Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-26
OLD FASHIONED DEMOCRACY
Secretary Carlisle Defines it at the Man.
haitian Club Banquet.
DIFFERENCES THAT MUST BE SETTLED
Traditions of the Party All Lead TO
the Adoption of sound Money
-Issue Cannot and should
,rf Not lie Evndcd.

guished in political and financial circles as
sembled in the rooms of the Manhattan club
tonight to meet Secretary Carlisle The
occasion OF the gathering was the reception
CT the club to the secretary OF the treasury.
The guests included men conspicuous in both
political parties and in the many factions of
the state and local politics. The club
house was handsomely decorated in honor of
the occasion Mr.. Carlisle was formally
received by Edward Bell, the chairman of
the house committee. who conducted him to
the parlor where he received the guests,
assisted by Frederic Il. Coudert After
the reception a banquet was served in the
dining hall, at the conclusion of which Mr.
Coudert introduced the guest of the evening
as the "Schoolmaster of the nation in sound
finances"
When Secretary Carlisle arose to address
the assemblagc, he was greeted with loud
applause. After thanking the club for its
hospitality and for the cordial reception it
had extended to him he said: 81 wanted to
be here tonight because l knew that your
halls would be thronged and your tables
surrounded mainly by old fashioned demo-
Gratis, who have never repudlated and I am
sure never will repudiate the principles of
tteir party-sound money, just taxation,
economy In the expenditure of the public
moneys; honesty and fidelity in the discharge
of official duty and the preservation of indid-
ual liberty and the rights of the states.
These are old fashioned democratic doctrines,
1t is true, but they were good enough for our
fathers, and they are good enough for us
or they are for me.
Unfortunately many distinguished mem
bers of our party do not agree with us upon all
these subjects and we are rapidly approach
ire the time when our differences of opinion
must be finally settled by the majority. But
there Is but one position upon which there is
any serious difference of opinion among our
do In ig CT ir,np mt
one, for 1t involves, in my Judgment, not
only the credit and honor of the country.
but the good faith and material welfare Of
our country. 1t cannot be discussed here,
but only stated.
ADHERED TO WITH TENACITY.
"If there was any economic policy to which
the democratic party adhered with more
tenacity than to any other in the old days,
1t was that the currency used by the people
in the transaction of their business should
always be on sound and stable basis; that
all notes issued by banks should be re-
deemable in specie en- demand at par value
and that nothing but specie should be made
legal tender for the payment of debts. Now
1t is proposed TO condemn this ancient demo-
cratic poicy-at least so far as 1t relates to
the maintenance of a sound and stable cur
rency-by authorizing the free coinage of
silver at a ratio which shall make the legal
tender silver dollar worth about one-hal:
as much as the legal tender gold dollar. In
other words, 1t is proposed that, instead C.
continuing the monetary system based on
a gold standard, where it was placed by
democratic legislation during the admins
tration of Andrew Jackson and where it has
hoen practically ever since, 1t shall be So
changed as to conform to the monetary sys-
TEN Of China South Africa and the small
South American States
I'VE are asked to adopt policy which
would result in Silver monometallism. with
an Unlimited issue of silver and the total
disuse of gold as money metal, and whether
we will or will not take this disastrous policy
cues. ion which. as 1 intimated few min.
utes ago. must now be settled by the only
tribunal which can pass Judgment upon 1t.
This question cannot be evaded II we would,
and ought not to be eyaded If we could,
90 Honesty is the best policy in politics.
For my part, the last ambition of my life
is to see the democratic party, to which
have always been attached. retain the DO
sition which naturally belongs to 1t, in favor
OF the maintenance of the public credit 1T
all times and under all circumstances: in
favor of maintaining a monetary system
which shall secure to all classes of our cit!-
Zens-the laborer as well as the capitalist
the bes. money in the world.
Gentlemen. the democratic party is not
dead (Cheers) The time is not at hand
to dissolve it's organization and distribute
its assets among the popullsts at large.
hope the democratic party will enter upon
the coming political contest on perfectly
sound declaration OF principles. If it does.
1t will come out OF il with unimnaireu
strength with unblem!shed record and with
courage for the fight"