The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1896-07-16
HILLS GREAT EFFORT.
Brilliant Speech by the New York
Senator

ASHAAAAaAA SPCGSh ny tne new yoEkz
Senator
The following is Senator Hills
sEeecl,:
do not know that it is necessary that &
should reply to the distinguished senator
from South Carolina .(Senator Tillman), and
! trust that in any reply that may make
4 shall not fail to accord to him my pro-
FOUND respects. would say at the outset
am Democrat. Tut / am not a reyolu-
Zionist. will say farther that, no matter
& what the proyocation, you c.nnot drive me
out OF the Democratic party. Without in
tending to specially reply to the remarks
of the distinguished senator from South
Carolina, will only say that it was
waste of time upon his part to assume
that we were so ignorant as not to know
that 1t was his state that attempted to
break up the Democratic party in 1860. but
that party has survived the attempts OF
every section of the country to divide 1t.
to distract it; it lives to-day and hope 1t
will long survive. My mission here to-day
as to unite, not to divide; to build up, not
to destroy; to plan for victory and not to
plot for defeat.
New York makes no apology to South
Carolina for her resolution. We get our
Democracy from our fathers. We do not
need to learn it from those whom my
friend represents. Need l defend New
York? No; it is not necessary; she defends
herself. Need I defend the attacks made
upon her and her citizens Of wealth, men
of Intelligence and character? No; it is not
necessary. Need 1 remind this Democratic
national convention that it is in the great
State of New York and In it's great city
where the wealth that he inveighs against
is situated? But it is that great city that
never but once in its history gave Repub-
lican majority. When other cities failed to
respond. New York was the Gibraltar Of
Democracy.
The question which this convention is to
decide is which is the best position to
take at this time upon the financial ques-
ton? In a word, the question presented IS
between international bimetalism and local
bimetalliSm. If there be gold monometal-
lists they are not represented either In
the majority report or in the minority.
I therefore start out with, this PROPOSE
ton: That the Democratic rarity stands
to-day In favor of gold and silver as the
money of the country. We stand in favor
of the proposition of single standard,
either of gold silver, but we differ as
to the means to bring about that result.
Those I represent and for whom speak
the sixteen members Of the minority COM
mittee-insist that we should not attempt
the experiment of free and unlimited coin
age of silver without the cooperation Of
other great nations. 1t is not question
of patriotism. 1t is not a question OF cour-
age. 1t Is not a question of loyalty. It
Is not question of valor. The major1ty's
platform speaks of the subject as though
1t was simply question as to whether we
were brave enough people to enter upon
this experiment. 1t Is a question of bust-
ness. 1t is a question of finance. 1t is
question of economies 1t is not a ques-
ton. Notwithstanding, which man ever so
brave can solve. Mr.. President. l think
that the safest, the best course for this
convention to have pursued was to take
the first step forward in the great cause
of monetary reform by declaring in favor of
International Bimetallism.
I am not here to assail the honesty or
rs, ~ 30 CIV ,~1o xryhN 6iSoO
with me. There are those around me who
know that in every utterance made upon
this subject I have treated the friends OF
free and unlimited coinage of silver at the
ratio Of 16 to l with respect. I am here
to pursue that course to-day. I do not think
that we can safely ignore the monetary
systems Of other great nations. 1t is ques-
ton about which honest men may differ.
I believe we cannot ignore the attitude OF
other nations upon this subject any more
than we can their attitude upon the other
questions of the day. l. know it is said
by enthusiastic friends that America can
mark out course for herself.'>I know that
1t appeals to the pride Of the average Amer
lean to say that, it matters not what other
countries may do, can arrange this mat
ter ourselves. But beg to remind you, II
that suggestion is carried out to its legiti-
mate conclusion, you might as we'll do
away with international treaties; you
might as well do, away with all the provi-
sions in your tariff bills that have relation
to the laws Of other countries. In this
great age, when we are connected with all
portions of the earth by our ships. by our
cables. and by all methods Of intercourse,
we think that 1t is unwise to attempt this
alone.
Mr.. President, want to call your at
tention to this single point. l think it
Is unwise further for this convention to
hazard this contest upon single ratio.
What does this silver platform provide?
1t should have contented itself with the
single statement that it was in favor Of the
reconciliation of silver and placing it upon
equality with gold. but, instead of that. your
committee has recommended for adoption
platform which makes the test Of Dem
ocratic loyalty to hang upon a single ratio,
and that 1G to 1: 1 doubt the wisdom OF
having entered into detail. l doubt the
propriety of saying that 1914 or II is
heresy, and 16 is the only true Democratic
doctrine. Permit me to remind you'll
see distinguished senators before me. who
In the senate of the United States, friends
of free silver, have introduced bills Tor the
free and unlimited coinage Of silver at the
ratio of 20 to IL beg to remind this con-
vention that some Of your candidates pro-
posed for nomination are men whom I &C
cept, and whose Democracy Is admitted,
who have time and time again in congress
voted for other ratios than 16 to 1; and yet
you are proposing to nominate men upon
platform that limits and restricts them to
single ratio. With all due respect I
necessary step, and l think it will return
to plague US in the future. I think we have
too many close business relations with the
other great nations Of the world for us
to ignore their attitude. Four proposed
platform says that the policy Of gold mono
metallism is a British policy.
Mr.. President they forget to tell the
people of this country that it is a French
policy also; they forget to tell the people
of this country that it is a German policy
also; they fail to remind you that it is the
policy of the whole number of governments
represented in what was called the Latin
union. Therefore, I think it looks a little
just trile-like demagoguery to suggest
that this is the policy Of a single nation
alone. Mr.. President, regret also to see
that your platform says not single word
In favor of international bimetallism not
necessarily inconsistent with this platform
and there is no declaration whatever that
1t is the policy of this government to at
tempt to bring it about. The minority
platform declares expressly that it is the
policy Of this government to make steady
efforts to bring this about. It would be
safer to do it; it would be wiser to do it.
We run no risk upon the great question
OF the finances Of this republic / do not