The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-19
NIGHT MEETING.
Speeches by Governor Hastings and
Representative McCIenry.


Representative McCleary.
The scenes at night in the great tent
resembled the afternoon. Thousands of
people were unable to gain admission.
Congressman r. w. Taylor presided. Gov
ernor Bushnell spoke briefly and was fol-
lowed by Governor Hastings, of Pennsvlva-
mia, who made speech on the financial
question. In discussing the free-siver plank
of the Chicago platform he said
This means an abrogation of the policy
maintained by the fathers for more than
three-fourthS of the period of our rational
existence; 1t means the destruction of the
value of gold and silver in our coins at
substitute for a dollar containing 100 cents
50 cents worth of silver and AZ cents worth
of that which is no more valuable than
wind; it means that the old pathway upon
which both parties Travelled for more than
half a century without discord shall be
Travelled no longer; that the principles laid
down by Washington, Jefferson, Hamilton
Madison and Jackson are to be trampled
under foot
Here are the forks of the road Mr.
Bryan with his caravan of Popuists So
and general malcontents, are diverging
from the well-beaten path. Bryan and Till
man and Altgeld are stopping at every
turn in their march to tell the people of
this country that their road leads to that
haven where money can be earned without
out much toll: where debts be
tinguished at 50 cents on the dollar; where
government bonds can be redeemed at half
price. and where a warfare of sectionalism,
an arraying of the poor against the rich
of the employed against the employer. of
the dfscontented against the thrifty, of the
loafer against the Industrious citizen, will
inure to the general progress, peace and
advancement of the country.
There still the forks of the road !
And there is the well-beaten path of ex
perience, Illuminated by the wisdom of
tons and of centuries; and at the head of
the column stands our leader-McKinley,
of Canton. Those who follow IN his train
Of lNaiy.
those who left the column where the roads
fork. The signboards are up and ready
for Inspection No invasion of Illinois by
federal authorities. said Altgeld, even if
the arteries of trade and commerce be-
tween the East and the West are OBJ
federal judiciary says the Chicago con-
vention because it enforces the federal
laws in the city of Chicago Give me my
sign the Supreme Court of the United
States to oblivion. Come on, along this
you stand with me on top of yonder high
mountain will show you such possessions
of silver and such manipulation of it's value,
that, although / have been talking all the
time the half has not, been told. and
| and Uncle Sam owns it all, nevertheless L
| will make a negotiation with the silver
owners that VIII relieve your distresses,
| time be to the advantage of the owners
| of the Comstock lode.
when the American wage Garner comes
| along and listens to these appeals he is
| likely to inquire how two silver dollars
| worth 80 cents each are better for him than
one dollar worth 100 cents, when the former
| will require nearly twice as much labor to
earn them. He will want to know why
| there appears to be, by this new philoso-
] ply, more potatoes in four pecks than in
| one bushel. The merchants will inquire
why there is thirty-six inches in the old
| yardstick and only eighteen or twenty
inches in the free-silver yardstick. The
/ how he can delay the importunate creditor
| until free silver comes. which will enable
| him thereby to pay his debt at SO cents on
| the dollar. The depositor in the savings
bank will wonder how he will be benefited
| by leaving his money on deposit until each
| hard-earned dollar is reduced to 50 cents in
| value by the free-silver necromancy. The
| pensioner unon the bounty of the govern
| ment will reflect how he will be the better
| compensated for loss Of limb or health in
| the service of his country. or the widow
| and orphaned children of his fallen COM
rades when the amount of his pension is
| reduced one-haif. And the man of wealth
ment of the United States does not go into
| the hands of a receiver at once and settle
up at 80 cents the dollar.
But / have only contemplated one fork
| of the road Lock at the other signboard
| Its index finger points to the past. The
| know them" Read the truth. The war of
| the rebellion won; every star holds its
! place upon the flag reimbursement and re
| construction accomplished generously and
| periodically: resumption of specie pay
ments an accomplished fact the war debt
American industry: an ample treasury
| everybody busy; good wages; wage-earner
| and wage-payer prosperous. confidence in
the future; American invention at its best.