The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-30

sofa iron smelted by Pennsylvania coal;
American wages paid to American men
To build American homes; SO that
every engine. every battleship, every
structural beam. every tool. every nail.
every length of the rails which have
clamped together all the communities
i'm this land with bands of unbreakable
steel, shall be of American production
by the efforts of that capital and labor
which have raised the iron giant OF
civilization from his trance i'm the mine.
which have forged his refulgent and
puissant armor. which have breathed
into his colossal limbs nations
strength and power. until he stands.
clad in complete Steel the regnant
guardian of our country, the champion
of its prosperity"
Upon the currency question Senator
Davis took the position that under pres
ent conditions the only safe plan for
this country is to maintain the gold
standard, and predicted that the Re-
publican party would place its nominee
upon an uneQuivocal declaration for
sound, honest money, which shall be of
equal and invariable purchasing and
liquidating power throughout the
world" adding:
There was time when the currency
question did not veN us, when dlScuSstohs
concerning it were scholastic disputes re-
specting possible contingencies. 1t was
when the people of the United states
held more gold than any other nation, eN-
cepting France: when our treasury con-
tanned S22l 900 gold over ANA above the
500 cJ0, 900 reserve; when an issue of bonds
10 pay current expenses of the government
was as undreamed of as another scces-
sion of states. This surplus of gold was
a portion of the Surplus revenue pro-
duced by protection BY Republican lesis-
lation during a period of nearly thirty
years. During that period the excess OF
exports of merchandise over imports was
more than $l,5N,WO,OOO. We became the
foremost manufacturing nation in the
world. Twice in our history the
national treasury has become the count
ing house of bankers-iirst in the closing
days of the administration of James
Buchanan. and, next. almost continuous.
ly, during the present administration of
Grover Cleveland The national bonded
debt has been increased within the last
three years S262, 900, 600. This government
this government has been compelled to
tdNe tHe guaranty OF 1tOtnSCHliu tndl tHe
gold in its treasury shall not for n stated
period be drawn below Il certain sum.
These bonds run for thirty years. The in
terest upon them will nearly equal the
principal Five hundred millions of dol
lars must be paid by the American people
as the immediate consequence of aban-
doning the Republican policy of adequate
protection.
1t will be observed that the gentle
man from Minnesota follows Major Nc
kinley in the argument that the cur
rency problem will begin to adjust itself
the moment there is such an arrange
ment of the American tariff as will
throw the balance of trade in our favor.
Thus he holds that the paramount duty
of the Republican party is to restore
reciprocity and protection, and wait
until the benefits of that restoration, as
they shall diffuse among the people, will
render it safe for congress to undertake
to make conservative notifications Of
the present defective currency system.
While this line Of counsel will probably
displease the extremists of all kinds, it
probably voices the sentiment of a large
majority of the Republican masses, and
is therefore likely to prevail.