Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1896-07-16
they can bring. l come to speak to
Won in defense of q cause as holy as

they can bring. | come to speak to
you in defense of a cause as holy as
the cause of liberty, the cause of hu-
manity. cloud applause
When this debate is concluded, a
motion will be made to lay upon the
table the resolution offered in COM
mendation of the administration. 1
shall object to bringing this question
down to a level of persons. The in
dividual is but an atom; he is born, he
acts, he dies, but principles are eter-
nal, and this has been contest of prln-
ciple. Never before in the history of
this country has there been witnessed
such a contest as that through which
we have passed. Never before in the
history of American politics has a
great issue been fought out, as this
issue has been, by the voters them
selves.
On the 4th of March, 1895, a few
Democrats, most of them members of
Congress, issued an address to the
Democrats of the nation, asserting
that the money question was the par
amount issue of the hour; asserting
also the right of a majority of the
Democratic party to control the posi-
tion of the party on this para
mount issue, concluding with the re-
quest that all believers in free coinage
of silver in the Democratic party
should organize and take charge of
and control the policy of the Demo-
cratic party. Three months later at
Memphis, an organization was per-
fected and the silver Democrats went
forth openly and boldly and courage
ously proclaiming their belief, and de-
claring that if successful they would
crystalline in platform the declara-
ton which they had made; and then
began the conflict with zeal ap-
preaching the zeal which inspired the
crusaders who followed Peter the Her.
NIT. Our silver Democrats went forth
from victory unto victory until they
are assembled now, not to discuss, not
to debate, but to enter up the judg-
ment rendered by the plain people of
this country. (Applause.) In this
contest, brother has been arrayed
against brother and father against SON.
The warmest ties of love and acquain-
tance and association have been dis
regarded. Old leaders have been cast
aside when they refused to give ex-
preston to the sentiments of those
whom they would lead, and new lead
ers have sprung mp to give direction
to this cause of truth. (Cheerti.1 Thus
has the contest been waged, and we
have assembled here under as binding
and solemn instructions as were ever
fastened upon the representatives OF
a people.
NOT AS INDIVIDUALS.
We do not come as individuals.
Why, as individuals, we might have
been glad to compliment the gentle
man from New York Senator HID,
but we know that the people for whom
we speak would never be willing to
put him in position where he could
thwart the viii OF the Democratic
party. (Cheers.) say it is not q
question Of persons; it is q question OF
principle, and 1t is not with gladness,
my friends, that we find ourselves
brought into conflict with those who
are arrayed on the other side. The
gentleman who just preceded me
Gov. Russeln spoke of the old State
of Massachusetts,. Let me assure him
that not one person in all this tsonyen-
tion entertains the least hostility to