The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-10-02
SENATOR GRAY
AND GOLD
Talks 10 a Big Gathering al The
Auditorium Last Night.
REALIZES DANCER 19 9sss silver
Would Decrease Wages, He Says,
And Would Lead to Vari-
Gus Injuries 10 Our
Commerce.

United States Senator George Gray in
the Auditorium last night spoke on the
| money question under the auspices Of the
Sound Money League of Delaware. John
S. Rossel was president and j. Parke Pos
ties, chairman, who introduced Mr.. Gray.
At first the Senator seemed to be suffering
from the effects of his recent illness, but
as he continued his speech grew eloquent
He announced his intention of supporting
tho State ticket.
Then touching on the real issue he said
ut behooves those who have made this
new departure, wh) have created a new
Democratic party and entered into strange
and abhOrrent alliances, to make apparent
to their old associates. who still adhere to
their ancient faith. the wisdom of their
course
"We are here tonight as Democrats, to
uphold the time honored principles of the
| great party of which most of us arc mem
bers. We are here as Delaware Demo-
Gratis, to ratify and support the nomina-
tions of our party for State and county
officers, to the end that Democratic
| Governor and Democratic Legislature,
Sheriff and Levy Court, may continue
that wise, just and economical admins
tration of public affairs, that for more
than tho period of q generation We have in
this State enjoyed.
"No honester man, no better and purcr
citizen than Ebe W. Tunnel was ever
| presented for the suffrages of tho voters
| of any state.
For myself, I stand upon the platform
| of the State Democracy, declared at Dovor
| on August 10, and shall support the nom.
| nations then made for State officers Gov
ernor and Representative i'll Congress,
| 'But we are also here my friends, for
another purpose. A purpose higher ana
broader in its scope than the success or
| defeat Of candidates Our presence here
tonight means our protest, our solemn
and emphatic protest, against the per-
| version of Democratic doctrine contained
| in the platform lately adopted at Chicago,
and the prostitution of the organization
| of the Democratic party to its promulga-
tion and support.
1T is this that has stirred the consci.
.ences and challenged tho thought and in.
tclligence OF the American people, as
they have never been stirred or challenged
before during this generation. II this be
Democracy then we must read backwards
the book of our Democratic faith, unsay
tho doctrines and reverse the teachings Of
hundred years of glorious history, and
turn with their faces to the wall the pic
lures Of Jefferson and Gallatin, OF Jack
son and Marcy, of Tilden and Lamar, OF
Cleveland and Bayard Nay, more, we
must give the lie to what the Delaware
Democracy in its platforms has solomnly
and repeatedly said. ~
The senator then quoted from the Dcla
ware Democratic platforms Of l9g, 1894
and 1896 all declaring for the maintc-
puncc Of honest money, and continued as
follows:
$50 it Is not a question of bolting, as is
SO vuhClnently charged, but of standing
fast in the ancient ways and of lnaintun-
ing the ott-proclaimci tcncts of our party
faith. But however that may be, p:inci-
pies make parties, and they cannot be
jugglea with or ignored. We cannot
close our eyes to tho ruth OF current his
tory. The propaganda of the silver mining
interest, represented by the Silver League,
capturing easily the newly-formcd Popu-
list party, set to work to compass the sub
joCtion of the Democratic party to the &C.
complishment Of its selfish ends. 1t had
shrcwd and ablo managers and ample
pccuniary resources
How well it accomplished that work
the Chicago platform, Its candidates and
the consequent Generalization In the
ranks of tho Democratic party all too
plainly declare.
He then emphasized the unsoundness
Of the Chicago financial plank and said
the chief question in the present campaign
was the currency question. Continuing
he said:-
III may De tnat MI. bfydn 10 iiSHt anu
that am wrong 1t may be that free and
Independent coinage OF silver at Ii to l
will cure all the evils and relieve all the |
haruships real and imaginary, with which |
the body polite Is afflicted. II so, we arc |
Interested to know it. II 1t be true, it Is |
our duty to help bring 1t about, we will |
share in tho happiness and Well-belng TO !,
be produced. and no one eau prevent our
participation in the blessing Of the silver
millennium.
"But, don't you think, when SO great
change Ia to be wrought in the worlds
standard Of value out OF which we are
promised so much good is to come to the |
people Of this country, we ought not to bc
left in the dark us to how this great benefit
Is to reach all classes and not be confined
to IL small number in whose interests the
movement was first started We ought
not to bo asked to take anything even ap'
preaching leap In the dark.
He added that the burden of PROOF rest
ed upon the Bryan mon to show how
these benefits should come. Bryan's Mad.
ison Square Garden speech was quoted
and the falsty of tho statements shown.
He condemned tho appeal to class legis
latiOn, and pointed out some manifest
DISCREPANCIES in the free coinage argu-
mcnt. The impossibility of legislative
action raising the real value Of silver to
agree with the currency value was fully
discussed. In closing, he said
Here is u proposition to raise by lcats.
laton the price of the neccssnrles Of life
to those whose daily bread is their daily
toll in the interest OF those who, ~ cnpi.
tnlists or otherwise produce them. What
arc the wages that reward the labor Of tho
man who works with hand or brain or
with both but so much Of food, of shelter
of Clothes Of comfort which those wages
will buy. His wages are nothing until
translated Into these things. Is it not
plain beyond the power of misunderstood.
ing that if they raise thn price of these
things you necessarily reduce the wages
that must buy thcmf"
Take the question home with you and
decide it Us your good sense and informed
conscience shall dictate.