The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-07-09

OF little New jersey, UlldJ never 1allS 10
gives its electoral vote, and take the eX-
pertinent of some state out west that has
always given its vote to the Republican
ticket. | tell you that no matter who
your candidate may be in this convention,
with possibly one exception, your PODu-
list friends, upon whom you are relying
for support in the west and south, will
nominate their own ticket and your sill
yer forces will be divided. Mark the
prediction which | make. applause
and cries of "No.'O Some one says
no. Who are authorized to speak for
the Populist party here in Il Democratic
convention? loud applause.) | saw
upon this platform the other day an
array of them giving countenance and
support to this movement: men who
never voted Democratic ticket in their
lives and never expect to. (Applause.)
They have organized this party. They
are men who attempted to prescribe
Democrats all over the Union. They
are the men who were trying against us
in days that tried mems souls during the
war.
"My friends, l thus speak more in
sorrow than in anger. You know what
this platform means to the east. You
must realize the result But. calamtous
as it may be to us, it will be more
calamitous to you if, after taking these
risks, you do not win this fight.
"My friends, we want the Democratic
party to succeed. We want to build it
up. We do not want to tear it down.
We want our principles. good old prin-
ciplcs of Jefferson. jackson. Tilden. of
hard money, safe money. We want no
greenback currency on our plates. We
want no paper currency whatever. We
want to stand by the PRINCIPLES under
which we won during the history of this
country and made it what it is. If we
keep in the good old ways of the party
we can win. If we depart from them we
shall lose"
Senator Villas spoke for the minority
protesting against the proposed rcvolu-
Villas SPEECH.
The Hon. William +. Villas of Wiscon-
sin, said
"Mr. Chairman and Fellow Delegates of
the Conventional ma jority of the COM
mittee on resolutions has graciously ac
corded to the minority the privilege of
their views to the convention.
They have conceded nothing more. Upon
the subject of overshadowing present
importance they propose to lead this body
to declaration which the minority be-
lieve abhorrent to Democratic faith, de-
nounced for folly by all history and to
menace dire calamity to this country.
We shall present summarily, of course,
the reasons which we entertain, or some
of them. We present them, however,
that they constitute only the
solemn protest of a minority against the
revolution in party faith and
conduct and threatened injury to our
country.
The senator from New York, our illus
trious and able friend (checrs), has al
ready stated the argument. | will sum-
Marie the conclusions with his speech in
direct form.
THE superlative victory of this
scheme will be the honest bimetallism
contended for today in the behalf that
Those who are in favor of silver believe
it will produce an abundance of money.
This it will not do. 1t will shrink and
not swell our currency. The gold stand
ard is accused of responsibility for fall
ing prices, but it is never credited when
prices rise.
when any standard be fixed with
continuing stability it has no more to do
with prices than yard-stick or pair of
scales. The one test which must infalli-
bly, prove the fact and prove the eXcell-
ence of this standard shows that gold
has fallen, not risen in value and the
test ought to be above all others to re-
ceve favor in Il Democratic convention.
When and where, fellow Democrats, did
robbery by law come to be Democratic
doctrine% (Applause) Will not think
ing men soon see that if you can by force
of law make 16 ounces of silver equal to
one of gold, though 30 to 30 be the
market rating. you can as well. declare
the two metals equal ounce for ounce.
If you can lawfully take one-half of the
debt why can not you take the whole.
What distinguished the conhscation of
one-half the credit of the nation for the
benefit of debtors from universal dis
tribution of property except a difference
in degree. What is this radical scheme
but the overthrow of all law. of all Sc
curity and repose in the Democratic
order
IN the vastness of this country there
may be some Murat unknown. some
Danton, or some Robespierre. but we
have not those who will tolerate an APP
proach to the first step CApplause.)
"Oh, fellow Democrats, why must you
launch your old party on this wild career.
What inspiration warrants our pursuit
of that which the wisdom of mankind
condemns? Who teaches us with au
thority lesson in finance at which the
world of the highest civilization stands
aghast. Is it possible that this old party