The record-union., 1896-07-08

est effort in the coming campaign to
contribute in every possible way to
the success of the party which we rep
resent, and which as to the important
issues of the time stands for the best
interests of the people. Uncertainty or
instability as to the money question in
wolves most serious consequence to ev
cry interest and to every citizen of the
country. The gravity of this question
cannot be overestimated. There can be
no financial security, no business sta
bility, no real prosperity where the poll
icy of the Government as to that ques-
ion is at all a matter of doubt.
cold is the one standard of value
among all enlightened commercial ma
tions. All financial transactions Of
whatever character, all business enter
prise, all individual or corporate invest
ments, are adjusted to it. An honest
dollar worth 100 cents everywhere can
not be coined out of 53 cents worth of
silver plus a Legislative fiat. Such a de-
basement of our currency would inev-
itably produce incalculable loss, appall-
ing disaster and national diShonor.
1T is fundamental principle in COIN
age, recognized and followed by all the
statesmen of America, and never yet
departed from, that there can be only
one basis on which gold and silver may
he concurrently coined as money, and
that basis is equality, not in weight,
but in the commercial value of the metal
contained in the respective coins. This
commercial value is fixed by the mar
kets of the world with which the great
interests of our country are necessarily
IL.
which cannot be severed or ignored
Great and self-reliant as our country is.
it is not great alone within it's own bor-
ders and upon it's own resources, but
because it also reaches out to the ends
of the earth in all the manifold depart
ments of business, exchange and COM
merce, and must maintain with honor
its standing and credit among the ma
tions of the earth. The question admits
OF no compromise. Ii is vital principle
at stake, but it is in no sense partisan
or sectional. 1t concerns all the people.
Ours is one of the foremost nations. and
must have a monetary system equal to
the best
1T is of vital consequence that this
question should be settled now in such
way as to restore public confidence,
here and everywhere, in the integrity of
our purpose. A doubt of that integrity
among the other great commercial coun-
tries of the world Will not only cost us
millions of money, but that which, as
patriots, we should treasure still more
highly-our industrial and commercial
supremacy.
My estimate of the value of a pro-
tective policy has been formed by the
study of the object lessons of a great
industrial State extending over a period
OF thirty years. 1t is that protection
not only builds up important industries
from small beginnings. but that those
and all other industries flourish or Ian
euish in proportion as protection is
maintained or withdrawn 1 have seen
it indisputably proved that the pros
perity of the farmer. merchant and all
other classes of citizens goes hand in
hand with that of the manufacturer and
mechanic.
Il am firmly persuaded that what we
need most of all to remove the business
paralysis that aff1icts this country is the
restoration of policy which, while af-
fording ample revenue to meet the ex-
penses of the Government, will reopen
American workshops on full time and
full handed, with their operatives paid
good wages in honest dollars And this
can only come under a tariff which will
hold the interests of our own people par
amount in our political and commercial
systems. The opposite policy, which
dlscourages American enterprise. re-
duces American labor to idleness. di-
mlnishes the earnings of American
workingmen, opens our markets to COM
modities from abroad which we should
produce at home, While closing foreign
markets against our products, and
which, at the same time, steadily aug
ments the public debt increasing the
public burdens, while diminishing the
ability of the people to meet them. is a
policy which must find it's chief popu-
larity elsewhere than among American
citizens.
Il shall take an early opportunity,
gentlemen of the committee through
you to communicate to my fellow citi-
zens, with somewhat more of detail my
views concerning the dominant ques-
tions of the hour and the crisis which
confronts us as a nation.
With this brief expression of nv an
probation of the distinguished honor
that has been bestowed upon me and
this signification of my acceptance of
the trust to which l have been sum
moned, I place myself at the service of
the Republican party and of the coun-
try"
Governor Griggs arrived at Hobart's
house at 11:4J. Fully 1900 people were
gathered in the vicinity of the house
during the exercises.