The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-06-20
ON THE FINANCIAL PLANK
Why He Was Opposed to a De-
claration for Gold.
WILL NOT SURRENDER PRINCIPLE
Solution of the Money Question of no
Less Importance Than was the
Result of the War Between
North and South.

eussion of the great financial question
which is dividing the people, not only
of this country, but the world. The
few moments allotted to me by the
convention will not enable me to more
than state in the briefest possible
manner our objections to the finan-
cial plank proposed for our considera-
ton. / am practical man, and | rec
ognize the conditions existing in this
convention, foreshadowed as they
were by the action of the committee
selected by the representatives assem-
bled from different States.
This plank and the proposition was
presented to the whole committee and
by it rejected. Loyalty to my own opln-
ion, consideration of great interest
that is felt in this country, compels
me, in the face of unusual difficulties,
to present this for our consideration,
not with that bounding hope or with
that courage that | have presented
this in other bodies, with greater
measure of success than | can hope for
here. The great and supreme impor-
tance of the question is alone my ex-
say to you.
In conjunction with this subject in
a public capacity, have dealt with it,
however, twenty years. [ represent
State that produces silver, but /
want to say to you here and now that
my advocacy is not in the slightest
degree influenced by that fact. Gap
plause and voice, ''Good.") | am for it
because / believe that there can be no
sound financial system in any country
in the world that does not recognize
this principle. / contend for it, be-
cause, since 1873, when it was ruth
lesSly stricken from our statutes,
there has been continued deprecia-
ton of all products of human labor
and human energy. / contend for it
because in this year of 1896, the Amer
lean people are in greater distress
than they ever were in their history.
/ contend for it because this is, in my
Judgment, the great weight, the great
incubus, that has weighed down enter
prises and destroyed prices in this ia
vored land of ours. / contend for it
because | believe the progress of my
country is dependent on it. | contend
for it because / believe the civilization
of the world is to be determined by the
rightful or the wrongful solution of
this financial question. | am tolerant
of those who differ with me. | act
from my judgment, enlightened as
best / have been able to enlighten it,
by my years of study and my years
of thought. In my judgment the
American people in the whole line of
their history have never been called To
settle question of greater Importance
to them than this.
The great contest in which many of
you participated, of whether we should
have two flags or one, was not more
important to the American people than
the question OF proper solution of
what shall be the money system of
this land.
A QUESTION OF PRINCIPLE.
/ have said enough to show that /
think that this is not question of poll
cy, but question of principle. 1t is not
a mere idle thing, but one on which
hangs the happiness, the prosperity,
the morality, and the independence of
American labor and American pro-
ducers. (Applause.) Confronted for
the first time in the history of this
glorious party of ours, confronted, /
say, for the first time with danger
Of financial system that in my iudg-
ment will be destructive OF all the
great interests of this land, we are
called upon to give to this provision
of our platform our adhesion or re-
lection.
Mr.. President, do not desire to say
unkind or unfriendly things, and |
will touch in a moment, and only a
moment, upon why | object to this
provision of this platform. The Re
publican party has never been the
party of single standard. TAP
plause.) 1t was bi-metallic party
in it's origin, in all its history. In 1888,
it declared for bi-metallism, in 1892, it
declared for bi-metallism. In 1896, it
declared for single gold standard. In
1888 we carried the State that / here
represent for the Republican nominee;
we carried it on a bi-metallic platform.
We carried it with a. majority that
equaled, considering our vote, that of
any State in the Union. Faint APP
plaGse.) 1t has been "a Republican
State from the hour of its admission
The platform contains some plati-
tudes about international conferences.
1t provides that we will maintain the
gold standard in this country until
the principal nations of the world
shall agree that we may do otherwise.
This is the first gathering OF Repub-
licans since this party was organized
that has declared the inability Of the
American people to control their own
affairs. (All the silver delegates arose
in abody at this, and howled their APP
proval of the sentiment.)
To my horror, this declaration comes
from the great political party of Abra-
ham Lincoln and u. S. Grant. Do you
believe that the American people are
too weak to actually maintain a fnan-
cial system commensurate with the
business of the country of their own
fruition?
BIMETALLIC AGREEMENT IMPOS-
SIPLE.
Gentlemen OF he convention. YOU
will have no bimetallic agreement with
all the great commercial nations of the
world, il cannot be obtained. So this
is declaration, that the gold stand
ard is To ba nut uDOn this country and