The record-union., 1896-06-19

Mr.. Teller then advanced to the front
and in earnest tones addressed the
convention in favor of his substitute,
saying in part:
Gentlemen of the convention, 1 will
not attempt to inf1ict upon you dis
cussion of the great financial question
which is dividing the people, not only of
this country, but of the whole world.
The few moments allotted me by the
convention will not permit me to more
than state briefly our objections to the
financial plank proposed for your con-
sideration. 1 am practical man, and
recognize the conditions of this coun-
try, foreshadowed as they are by the
action of this committee. This plank
was presented to the whole committee,
and by it rejected. Loyalty to my opin-
ion and consideration for the great in
terest which is felt for this country
compel me, in the face of unusual diff
ficulties, to present this for your con-
sideration.
1.-The supreme Importance of this
question is my excuse now for the few
words l shall say to you l represent
State that produces silver, but l want
to say to you here and now that my ad-
vocacy of the proposition is not in the
slightest degree influenced or controlled
by that fact. applause and cries of
Go on.'O / contend for it because l
do not believe there can be a sound
financial system in any country nor in
the world that does not recognize our
principles. I contended for it in 1878,
when it was ruthlesSly stricken from
cur statutes and since when there has
been a continued depreciation on all the
products of human labor and human
energy. / contend for it because in
this year of 1896 the American people
are in greater distress than they ever
were in their history. / contend for it
because this is, in my Judgment, the
great incubus that has struck down en-
terprise and destroyed progress in this
favored land of ours. l contend for it
because 1 believe the progress Of my
country is dependent upon it. / con-
tend for it because l believe the civili-
by the rightful or wrongful solution of
this financial question l am tolerant
to those who differ with me. l act
from my judgment, enlightened as it
has been by study and by years of
can people, in the whole line Of their
history, have never beeen called upon
to settle a question of such great inn
portance as this. The great contest in
which the nation participated-two
flags or one-was not more important
than the financial question is.
Il have said enough, I think, to
show that it is not a question of pol
icy but a question of principle. 1t is
not a mere nothing, but something on
which hangs the happiness, prosper
ity, morality and independence of
American labor and American pro-
ducers. (ApplauSe) Confronted for
the first time in it's history, this party
of ours-confronted, I say, for the first
time with a dangerous financial sys-
tenn that, in my judgment, would de-
stroy all the great interests in this land,
we are called upon to give this provis-
ion in our platform our adherence.
MIR. President, I do not desire to say
unkind things and 1 touch only a mo-
ment upon why 1 object to this provis-
| ion, this platform. The Republican
party has never been the party of the
single standard. (Applause.) 1t was a
bimetallist party in it's origin and in eli
| its history. In 1888 it declared for BIZ
| metallism; in 1892 it declared for bimet-
allism. In 1896 it declared for a single
| gold standard. In 1888 we carried the
State that here represent for the Re-
publican nominee, and we carried it on
a bimetallism platform. We carried it
with a majority that was equal, con-
sidering our vote, to that of any State
| in the Union. F'aint applause) It has
| been Republican State from the hour
OF it's admission. 1t has kept in the
| straight road and in the house of Re-
| publicanism.
"Mr. President, l promised you I
would not discuss the silver question:
and I will not, except to say that this
platform is such a distinct departure
| from everything heretofore held by the
party that it challenges our Republic
anism to accept it. The platform con-
| tains some platitudes about interna-
tional conferences. 1t provides that we
will maintain the gold standard in this
country until the principal nations of
| the world shall agree we may do other
wise. This is the. first great gathering
Of Republicans since this party was or
ganzed that has declared the inabil-
their own affairs. (All the silver dele
gates rose in body at this point and
shouted their approval of the senti-
ments) Do you believe the American
people are too weak to actually main
tain financial system commensurate
| with the greatness of the country of
their own fruition?
Gentlemen Of the convention, you
would have a bimetallic agreement with
all the great commercial nations of the
world-and it cannot be obtained So
this declaration is that the gold stand
| ard is to be put upon this country and
kept there for all time.
do you believe Great Britain. that
great commercial nation of the world
our powerful competitor in commerce
and trade, will ever agree to open her
mints to the free coinage of silver. or
| consent that we shall open ours as long
as she has the advantage of lower
prices or declining values that have
brought this country, by the adoption
of the gold standard in 1873, to partial
demonetization? We are the great
debtor nation of the world. Great
Britain is the creditor We pay her
| every year millions and hundreds or
millions of dollars as the income on her
investments. in this country on her
| loans.
"The gold standard. in my Judgment.
| lowers prices and decreases values, and
| she buys of US millions and millions
more than she sells. She buys upon a
| gold standard at a lower and depreci-
6 ted standard. How long do you think