Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-07-04

i OBJECT to TINS provision u TIE pldc-
form. The republican party has never
been the party of a single standard
applause. 1t was a blmetallic party in
it's origin and in all its history. In 1855
it declared for ~bimetallism. In 1892 1t
declared for bimetallism. In 1896 it de
clares for the single gold platform. Mr..
President, in 1883 we carried the state
which ! here represent for the republl-
can nominee. We carried II on a bime-
tallic platform. We carried ii with a
majority which was equal, considering
our vote, to that of any state in the
union
Colorado has been q republican state
from the hour OF It's admission. 1t has
kept in the senate republican senators,
In the house republican members. But
I promised not to discuss the silver
question and I will not. except to say
that this platform Is such a distinct de-
parture from everything heretofore held
to by this party that 1t challenges our
republicanism to accept 1t. The plat
form contains some platitudes about an
international conference. 1t provides
that we will maintain the gold standard
III III ObiN 'hNih IN -"
tions of the world shall agree that we
may do otherwise. Mr.. President, this
Is the first great gathering of republi-
cans since the party was organized that
has declared the inability Of the Ameri-
can people TO control their own affairs
And to my horror. this declaration
comes from the great political party of
Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses $. Grant.
DO o believe that the American
people are either too weak or too cow
ardly TO maintain their financial system
commensurate with the greatness OF
the country and to do that of their own
will?
Gentlemen Of the convention, you
will have no bimetallic agreement with
all the great nations Of the world.
1t cannot be obtained. And so this Is
a declaration that the gold standard is
to be put upon this country to be
kept here for all time. Dc you believe
that Great Britain. the principal
commercial nation of the world,
our powerful competitor In
trade and commerce., will ever agree to
open her minis to the free coinage OF
silver or consent that we shall open ours
SO long as. she gets the advantage oi
the low prices and OF the decreasing
values brought about by the adoption
of the gold standard In 1873? But in G
partial degree only we are the grea'
debtor nation Of the world. Great Brit
ain Is the great creditor nation. W.
pay her every year millions and hun
dreds Of millions, as income upon her in
vestments In this country or upon hel
loans. The gold standard, In my judg
ment, lowers prices and decreases val
ues and she buys OF us millions and mil
lions more than she sells. She buy
upon the gold standard which is a low
ering and depreciating standard. How
long do you think 1t will be before sh,
will agree to a system of finance tina
raises the prices Of BUR foreign products
or Of the products of our mines?
But 1t Is my solemn conviction
hal a protective tariff can
not be maintained o
gold standard. The tariff protection
principle Is for the raising of the prize
of human toll, IL is to give our producer
ample compensation for their labors
The gold standard of the country every
where 1t is In force. is for the purpose o
reducing values. Gentlemen of the con
vention, l am going to make this sim
pie objection. as the protective system
Is. ! think. In danger by the proposed
platform. and I will simply call your at
tentIon to II and leave the matter t
your Judgment as to whether this plat
form should be adopted or whether 1
shall be rejected. Under existing condl
tions. we undoubtedly have the gol,
standard. I do not deny that. What yoI
have sought for twenty years Is t
change It into a bimetallic system.
have believed and now believe tina
when the Almighty created these tw
coin metals ne intended that we shout
use them for the purpose for which the
were created. And when he blesse'
this land OF ours with more gold an
more silver than any other country y