The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1896-07-05
SOUND MONEY MEETING.
Franklin McVeagh Talks on the I'm,
pending Crisis.

CHICAGO, July A public meet
ing of the friends of the sound mon
ey" cause was held this evening in the
Auditorium-a theater connected with
the hotel of that name, and capable of
seating some 5000 or 1000 spectators
There was not a vacant seat to be had
when the serious business of the meet
ing began-the hour between Z and 8
having been filled up by select pieces
Of music given by the band of the First
Regiment. On the platform were seat
ed Senator Gray of Delaware, John r.
Fellows of New York, Franklin Nc
Veagh of Chicago and many other
prominent supporters of the sound
money cause, and a large number of
ladies, while Mr.. Whitney occupied a
seat in one of the boxes.
The meeting was called to order by
x-Governor Flower of New York, who
after a short speech introduced as the
first speaker Franklin McVeagh.
McVeagh said this great assemblage
had gathered before the nation, and
the Democratic party was brought face
to face with an impending crisis. Thir-
ty-six years ago a memorable Demo-
cratic convention had met. Then
also the nation and the Democratic
party stood face to face with an i'm
pending crisis Then the unity of the
nation was at stake. Now its honor
was at stake. That honor had to be
preserved The agonies and waste Of
war, North and South, would turn to
wantonnesS in the pages OF the ma
tons history If the country should
have been preserved only to become a
defaulter and to pay its debts with
| 30-cent dollars
Continuing, McVeagh said: MANY of
us are earnest bimetallists, eager to see
silver and gold made equal in the
coinage of our country. That which
! for this crisis unites bimctallist5 and
| gold monometallists is the awful spec
| tire Of silver monometallism; for the
| free coinage of silver at 16 to l by this
nation alone is silver monometallism,
| and by all the Interchangeable laws
which govern the economies of nations
| it must be that and nothing else. The
| fact that silver monometallists will not
argue for silver monometallism. but
use the arguments of bimetallism,
makes this propag anda misleading and
| dangerous; but it does not change its
aim. nor would it change the dreaded
results.
We cannot hope to appeal with sue
cess to all OF the silver delegates. The
great body of them would not listen to
/ even persuasion. The wild character
of the movement is shown in its fury
ard anger. But there must be many
| silver delegates who find themselves
out of touch with fury and recklessness,
and who can still be made to see where
this passion and excitement is carry
ing them and their party, and possibly
| their country. To their sober reason
this meeting is an appeal.
Unless the silver men with conserva-
tive teanpers intervene: unless those in
| teryene whose patriotism is more pre-
cious to them, and whose Democracy
is more precious to them than adherence
10 single idea, this MA jority Will sweep
the convention. Where viii it sweep i;
to? 1T viii sweep It into hostility, with
the abiding sentiment of the peopie-thai
sentiment which is the single defense
OF the Nation. 1t will sweep 1t into hos
| tility with the abiding conscience of the
| Nation-that conscience whose sober
risor will abate all sophistries which
make against the honor of the Nation
For what will the aim be-wllat will this
proposition be? To pay the Nations
debts in fifty-cent dollars. And that Is
national dishonor. For quibble as we
sfay-quibble as Horace Boies has lately
been Quabbing-uhe national debt is
payable in the equivalent Of gold. Thai
is the bare business fact, backed by the
conscience Of dispassionate Americans
and the conscience of the world.
Silver moncmetallism means havoc
1t means ruin: it means the prostrationo
ali business, all finance, all manufactur-
ing-by "a cyclone OF panic. There is bur
one class of men who could be benefited
The silver miner could be, for he would
throw away for a temporary and ir-
responsible outlet in this market all hi.
hopes of that permanent and response
He outlet which Is only obtainabE
through the consent Of the leading ma
items. The farmer would not be bene
fitted, for If he got silver dollar fol
his fifty-cent wheat his dollars woult
ibe worth only fifty cents. There is,