The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-08-15

the protection that cOnservatively adj
ministered for the public good and not
for private enrichment, protested against
this mOnstrous extOrtiOn for individual
and corporate emolument. Opposition to
the Mckinley law was the dominant is
sue of the campaign and the measure
was condemned by an overwhelming ma
jority of the American people.
But, Mr.. Chairman, / desire to say
that although the tarin was made the
issue of 1892, there were thousands Of
democrats who then believed that re-
form in our monetary system was of far
greater Importance than reform in our
revenue policy. | was among those who
so believed. Those holding that belief
did not in any degree underestimate il,
and its Importance was fully appreciated.
But they believe, nevertheless. that the
control of our financial affairs by a mer-
cenary combination of Wall street bank
ers, dominated by foreign influences, was
more perilous to the national safety and
more far-reaching in it's effects on the
national prosperity than all the tariffs
that the miserly hand of gluttonous greed
could write.
However we acquesced in the de-
the issues as made and as one man rail-
lied to see whether it should obsequiously
abandon the principles of true democracy,
and become plant agent to advance the
mercenary ends of an insolvent plutoc-
racy. The people won greater victory.
The fun Significance of their triumph
can not be estimated at glance Sup
pose they had lost; what then" 5 Suppose
the Chicago convention had 70 low ed the
servile example of the republican con-
ventiOn, what then? If that had hap
pened, what hue would the skies now re-
veal to the uplifted eyes of anxious mill
ions? Would the star of hope then have
risen luminous to the meridian OF have
fallen with waning light upon a clouded
horizon? Upon what staff would the
toiling millions in field and shop then
have rested their tired hands? What bull
wark of defense would have stood be-
tween the great industrial and producing
classes, who constitute the solid strength
and safety of the country. against the
combined aggression of foreign money
changers and anglicized American mill
ionaires2 Upon what rock would the de
tenders of our constitution the cham
pions of American IDEAS and the friends
of American Institutions have then an
chOred their hopes for the future?
The paramount question before the
country was and is Shall this republic
confess financial servitude to England
or stand independently for itself? Shall
this government follow or shall it bc a
Vassal or a sovereignty? The republican
convention declared for foreign SUI
premacy-for American subserviency. 1t
upheld the British policy of a single gold
standard, fraudulently fastened upon this
country. and declared that we are utterly
incapable of maintaining an independent
policy of our own.
"Confessing that the gold standard IS
fraught with evil to our people, and that
bimetallism is best for this nation and
for the world, it yet declared re are help
less. that we must seand idle while our
industries are Frustrated and our people
ruined. until England shall consent for
us to lift our heads i'm our defense To
this low state has mammOn brought the
great party of the immortal Lincoln. For
years plutocracy has been winding its
Shiny and poisonous coils around the re-
publican party. and it will strangle Us
to death as the sea serpent's folds stran-
gled the priest of Neptune and his sons.
So also it laid its foul corroding hand
or the democratic party-the party of
Jefferson and Jackson-and used all its
giant strength to band it to it's purposes.
Within both parties there was a mighty
struggle for supremacy between those
who believed i'm the sovereignty of the
people and those who believed in the di-
Vinity Of self. Upon the republican par
" the hand of Marcus A. Hanna has
buckled golden mail and sent it forth
dedicated to the servitude of plutocracy
i'm this free land of ours. But i'm the dem
ocratic party. thank God the people were
triumphant. There the clutch of the
money power after a tremendous con-
hict, was broken. The priests of mann
mon were scourged from the temple and
today under the providence of high
heaven, the Old party rejuvenated stands
forth, stronger and better than ever. the
undaunted champion of constitutional
liberty, popular rights and national inn
dependence.
The gage of battle thrown down AT
ST Louis was taken up al Chicago.
Against English ideas we place the
American IDEAS. against English policy
we place American policy. against for
eign domination we place American indie
pendence' and against the selfish control
Of privileged classes. we place sover-
eighty of the people. The republican par
~ is the antithesis of the democratic
platform. One stands for gold monomet-
allsm, the other for gold and silver mo-
nometallism. One proposes that we wait
upon other nations; the other that we
act for ourselves. One proposes that the
government shall lean upon the bank
ers of New York and London. the other
that the secretary of the treasury shall
stand erect confident and fna rlnr- l.,