The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-09-01
WANAMAKER
WARLIKE.
Now MartiaIed Again In Battle
Array Says ''HOnest john
As In 1861, "For the Defense
OF Our Country
THE BIG STOREKEEPER
Talks to the WOrkingmen Of
SteeltOn, Pa,
About How Important It Is to
Pay Interest on Bonds.


meeting on the high school campus in
this great manufacturing town was
an immense success in numbers and
enthusiasm. The crowd was largely
composed of employees Of the Pennsyl-
vania Steel company. At least three
thousand people listened to the speak
ers as they discussed the financial
question from a sound money stand
point and ripped up the Chicago plat
form. Jacob Good, a foreman in the
Pennsylvania Steel works, was presi-
don't. and w. H. H. Seig, formerly
Stealton's postmaster, secretary w
c. Farnsworth, corporation clerk IN
the Office of the secretary of the COM
rnonwealth. made the opening speech,
which was frequently applauded, as ne
pointed out the dangerous attitude or
the free silver people. His remarks
were almost entirely confined to the
currency question, which he handled
with great skill
Ex-POstmaster General Wanamaker
was the drawing card
Mr. Wanamaker was loudly cheered
when he stepped forward to speak He
said: Il count it an honor to associate
myself with you, Mr.. Chairman, citi-
zens, neighbors and good people of
SteeltOn in the patriotic work that
calls US together tonight. Within the
life time of many here the fertile
fields and beautiful towns of this his
torIc valley were invaded by hostile
enemies, born in our own fam
lily. None of US thought then when
that tide of fire rolled back from
Gettysburg, or later, when to the con-
quering Grant Lee surrendered his
arms at AppOmattOx, that we would
live to see the day when we must be
martialed again in battle array for the
defense of our country.
LAS in 1861 men Of every class, creed
and color, irrespective of parties and
beliefs, marched side by side, follow
ing the old flag, so in 1896 we stand to-
gether-DemOcrats Republicans, hard
money men and soft money men
united once more in the common pur-
poseof beating back the destrOyers of
our national life. AS in 1861 so in go,
whoever the general commanding the
Pennsylvania troops may be, he need
not look over his shoulder to see If the
men of Dauphin county and the Cum
berland valley are close up to the flag:
the men that never dinched then viii
never faiter now.
True enough it IS that our battle
is not like that in the golden-olden
glory of the days of Curtin and Meade
and Geary and Birney and SigeI. Wars
are not always with shot and shell
The war now on is a war of prInci-
ples-of ideas-the fight is not
with bayonets or bullets, but with
brains and ballots; not with brag or
buster or bluff, but with justice. pa
thence and truth. Party distinctions.
traditions and glory may well be lost
sight Of for the time, while with high
endeavor we enlist for the nations
good. Extreme views and hot speech
must be avoided and only the most
calm and dispassiOnate consideration
be given to the questions of the hour
The free coinage Of temper is like the
free coinage of silver-the more you
do of it the more you have left
The speaker then referred to the
stagnatiOn in business, discussed the
evils Of the Chicago platform, told how
the whole country was swinging into
the highway of prosperity under the
Mckinley bill IN spite of the hostile
com binaUOns at home and abroad
when the Republican majority in the
house OF representatives was over
turned by the selection of the Fifty
second congress.
Continuing he said: Blaine and
reciprocity and hope died together.
and dismay, debt and distress were
ID
time since the war the nation faced
every day a wOefuI and increasing
deficit Confidence fed away from
lncapacity- The Old World. who had
bought our bonds, became afraid
that we might drift on to the same !
difficulties that individuals and eorDo- |
rauohs 90 when their expenditures !
are larger than their receipts or rev !
snues- To make the necessary settle |
"a
gwen US had to go out of the country
and maintaining the credit Of -.
nation by the redemption in ooin ~ |
outstanding legal tender notes when
ever called for, our gold reserve began |
- 4e Sl' Whlch added to the distrust |
snd rear and failing of confidence
When the United States pays its debfs /
tne com II uses is not the poorest b1f
IN gold, accepted and adopted as the |
DesI Dy the nrst nations Of the world
To speak to you as if I stood on a |
witness stand under oath, feel OBLIGED |
70 say to you as a business man. like
yourselves, and not as a student or |
theortst, as one who was familiar for
four years with the thoughts and mr.
poses OF the leading spirits of that
time, the masterful Harrison the na fri
otto Blaine, the active and able McKin-
ley, the Staunch Sherman and other
OF the ship of state. I am con-
ndent that the four hundred millions OF |
debt and the eighteen or twenty mill
hons every year until it is paid: the
broken banks and the bankrupt BUSH
nesses throughout the land, the rail-
roads forced to receiverships. the i'm
losses and dire distress that |
can never be told, and that cannot be |
undoue in the lives OF many who are |
passing on, is all an unnecessary sacri- /
nee to the idol OF free trade, whose |
principles IN one form or another en-
tered into the shaping Of the present |
tariff and legislation that has inter- |
Tered with our trade in foreign coun- |
tries in breaking all our splendid grow 1