The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1896-10-16

4 ,a,,.A ~ me past three ysaI1, ~ sneN3s
issns would etiii further entail lose ana ~
inry. ana 10 Z change, belisve, thAe Sar
neople win mot tolerate for an Instant -
trey value their material interests ana -
honor Of this great nation. y. q. q
Property and investments ate ce ~. = ~. ~.
~ ~ many times In the past, neither W0ul0
weirh In the balance with love Of country
whenever. wherever and however IT'D h0norS
may be assailed. Al the allied parties ID
opposition are urging this question it ~ noe
q proposition for the free coinage OF pota
soid and silver. but practically that ef
silver alone, and not silver by international
agreement, for to that they are opposed.
hut solely. exclusively and dehantly. u You
strlcted coinage Of the silver Of the world.
please, the free, Independent and unre-
regardless Of consequences and despite the
certain distress and ruin IN which y Moul0
involve Us all. Considerations OF prudence.
q faithful regard for our obligations ana
proper respect for the rights Of our citi-
sens az individuals are all left out OF tne.
question and we arc bllndly to follow wner-
ever they may dare to lead. 1t Is not leap
In the dark. for we know from sad expert.
ence what
A Deprecated Currency
means to every invested interest; what It
means to wages, to labor and property. to
credit and to the country ITSELF ignoring
all existing conditions among the great conn
mercial nations Of the world and tho re.
qulrements Of sound finance, oblivious to
every consideration Of prudence. care, thrift
and national integrity. their proposition
would engulf us in system OF alb
so!ute silver monometaliism, for they are
themselves the only unconditional md I'M.
qualified monometallists In the United
States. Our policy insures the use OF both
gold and silver ct an equality. They seek
IN IN ell oil ,,nV
what they call financial independence, and
In the name Of Independence they appeal to
us to debasc our currency, and to repudiate
In part or whole all our debts and sully our
national honor. This we decline f0reve. to
do. This is not the character Of indepsnd-
cnce which the American people love to sus-
tain and are accustomed to exercise. It ID
independence with honor to which we hold,
not an independence to which attaches q
faint Of dishon0r We would noc want that
distinction at any price. It Is neither digni-
fed nor Justified, in public debate, that we
indulge In harsh names. It Is not becoming
to any to do It; For does It help the cause
which they espouse. I prefer to treat my
fellow citizens as being honest In their
convictions and DESTROYS only Of what they
believe will promote the public welfare,
convinced that II they are wrong they will
eventually espouse the right when Mt last
they see the right. 1t Is their intelligence
VIC invoke; It is their patriotism to which
we appeal. 1t Is to persuade, not to abuse,
which Is the object Of rightful public dis
cusslon. In that spirit address my fellow
citizens and abjure them to reflect before
they add either dlshonor to our credit or
our currency. Let the words of the revered
statesmen OF all parties Of the past olssuade
them from putting any stain upon the flnan-
cial honor and hitherto good name Of this
republic.