Semi=weekly graphic., 1896-07-18

dividualS than we could an0rd 10 uelo- gate to private individuals the power to make penal statutes or to levy laws for taxation. Mir Jefferson, who was once regarded as good Democratic authority, seems to have different opinion from the gentleman who has addressed us on the part of the minority. Those who are opposed to this proposition tell us that the issue of paper money is function of the bank, and that the government ought to go out of the banking business I stand with Jefferson rather than with them and tell them, as he did, that the issue of money is function of the gov ernment and that the banks ought to go out of the government business.
 They complain about the plank which declares against the life tenure in office. They have tried to strain it to mean that which it does not mean. What we oppose in that plank is the life tenure that is being built up in Washington which excludes from participation in the benefits the humber members of our society. I cannot dwell longer in my limited time. [Cries of "Go onI Go onp'l
 Let me call attention to two or three great things The gentleman from New York says that be will propose an amendment providing that this change in our laws shall not affect contracts al- ready made. Let me remind him that there is no intention of affecting those contracts which, according to the pres ent laws, are made payable in gold. But if he means to say that we cannot change our monetary system without protecting those who have loaned money before the change was made, I want to 1 ask him where, in law or in morals, he can find authority for not protecting the debtors when the act of 1873 was passed, but now insists that we must protect the creditor. He says he also wants to amend this law and provide that if we fail to maintain a parity within a year we will then suspend the coinage of silver. We reply that when we advocate thing which we be- lieve will be successful we are not com pelled to raise doubt as to our own sincerity by trying to show what we will do if we can. I ask him, if he will apply his logic to us, why he does nos 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 international agree ment? There is more reason for him to do that than for us to fail to maintain the parity. They have tried for 30 years for 30 years-to secure an interna- tional agreement, and those are waiting for it most patiently who don't want it at all
 Now, my friends, let me come to the great paramount issue. If they ask ua here why it is that we say more on the money question than we say upon the tariff question, reply that if protection has slain it's thousands, the gold stand ard has slain its 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 restored the money of the eonstitu- tion all other necessary reforms will be possible and that until that is done there is no reform that can be accom- plished. Why is it that within three months such Q change has come over the sentiment of this country? Three months ago, when it was confidently asserted that those who believed in the gold standard would frame our platform and nominate our candidate, even the advo- cates of the gold standard did not think that we could elect president, but they had good reason for the suspicion, be. cause there is scarcely Q state here today asking for the gold standard that is not within the absolute control of the Re- publican party.
 But note the change. MT Mckinley was nominated at St. Louis upon plat form that declared for the maintenance of the gold standard until it should be changed into bimetallism by an inter national agreement. Mir Mckinley was the most popular man among the Re publicans, and everybody three months ago i'll the Republican party prophesied his election. How is it today? Why, that man who used to boast that he looked like Napoleon-that man shud- ders today when he thinks that he was nominated on the anniversary of the battle of Waterloo. Not only that, but as he listens he can hear with ever in ereasing distinctness the sound of the waves as they heat upon the lonely shores of St. Helena.