The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-07-14
why Am / a Republican,


Al . recsat Arizona territorial conxSn-
ton Tom Fitch. one OF the strongest advo-
Gates OF free silver IN the United States,
gave most excellent reasons why he Is
Republican. They would bear reprtnsing
n extenso throughout the whole country.
The reasons might ne elaborated In the
Republicans creed. He said:
Gentlemen OF the Convention; thought
that ths seclusicn that the upper gallery
grants. combined with other circurn-
stances. would exempt me from any invf-
ta.ion % speak before this convention. but
your repeated calls leave me no alternative.
consistent with courtesy but 10 answer
them.
s-rhs speakers who have addressed you
have spoken 0. the free coinage OF silver
as a cardinal principle OF the Republican
party. fear that the ST. Louis conven-
ton may compel Us to retrace some or our
steps IN this matter, and. as the states
men who control this convention have not
includes me among those deemed most fit
10 represent Arizona s. 81 Louis, I feel
quite at liberty TO tel the truth.
Il suppose no one VIII question nay hong
devotion TO the cause OF free silver coin
age. Years ago. at the inception Of the
movement, I. as vice president Of the na-
ttonai executive committee or the silver
convention in connection with A j. War
ner. the president Of tha COMMITTEES, tray
eiec through the South and West preach
Ing the doctrin. OF bi-rnetansm. and have
never since had occasion 70 change my
views with respect to the great benefits
that might result TO this nation from the
complete restoration OF silver as money
metal: and yet there are other circum-
stances quite as influential which must be
potent in determining my future action,
and the future action Of many Republicans
In this matter
This morning friend. who IS a MEM
Der OF this convention. and who now
honorS me with his audience. said 20 me:
Mr. Fitch YOU have always been a pro-
nonnced advocate OF the free coinage or
silver What win you do II the 81 Louis
convention adopts plank IN their plat.
form savoring single gold standard and
cenouncing the free coinage OF sslyerF
did not answer his question then, but with
your permission viii do so now.
II belong 70 the Republican party BE-
cause its history - the history OF the
growth. the rrea tness and the freedom or
this nation: because It's purposes are>patri-
otic: because IL Is the friend OF labor with
out being the foe of thrift. because II Is
wise, because II is just: because Its resto-
ration 70 complete power VIII rekindle thu
furnace and start the turbines. and I'll the
land with the music OF contented ana weli-
paid toll, and put bread into mems mouths
ard hope into their hearts.
Il hNfGEE
cause 1. is the grandes; political orgasi-
ration Of freernen that the world hss ever
known: because under Its wise guidance,
star after star has been added TO our nag.
ship after ship has been added 20 our
fleets factory after factory has been
added 70 our resources, millions after NIL
Hon. have bean added 70 cur wealth. city
arter cftv has been developed from our
villages. ana the land has bean laced with
a network Of iron rails. and furnace fires
have illuminated ths night, and The grand
s.arsxor Of labor hiss been made TO sound
throughout the continent.
IT belong 20 the Republican party be-
cause under its inspiration there United
States. orce a wrangiirg and tiscorusnt
commonwealth, these United States. once
ssarres with slavery and eeorepi, with
The Disease OF secession. these United
States navs become a country where no
saves presence dtxhonors labor. where no
sreeraa's utterancee are chcks5 BY the
rand cS power where no man dcffs his
hat to another except through the cour-
te.y OF equa1s where education Is free.
where manhood Is respected and where
labor Is protected.
.T-nse~ the patriotic rule % ne Esyuo-
ncAr party these United States have be-
c~o-ns a nation whose credit -eigrs al re
hexd OF the worlds 1nsnees-wnose rag
floats proudly upon every sea. and whose
armies would coma a. The drumbest on.
cs .hs hive OF industries 70 swarm IN de-
seu-- Of the country on every shore.
"v-rdsr the rule OF the Republican party
these United States have become the
greatest. frseSs ard most prosperous ma
ton under the light of tre sun
~ belong 20 the Republican party BE-
cause /. gave laad 20 THE landless. because
II gave work 20 the Industrious. because II
gave freedom 20 the slave. because, when
TIE nation was n peril u gave a-rnsss AID
treasure Tor her preservation.
Forty years ago. than lad cs =.
soired IRE Republican ranks. ara. too
your1 TO vote. I srnT my blazing banner
.fo<s Ger rrenon. ard Jessie. I was
present ss q news-srer reporter az the
sNscsro convention n 1870. when all
rrfress 81 ous-s Abraham Tknceln into ths
presidency. I heard the song % John
Browns soul surg n hats3 breath and n
secret gatherings % MS svvnpashizerz. snd
four wears zster On these Sixtz1t shores
slTsc.s caught The .cho ~ SIS refrain
-hez armies cAaa.sd u fer tAesr satti.
snth--- I e-tsv~t ere ssooeerc. sri
frssu6sAs, G. Baker a~6 Of Starr King.
ard Butler aze Bingham, ard Carried
ART Conkli-w. and that nooisss Roman Of
fNs-, a.. James O Sistrss-
WHO. then. 81 there IN al thls Lard that
sAaa dare 20 AK rrs 20 hs.~ay these rreuS-
cries because OF SsEerszcs ~ cplrfe1
eo~re--snx shs conditions under which
silver dc1Ars shar BE ccinsd7 wha shall
dare .e.i re {. IS my duty - leave the
path sior~ which my TUath an Try man
hoos marched ard =hex~ when fhs even
frx bEEss sssE srIr6 the Srai -evsfEe.
ny sxs shau se sofEr1 ST. rasrchinxr
pashsr Win ! -esarz 70 IRE Re~n5iiezn
roxs.ss The sane stes6ssst face that
here when TIT locks. nex wsftszirs. were
haz.k ss ire ravens sing. ard ear 20 ssr
as Esta sad 20 Sar--1. 'Waitser tiara
xo@s- ! wgE e. ard where thsl aotr@St
I wxn Ic.ges Thy peonss sAs1l he TT p.o-
r,s. ar3 thy Cod -w Ccss where shsa
as-ss wsE die. &n1 tAsrs VIII I %
buried