Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-09-14

| liberty, regulated by lust and equal laws,
| ana II possible avert from the country re-
| pudiatIon, bankruptcy and national dis
| honor.
| accept the unsought honor and re-
| sponSibllltY imposed upon me by the Ma
| tional Democratic convention. / accept
them as proof that my Democratic fellow
citizens confide In my devotion to Demo-
cratic principles so clearly and accurately
defined IN The proceedings Of the conven-
ton. 1t was known to the delegates to
the convention before This honor was
conferred upon me, ana is well under
stood by the country. that my public ser
vices commenced more than 80 years ago
and that since that time | have taken an
active, earnest part in the discussion and
settlement of every public question which
had at the time sufficient Importance to
attract popular attention.
My opinions and my public acts have
been an open book, to be read by my CON
temporaries. ! have been At all times
controlled by my own convictions Of
duty. aud ! have now no one whom |
can properly invite to share my respon-
SihiIities. Taught bY Jefferson | opposed
slavery while il existed Inspired by
Jackson | defended the Union Of the
states to the extent OF my ability. ana
influenced by his example, when my con
duct as a military officer was challenged
As NtolatiVe of law. | voluntarily sub
mitted myself to the Jurisdiction Of the
civil courts
When Governor of my adopted state.
while / opposed. and by peaceful means
successfully resisted. The Interference OF
the United States by its military forces
in the purely local concerns of the state
distinctly conceded the right and as-
serted the duty of Thar government io|
enforce within the states or elsewhere
iis own laws by its own agencies.
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen: The
matters TO which / have adVerted are
but "reminiscences. they relate ana be-
long to the past. our duties as lovers Of
our country are present. ana We must
meet and deal with existing conditions
and TO these the late National Demo
cratic convention addressed itself Its
platform asserts truths which can be
demonstrated, and ii correctly defines
democratic principles 1t asserts that
'The Democratic party Is pledged To
equal and exact justice TO all men, OF eN
cry creed ana condition: TO the largest
freedom OF the individual. consistent with
good government; TO the preservation OF
the federal government in its constitu-
uondl Vigor and 10 the support of the
states in all their just rights: to economy
IN the public expenditures. to the main
tenanCe of the public faith and sound
money; and ii is opposed to paternallsm
and all class legislation"
It also asserts that the declarations OF
the Chicago convention attack individual
freedom. the right Of private contract,
the independence of the judiciary and
the authority of the President to enforce
federal laws They advocate reckless
attempt to increase the price of silver by
legislation. TO the debasement OF our
monetary standard. and threaten unlim-
tied issue OF paper money by the govern
menf."
1t is then asserted by the convention in
its declaration of principles that the ex-
pcricnce of mankind has shown that by
reason of their natural qualities. gold is
the necessary money Of the large affairs
OF commerce and business, while silver
is conveniently adapted to minor tran
Sactions, and the most beneficial use OF !
both together can be insured only By the ,
adoption Of the former as "A standard of
monetary measure and the maintenance |
OF silver 1t parity with gold by its linn
tied coinage under suitable safeguards OF
law Thus the largest possible enjoyment
of both metals is gained with value |
world. which constitutes the only practi- |
cal bi-mctallic currency. assuring tho /
most stable standard and especially the |
best ana safest money for all who earn |
their livelihood by labor or the produce of |
hushaudry. They cannot suffer when !
raid IN the best money known to man, |
hat are the peculiar and most defenceless !
victims Of q debased and ductuating cur /
rency which offers continual profits to |
tho money changers at their cost
Realizing these truths. demonstrated |
hY long public Inconvenience and loss |
the Democratic party. in the interest of /
the masses and of equal justice to all |
practically established BY the legislation
of 1851 and 1903, the gold standard OF /
monetary measurement. ana likewise en- /
tirey divorced the government from
banking and currency issues To this
long established Democrat" policy we /
adhere and insist upon the maintenance
of the gold standard and the parity |
herewith of every dollar issued by the
government, ana are firmly opposed to |
'the free and unlimited coinage of silver |
and TO the compulsory purchase of silver /
bullion.
The advocates of the unlimited coinage
of fun legal tender silver do not agree as
TO what Will be the consequence of the
adoption by the United States of their /
taNorite measure. The more Intelligent |
know that it is Impossible by law to give |
to silver bullion or silver coin local |
value in the United States. and therefore I
do, i
official interpreter of the free silver dog
ma. asserts his belief that unlimited coin
age of legal tender silver by the United |
States alone would increase the value of |
silver bullion. which is. today. O. cents
an ounce to $1.29. aud he asserts his be-
lief that under unlimited coinage the sill /
yer dollar, containing il2i2 grains of
standard silver, coined by the authority /
of the United States. would be of equal |
acctptabiiity and value with the dollar
in al the markets of the world.
II is something that this opinion has
no support in the experience of mankind. /
ii has no foundation other than the con
ndCnt assertions of those who share in |
that belief, No party in the country ever
undertook so much as do the advocates
of the unlimited coinage of silver. They
not only undertake to maintain CONNER
cial parity in value of about 4Si. SOP 0ii sill
yer dollars. already coined by the United
states under the authority of the acts of
the 18th of February. 1873, and or July
Il. 1880, and of all the silver dollars that
hereafter may be coined. but they as
sumo the task of advancing the value of
the silver coinage of all the nations of
the world to an equal acceptabilty and
value with coins of gold. If the expecta-
tons of such of the advocates of free
coinage of silver are realized. it would be
difficult upon their own premises to per
ceive what would be gained by those who
expect cheap money.
Accepting their claim that under free
coinage the dollar of silver would become
of equal acceptabilty and value and
equal power in the markets, and in paw
ment of debts throughout the civilized
world. the silver dollar would then be as
difficult TO procure as the dollar of gold
is now They complain now that the dol
lar of gold has too much purchasing 4
power and is too difficult to obtain. But
the real expectation of the great body of
supporters of the free coinage of silver,
and one much more in harmony with the
experience of mankind is. that the I'M
limited coinage of silver would give the
country a deprecated and cheaper dollar.
which would enhance nominal values and
be used in the payment of debts. but
would be attended and followed by the
ruin of all industries, the destruction of
public and private credit and irreparable
mischief.
Mr.. Chairman and gentlemen. our plat
form commits us to the maintenance of
the Democratic of