The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-09-11

If they did not positively assert, what
is being proclaimed everywhere, that
their solicitude is the relief of those
who might temporarily profit by q de-
graded currency, no matter at what
sacrifices of the plainest precepts of
good morals. In no case and at no
point do they propose the system to
pay our national and private Obliga-
tions on the plain old fashioned prin-
cipIe of good faith and honesty which
have always distinguished the Ameri-
can people. (ApplauSe.)
Practically admitting that the effect
of the free, unlimited and independent
coinage of silver would be an immense
loss to the savings and resources OF our
people, and that it's adoption would re-
duce the plain of their social and indus
trial condition, they yet seriously pro-
pose that we shall risk this hazardous
vermont has said in tones that can
not be misunderstood that she will have
nothing to do with that fatal expert
ment Great applause and cries of
Good ) Indeed they are urging US to
attempt by legislation to make so cents
worth of silver to pass current as a
legal tender 100 cent dollar, good for all
public and private obligations
THE mere statement of the PROPOSE
ton ought to lead to its instant rejec-
ton. We cannot by law make every
man honest, but we certainly will never
make a law encouraging them to be dis
honest. (Applause.) To me the ques-
ton of free trade is a question of hu-
manity, the voice of labor pleading for
it's own; and the question of free sill
yer is a question of public morality,
honor and good faith, and its success
would be a blot on our hitherto spot
less national credit. (Applause.) OBJ
scure the real issues and it finally re-
solves Itself into that. But will it pre-
vail?
mo, I answer, forever no. (Cheers.)
The American people, as a nation, like
those of the state of Vermont, are en-
tirely above so unworthy an imputa-
ton. (ApplauSe.) A people that could
as a weak and struggling cOnfederacy
of less than five million inha bitants
emerge from an eight years war OF
blight and destruction and proceed i'm
mediately to gather up and pay of It's
enormous revolutionary debt, including
the independent debt of all the states,
aggregating $135, 100000 or S27 per capita
at the time of its assumption, will not
falter at the present temptation. (CheerS
and cries of That's right.O A people
who could tax themselves most heaV-
lily to equip and maintain the armies
and navies of the Union, and continue
the most extensive and expensive war
in history, will not turn their backs up
on the soldiers of that war nor seek to
pay their pensions in dollars worth only
half their face value. (Great cheering
and cries of 'GOOd.O A people who
emerged from that war with an in
terest bearing debt of $2,382, ,0O0,O 900,
or $40 per capita for our entire
population in 1865, will not now, after
having honestly paid three-fOurthS OF
that great debt ever seek directly or
indirectly, to repudiate one dollar of it
or cheaper the coin of payment CAP
plause) Cries OF Good, Major 8
people I say, who proceeded in good
faith to pay off that debt, with sucn
unparalleled rapidity, which it was es-
timated in 1888, which up to that time
they had paid $123 for every minute of
every day of every year from 1865 to
1885, will not now palter, bargain or
scheme to defraud any creditor of the
government whoever or wherever he
NAV be- Tremendous applause and
cries of 'Hurrah for Mckinley A
people who had the satisfaction OF see
ing that debt reduced to $565, ,OOO, ,OOO on
March g. 1893, at the close of the
splendid administration of President
Harrison (ApplauSe) will readily and
quickly meet both the remainder OF
the old debt and all that has been made
since (Laughter) and pay 1t on, pr1ncl-
pal and interest, in the best money of
the world and recognized by the civil
lied nations to be the best at the time
of payment. cloud applause.) Just as
President Jackson paid off the last of
the revolutionary debt,60 years or more
after the first of it had been contracted.
This. my fellow citizens of Vermont, is
the faith that the election in your state
inspires in me, but that is not all In
that verdict, I see unalterable detern1-
nation of the people or the United
States for whom she had the honor
tariff system once more to our statute
books. Great applause) Vermont is
an agricultural state, but her keen, sa-
gacious and honest farmers know full
well the value of protection and its
twin sister-reciprocity. (Applause.)
They have profted by experience. They
have examined both their stock books
and their store books, and they have
had plenty of time to do it, (Laughter)
in the past years, and have learned that
their products have been worth less
than at any time for a long series of
years"
After the great cheering had subsided
and Governor Mckinley had personally
welcomed the visitors he was presented
with a huge case of Vermont butter.
Two thousand iron and steel workers
from Lorraine, Ohio, largely of the Tom
Johnson steel works reached here at
noon. Their cars were inscribed: open
the mills not the mints," and I'VE want
good pay in good money" etc.
The Lorraine delegation numbered
about $500.