Omaha daily bee., 1896-09-26
Knight. b b. Richards and other widely
known democrats
WEST ouTsTRIrrup THE EAST
Congressman Cousins Corrccts Free
silver MtsStntcment.

COngressmnn Couains Corrccts u Free
silver Misstntcment
Every seat in the large tent on Twenty
fourth street, South Omaha which is be-
ing used as republican headquarters, was
occupied last night, it being the occasion
Of an address by Hon. Robert G. Cousins,
mombCr Of congress from Iowa President
George Stryker of the South Omaha Re-
publican club called the meeting to order
and introduced as the first speaker A. II.
MurdoCk candidate for state representative
from this city. MIR. Murdock talked for
only n few moments when Mr.. Levi Cox
of Omaha, candidate for representative, was
introduced and made a few remarks. Mr.
MurGock who acted as chairman Of the
meeting, then introduced Congressman
Cousins.
After a few preliminary remarks Congress
man Cousins got down to business by tell
ing what extraordinary efforts the free sill
vcrites had made the last year or so TO Sc
cure converts to their doctrine and Incl
dentally mentioned the fact that United
States Senator Allen of this state once spoke
for thrty-siX hours on the silver qucs-
tiOn. He then proceeded to carefully ana
ly2e the free silver theory and showed its
many incongruities, falsities and dangers.
much to the satisfaction of the large number
present. Then he reviewed the history of
the passage of the silver act of 1873 and
ridculed the assertion, besides proving its
committed at that time. He showed that
Stewart and other bright and shining lights
OF the silver craze today were leaders in
that alleged crime and never discovered the
crime until they became silver mine owners.
They voted for the law which they now de-
nOunCe so bitterly.
A comparison of the conditions and times
in 1872 and 1892 and the present time was
made. In 1873 there was $lS per capita of
currency in circulation, while twenty years
later there was s24 per capita in circulation.
Every claim, he said, that Is made by the
silver agttators today is false and many
are purpCsely misleading.
The immense wealth of the west was CON
trasted with the decrease in the east, the
speaker using figures from the census taken
in 1890. This increase in the west was a
direct refutation. he said, of the claim that
the east had robbed the west Since 1873
the wealth had increased in the western
states from 100 to 800 per cent without an
exception while only three eastern states
showed any increase at all and that increase
was less than 20 per cent. All of the
other states in the east showed heavy de-
crease. Mr.. Cousins emphatcaly declared
that the demagogues who were at present
engaged in trying to deceive the people
are doing so solely for the purpose of secur-
ing power for themselves and in order to Sc
cure this power they are appealing to the
passions and prejudices of the people who
listen to their rantings
If we could by a resolution of congress,
he said. double the value of all of the
silver in the world every nation on earth
would have a powerful lobby in this coun-
try working in the interest of free
silver. Such, however, is not the case. the
foreign nations which have taken any inter-
est in our coming election being in favor OF
sound money and gold standard.