The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-07-14
CURTIS MAKES ANSWER.

poria only month or two ago on a plat
form which coincided very nearly with
the convictions Of the Republicans of the
state at that time on the money question.
Mr.. Curtis in reply to the demand that
he abandon the silver plank of his own
platform for that Of the St. Louis plank,
| says:
Il was surprised when learned that
the St Louis convention had promised to
| maintain the present standard until there
Is an international agreement, and / be-
ieve it would have been better to have
declared for limited coinage at least until
| such time.
II have not changed my views on the
money Question.
On the sth day Of March, 1896, the Re-
| publicans Of the Fourth Kansas district
| honored me with a third nomination, at
which time the convention declared in
favor of bimetallism. On the date above
| mentioned l informed the convention by
wire that accepted the nomination and
extended my thanks to them for the con-
! hdence they reposed IN me-
81 explained my position to the people
OF the F'urth district in 1sSo-S2-N and 's5,
know where stand and look to the Re-
publicans of this district for my instruc-
tons.
Personally I believe IN honest bimetal-
lsm- In other words, i am for a bimetal-
ism that will guarantee the permanent
use Of both gold and silver and am against
monometalhsm of either metal. because
believe monometallism VIII decrease our
circulation. This is evidenced by the
fact that our circulation has decreased
more than 81 per capita since November,
1898. I am also against irredeemable
paper money and believe that every dollar
issued should be as good as every other
dollar.
THE Republican party has always con-
tended for an interchangeable currency
based upon coin. Under its policy every
dollar has been maintained and redeemed
according to the promise. and 1 believe
the Republicans of Kansas stand today
for the use of gold, silver and paper in
Interchangeable
THE Republican party may well be
proud of its financial policy from 1878 to
1898; it gave us as safe and as sound a |
currency as any people were ever blessed |
of the United States and its stability was |
not confined to the limits of this country |
but in ever part of the civilized world it /
commanded unbounded credit and conf
dence.
During that period the paper currency
was based upon gold and silver. The gold
was back of the greenbacks and SILVER
dollars behind the silver certificates and |
treasury notes. in short we had In round
numbers eight hundred million dollars and
$40 million of interesting bearing bonds
resting on six hundred million dollars of
gold and silver. Now we have eight hun
dred million dollars of paper resting, di-
rectly or indirectly, on one hundred and
two million dollars OF gold and TO this
eight hundred million there should be
added eight hundred and thirty-seven mil
lion of our interest-bearing bonds.
Us there any wonder that our currency
system Is top-heavy," asked Mr.. Curtis.
Another thing" he continued, under
the Republican policy we had no trouble
with the god reserve from January, 1879,
to March. 1893, and Mr. Foser said that in
out the provision of the act of
July. 1880 this department had found II
|
OF the treasury notes of that
net in gold coin when he desired by the
holders. Yet he says. ''the amount 50
I'D to July 81, 1892. was eight
Million, four hundred and forty seven
thousand seven hundred dollars.
During Mr.. Cieveland's first admins
ration, from 1885 to 1889 he tried 20 stop
he purchase and coinage OF silver and !
'oroed the country 10 gold monometallism
no free trade policy. He began his fight
Is soon as he was elected in 1892 and be
ore he was inaugurated. and the gole !
'eserve, which amounted 10 S2l .G0,0o0 =
an. 1, 1883, dropped to less than $1,000 {
% In October, 1888. by reason of his mono t
netallism and free trade policy. 5
He has succeeded in forcing his finan-
ial and free trade policies on the coun- r
~ and what has been the result? There 7
AZ been. sec3 90, 900 OF gold added 70 what i
10 found on the 4th OF March. 1893. 10 say I
othing OF the 100000 IN gold received I.
4 the ordinary course of business, s3s2,- {.
5000 Of interest bearing bonds have been
,sued. and today the gold reserve Is less
han II was March 4, 1893.
IT am surprised that our people per-
leveland's false alarms The truth IS.
9 has never uttered a prophecy which :
vents have not falsified. In 1855 he told !"
BE people that the boarding Of gold which
as already taken place indicates that we -
nail not escaped the usual experience IN =
ich cases. so II the silver coinage be
ontinuet we must reasonably expect that 81
ola and its equivalent viii abandon Tire y
ED of circulation 20 silver alone
The coinage OF silver was continued, ! g
10 gold did not abandon the fed OF
rculadon,' for We had over $4,000. 90 =
the gold reserve June %. 1880; 81. soo.cs0
N. !, 1899; IN fact. up 20 the election IN -
60 the government had more money than -
reeded- -
For fear that some % nv friends have
-got:ea the position our party took e. :
az time I desire 10 cali their attention = =
what the Republican ooavep ;ioa sad
Chicago June r. 1855:
- tt Republican party Is n favor Of the -
= OF both god and silver as money and
a6enns the policy Of the Democratic
81 its efforts 70 denozs-
Ie silver
Mr.. Cleveland. with house and senate :.
MS political faith. has accomplished =
isss and ~ what tie Republicans pre-
ated him from dong II from 49, 70 - -
-
Y do TO. hs,ieve that tse silver Rspub-
ans should ahsrsIoz Their party Il -
$ always been friendly 20 silver. TIE =.
party has failed % k>ep IT'S :.
onaise. OF THIS question. and tire lsz6srs :
he Po7uliSt party aEe FOR srTstcs1zb-e -
per. ard firmly be,seTe y -o1td - -