The San Francisco call., 1896-08-01
Under His Banner Only Can the
People of the Nation Be.
come Prosperous.
PROTECTION THE FIRST ISSUE
There Should Be No Sectional Feel.
ing, Says the Senator, in the
Coming Struggle.

following statement to the voters of this
commonwealth:
The people of Colorado are entitled to know
at such juncture as this the views OF their
representatives at Washington. Among the
greatest privileges we enjoy under Republican
institutions are freedom Of conscience and
freedom OF speech, and if should hesitate on
this, or on any other proper occasion, to de-
clare any belief and my convictions on any
public question. should despise myself even
more than 1 despise those incendiary news
papers and hysterical individuals who assume
that threats and vituperation can choke the
utterances of any self-respecting citizen in
Colorado who has an opinion to express or
principle to declare.
The silver question is most vital. Interna-
tional bimetsllism at the former ratio would,
OF course, be the most desirable method of re-
storing silver as money metal, because the
disturbance of values which might follow the
inauguration OF free coinage by the United
States alone would be avoided, and the ques-
ton as TO the expectation or boarding of gold
would be eliminated. In my opinion, how
ever, the United States alone could, under wise
and conservative guidance-such guidance as
should deserve and receive the confidence of
all classes of our people-open its mints TO the
unlimited coinage of silver and successfully
maintain that metal at a parity with gold at
the ratio of 16 to 1, Independently of the other
nations of the world. During the seven years
of my public service in the Senate have al
ways held this view. My vote on all questions
affecting the currency has been identical with
that of the other Senators usually known as
silver Senators, and while my utterances on
the silver question may not have been as fre-
quent or as long as those of others whose views
share, nevertheless my record on this subject
is clear and consistent, and the views hold /
expect always to maintain.
The financial plank of the National Repub-
lican platform is, in my opinion, far from
satisfactory, and those members of the party
who believe as l believe will struggle ear
nestly and hopefully for the full and complete
recognition and adoption by the Republican
party of the humane principles of bimetal-
lism, animated by the belief that the party
which on every other great question inyolv-
ing human freedom and the welfare of man
kind, has stood for all that was uplifting and
ennobling, will yet resliz&t that a continuance
of the gold standard means only further i'm
poyerishment and suffering. The platform
contains. however, a most important state
ment, pledgng the party to the furtherance
of bimetallism by international agreement.
To the good faith of this pledge the history of
the party on other questions requires the full
est credence; the overshadowing importance
of the silver question makes it certain to my
mind that every effort will be earnestly made
by the Republican party to secure to this coun-
try the blessings of bimetallism, and it is my
sincere conviction tnat silver win again be
restored to Its place as a money metal at the
present ratio, and that when this restoration
comes 1T will be accomplished through the ae-
ton and efforts of the Republican party.
Except on the money question no man in
halt ~.
American labor and American products and
American industries and who loves his coun-
try can read the platform without hearty ap-
proval, and no man doubts that Major McKin-
ley will bring to his high Office every quality
needed by President OF this great people.
Mr.. Bryan has been nominated for the Presi-
dency on three separate platforms, by the
Democratic party, the Populist party and the
Silver party. The last-named party (the Silver
party) does not deserve serious considerations
Most of its members were present at its recent
convention in st. Louis, and the newspapers
report the convention hall as being less than
half full.
The Democratic party nominated Mr.. Bryan
upon q platform, the financial portion of
which was everything that could be desired
and the rest OF it everything that is. in my
opinion, undesira Bile and hostile to the inter-
ests of our country. decline to stand upon
this platform and vote for this candidate even
with the alluring free.coinage plank. can
not do it. I am believer in protection, and
shall not abandon that belief
The Supreme Court of the United States is a
pure and able tribunal, the highest judicial
tribunal in the world. will not help smirch
it. This Government must be enabled to pay
Its running expenses, and whenever my vote
is needed for that purpose and fail to vote it
1ioc m koar fo1i nb oil
violate my oath as Senator. The "recent Re-
publican Congresses" have been neither
wasteful nor extravagant, and must decline
to certify to statement know to be untrue.
When, some months ago, the great railway
strike at Chicago grew beyond control and in
nocent lives were being sacrificed and millions
of dollars worth of properly was being de-
stroyed by lawless men; when the Sheriff was
powerless and the Governor failed to perform
his duty, the President of the United States,
With Federal troops, under sanction of law,
saved further bloodshed and destruction and
thereby deserved the thanks of every man who
values our liberties and believes that the
rights guaranteed US by the cons titution
ought to be sacredly guarded against every
form OF lawless ness.
The recent trayesty at st. Louis, the Popu-
list convention, has but illustrated the ele-
ments which naturally gravitate toward the
candidacy of Mr.. Bryan. Every cranky quirk,
every incongruous and ludicrous and mis-
shapen idea which the wheels in the brains of
men could evolve, buzzed and whirled through
days of talk, but the net result was Bryan.
Government ownership of railroads. telegraph
and telephone lines, initiative and referendum,
silver money and more money, had their advo-
Gates, and at the end, on assurances that all
who voted for Bryan would be equally recog-
nized, Mr.. Bryan was almost the unanimous
choice of the convention.
Because, therefore, believe that free coin
age will come through the efforts of the Repub-
lican party, and because the Democratic and
Populist platforms, except on the money ques-
tions, are odious and hostile to the welfare of
our country, shall not cast my vote for Mr..
Bryan. I hold my commission from the Re-
publican party. Many of its members, inciud-
ing some of Its leaders, in the exercise of their
judment have announced their Intention of
leaving the party. / shall stay.
Ny loyalty to the party which has honored
me is entirely consistent with my loyalty to
the highest and best interests of the State
represent in the Senate of the United States,