The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-07-24


our monetary system without protect
ing those who have loaned money be
fore the change was made want 10 asl
him where, in law or in morals he cal
find authority for not protecting In
debtors when the act of 1873 was passed
but now insists that we must protec
the creditor. He says he also want
TO amend this law and provide that i
We fail to maintain party within |
year that we will, then suspend tn,
coinage of silver. We reply that
when we advocate thing which w
believe will be successful we are moi
compelled to raise doubt as to oul
own sincerity by trying TO show What
we will do if We can. | ASK him II he
| will apply his logic 10 us, why he does
not apply it to himself. He says that
he wants this country to try to secure
an international agreement Why
/ doesn't he tell US what he is going
| TO do If they fail to secure an interna
! tiona agreement There is more rea
son for him To do that than for us To
fail to maintain the party. They have
tried for 30 years for 80 years-to
secure an international agreement, and
those are waiting for ii most patiently
who don't wait at all.
Now, friends, let me come To the
great paramount issue. Ii they ask
us here why it is that we say more
on the money question than we say
upon the tariff question, | reply tina;
If protection has slain is thousands,
the gold standard has slain it's tens of
thousands If they ask Us why We
did not embody all these things in
our platform which we believe, We
reply TO them that when we have re
stored the money of the constitution
all other necessary reforms will be
possible. and that until that is done
there is no reform that can be accom-
pisAed. CHEERS.
why is il that within three
months such change has come over
the sentiments Of this country Three
months ago when it was confidently
asserted that those who believe in
the gold standard would frame our
platform and nominate our candidates,
even the advoc ates Of the gold stand
ara did not think that We could elect
a president; but they had good reason
for the suspicion, because there is
a state here to-day asking
for the gold standard that is not with
in the absolute control Of the repubii
can party. But note the change.
Mr. Mckinley was nominated al st.
Louis upon platform that declared
for the maintenance Of the gold stand
ard until il should be changed INTO
by an international !
agreement. Mr. Mckinley wRs the
most popular man among the Repub
IIcans. and everybody three months
ago in the Republican party prophe
sled his election. How is it today |
Why. that man who used to boast |
that he looked ike Napoleon that |
man shoulders today when he thinks |
that he was nominated en- the ami
yersary Of the battle Of Waterloo. I.
Not only that. but as he listens he |
IAN hear with ever increasing distinct |
ness the sound OF the waves as they |
beat upon the lonely shore vt St !
Helena.
Why this change An, my friends, |
is not the change evident 10 any one |
will look at the matter II is no !
private character, however pure. ne 4
popularity. however great, |
that can protect from the avenging |
who will neither declare that he is 10 |
iavor OF asserting the gold standard /
d pom the pople or who is wiling to /
the right Of self government l
and place the legislative control in
he hands Of foreign patentates and
,wuers.
We 90 forth confident that We shall
yin. Why: Because upon the para
mount issue in this campaign there
= not a spot Of ground upon which
he enemy Will dare TO challenge battle,
Why. if they tell us that the gold
tandard Is good thing We point
heir platform pie dyes the party 10
et rid Of a gold standard and sub
itute bimetailism.
If the gold standard is good thing.
Thy try 10 get rid Of it, | might call
ttention to the fact that some Of the
,eople who are in this convention TO
ay and who tell you that We ought to
eciare in favor of international bi
and thereby declare that
old standard is wrong and that the
rincIpe of bimetallism Is better these /
cry people four months ago were open
nd avowed advocates Of the gold {
tandard and telling us that We could /
Of legIslate two metals together even I
18th all the world. ii
! want to suggest this truth that a
the gold standard is d good thing
e ought 10 declare in favor of lis re Z
.ntion and not o favor of abandoning / /
and il the gold standard is Y
I'D thing, why should We wait until {
me ether nations are willing t. I
. lip us let gog Here is the line Of a
attic. We care not pom which issue
icy force the fight. We are prepared G
meet them on either issue or on a
It'll. II they tell us that the gold o
andard is the standard Of civiliza Al
on, We reply to them that this. the
ost enhgh tened Of all the nations of OF
e earth, has never declared for a gold d.
lndard ana both the parties this
ar are declaring against it. If the ID
Id standard is the standard Of civil n
ton. why, my friends, should we hi
{ have il: So. if they come 10 III
set Us on that, we can present the ii
story of our nation. 50
More than that, we can tell them
they will search the pages of la
story in vain 10 find single instance di
which the common people of any in
I'd have ever declared themselves pr
favor of a gold standard They
D find where the holders of fixed us
restments have Mr. Carlisle said al
1875 that this was a struggle be- of
cen the idle holders of idle capital ha
] the struggling masses who pro is
&c the wealth and pay the taxes OF I'll
J country; and, my friends. it is in
nply question that we shall de ge
e upon which side shall the Dem de
attic party fight-upon the side of fol