Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-10-16
of all those whose principles they repre-


1t has been charged that while COM
mander of the Grand Army of the Re
public several years ago he denounced
the Confederate flag as a rag of treason.
He did not say that officially; he may
have said SO otherwise but had no recol-
lection of 1t.
There was a Palmer of New York, who,
he had heard, had criticised the Confed-
crate flag in the manner charged.
The second charge was that he had
been guilty of some kind of a military Of
fense in Athens, Ga. He did not remem-
Der the charges, but he knew they were
not true, because he was never in Ath-
ems, Ga.
1t is also charged that he issued orders
when provisional governor of Kentucky
disfranchising Confederate soldiers
There were statutory laws in that state
governing the vote of the military, and he
simply inforced those laws, all of which
he had explained and published in detail
1t is again charged that he voted for
the Lodge force BILL This bill was in
congress before he entered the senate
The first vote he cast was to repeal the
election law depressing the south.
The speaker said he found more of the
old sectional feeling in the south than he
expected to see; but he has Travelled
through various sections, and everywhere
he has been treated with kindness and
respect.
He and General Buckner he said
IOuSHt OppOSlIG SlueS. here are HlSdS-
ures that can only be settled by war, and
such questions were involved in the war
between the states. He rejoiced in the
new south of today, and did not propose
in this canvass to leave any ill-will be-
hind him The people are united and this
is one country and one people, with a
common destiny.
The nomination of himself and General
Buckner will have at least one effect, and
that is it will keep the country united.
D01xH Ia Iafy .nd
right to bind any man on account of his
profession or trade, or by accident or 9TH
erwise, to affiliate with any political par
ty. He himself is a democrat, and the
national democracy is the only true
democratic party now existing.
The speaker here stated that he would
direct his attention to only one single
question, leaving his colleague to touch
| upon other points.
"The Chicago platform declared for the
free and unlimited coinage of both gold
| and silver at the ratio of 16 to 1. cloud
applause all over the house and cheering
| for Bryan) I am obliged to you for any
applause for anyone present or absent
but 1 don't want to be interrupted
| don't want to weary you, and hope you
will restrain your applause until later"
The speaker then went into the discus
| sion of the financial question, thrashing
| over old straw and advancing no new
| ideas. He referred to the present depres-
propose to obtain relief by the simple en-
actment of one law, the purpose of which
| is to take a 53-cent silver dollar and
| weave out of that fabric dollar worth
| 100 cents.
He referred to the silver standard of
| Mexico and other countries that have
| tested it, and said that the experiments
| have not proved satisfactory. 1t is not
| possible to give a greater value than is
| possessed by the bullion. This has been
f~xy hot hoe fnc ctod
it.
"Mr. Bryan insists upon the exceptional
condition of this country. He admits
that in Mexico where the silver dollar
| is the standard, that gold does not circu-
| late. Yet he insists that this country is
SO far in advance of other countries that
| IL we adopt bimetallism exceptional re-
suits will follow.
while it is true that America can make
her own currency laws, it is also true that
| we must deal with other countries who
are interested in this currency.
you cannot fix values by law; law can
not determine the value of gold and silver
| bullion. 1t is a commercial question.
'I am insisting that we retain the fixed
standard now recognized--the gold stand
ard (Cheers) l am trying to state 1t
honestly, and am much obliged for ap-
plause when / make true statement.
"Our friends say they are for the double
standard"
the yard stick, at the conclusion of which
he read an extract from the Cincinnati
Enquirer, stating that when free coinage
is adopted in America silver will be worth
the face value placed upon 1t in every
country in the world.
You fellows propose adding 40 cents
to the valuation of silver by law, which
cannot be done. Such a law would place
the coinage on par with that of the
'Greasers' and the Asiatics, and fill this
1tctr
of course, cannot afford to say this, and
are compelled to assert that this law will
bring 1t up with the gold dollar. Ca voice:
"Silver did mot sell below $1.29 prior to
1S73') 1t sold for more than gold in 1873.
At that time we had not resumed specie
PAYMENT Silver was worth 21A per cent
more than gold. The result was it was
bought up by merchants and exported.
If you succeed in bringing silver up in
value to within to 8 per cent of gold
which think improbable-gold will leave
the country. The commercial value will
carry 1t off.
"I predict that If Mr.. Bryan Is elected
there will he slight advance in the price
of silver---how much, don't know. (Ap-
plause) Whether or not the applause is
a compliment l don't know, either
(Cheers.) Thank you.
"The moment you advance silver here,
the silver of the world will come in and
fill up the vacuum.
together. This, I claim, is only an ex-
pertinent and think impracticable, and
will result in bringing more misery and
poverty upon this country than ever ex-
perienced in our history.
"Will any gentleman tell me what will
be the result of this free coinage expert
ment? If not you must admit that it is
an experiment, with only the promise of
good. Will the thoughtful people of this
country adopt an experiment?
81 wish ! knew and could tell you, my
countrymen, what a dollar will be worth
under free coinage" iVoice: ut will be
worth 100 cents.")
Some one in the audience propounded
question to the speaker: will the ques-
tioner reduce his question to writing and
send it up? l cannot hear him distinct
ly."
While the question was being prepared
the speaker requested the voter to re-
member when he went to cast his vote on
the Sd of November that free coinage is
only an experiment. No one knew what
the result will be- "a voice: Are you op
posed to trusts?")
"Yes, all democrats are opposed to
trusts They are opposed to the silver
tructc of the world unloading their FL