defrauds no one. L
is good alike in the hands Of the employ,
and employer, the laborcr and the cap
itals. Upon faith In its worth, its sta
biIity, we go forward planning for III,
future. The capitalist erccts his factories
acquires his materials. employs his arti
sans, mechanics and laborers. He Is con
fdent that his margin will not be Sweu
away by fluctuations In the currency. Ri,
laborer knows that the money earned b,
his toll is as honest as his labor and that
1t Is of unI1estioned purchasing power
He likewise knows that 1t requires as much
labor to earn poor dollar as II good one
and he also knows that II poor money !.
abroad, it surely finds its way into his
pocket
TO protest against lowering our stand.
against the Democratic attempt at degrade
our currency to the low level Of Mexico,
China, India and Japan. The present
high standard OF currency. our labor
and our flag will be sacrc'lly protected and
preserved by the Republican party.
There are many and important questions
requiring the enlightened and patriotic
Judgment of the Republican party. A Pan.
American commercial alliance was concciv-
ed by james g. Blaine and the highest
motives of sclf-intercSt requires us ia
accomplish what We had so well begun.
The Monroe doctrine must be firmly up
held, and the powers of the earth made
to respect this great but unwritten law
There can be no further territorial ag
grandizement by foreign governments oil
the western continent
Our devotion to the pensioners Of tho
nation was never more emphatic nor more
necessary than now.
The Republican party believes in the de.
velopment of our navy and merchant
marine until we establish our undisputcd
supremacy upon the high seas.
The struggle for Cuban liberty enlists
the ardent sympathy of the Republican
party-a party which has given to liberty
Its fullest meaning on this continent We
wish to see n new republic, born on Cuban
soil. greet the new century whose dawn Is
already purplng the east.
My friends. the campaign of 1896 Is upon
us. The great questions for debate in the
august forum of the United States are